Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-03-05
THE LAST SPIKE.
THOMAS HILLS HISTORICAL PAINTING
GOING EASTWARD.
Speculations as to Its Reception by Our
Eastern Cousins-Thoughts sug-
gested-Personal Notes.
SAN Francisco, March 2, 1881.

new, She is TO be received on account OF
gold and enterprise, but not to be encour-
aged, since she doesn't know the New
York dances till they are month old. and
has never graduated at the Boston school
of culture. But California is also red
haired girl, very capable of giving her
opinions voice and of standing determin-
edly by them, no matter how surprised the
rest of the family may be that she dares
speak She has
FORCTBLE LITTLE WAY,
Too, of giving object lessons to the high
and mighty cousins, and laughing in her
sleeve when they are forced to accept her
instructions. For instance, she puts a
postage stamp on Mark Twain, saying
3" Here's our funny man, laugh, or on
Bret Harte, and writes by same mail !:
admire rude pathos and the poetry OF
the mines put in prose, " and in spite OF
themselves the cousins laugh and admire.
By and by she delivers herself of her de-
cisions of the drama. Lolita, the little
crabapple of the stage, shoots off with her
California reputation wrapped round her
like scarf; Maggie Moore does the same,
and Annie Pixley ditto, and even Eleanor
Calhoun, debutante, ventures conf
IDENTIFY off into the unknown East be-
cause she has had a Western pat
on the shoulder a certain Sheridan, un-
recognized as tragedian there, goes back
famous, for California finds his greatness
out and the cultured, aristocratic cousins
elevate their eyebrows supposedly, but
accept the dictum they cannot refuse. So
we have sent them Bierstadt, and we have
sent them Mauple, and very soon goes
from California to the East Tom Hills
painting of the "Last Spike with the
royal seal of approval upon it; and very
/ curious one feels to know just how the
Eastern cousins will relish the pleasant air
of triumph with which the painting is
offered. We offer it, also, in commemora-
ton of the stroke which did away with the
last excuse for any differences of feeling
upon any subject whatever--religion,
fashion, amusement or the art world
since it was that stroke which was as
the clasping of hands in amity
EASTERN IDEAS.
1t is now as if the families had moved
and settled down near neighbor. [ don't
know, but rather think these folks have
had the impression that no good could
| come out of Nazareth. We were all sup
posed to be men with Nevada banks and
Belmonts, and women with slang and dia-
monds, but they mustn't think SO any more,
because that clasp of the hand is never to
be Embossed and a great deal of talk and
kissing has gone On the world through over
pair of clasped hands. Mr. Thomas Hill,
with US, has been set apart these years.
We have know him, watched his work
carefully, and his pictures hang upon our
walls, side by side with the touches of
fingers whose every stroke was gold piece,
and we are glad to say to the world,
g Here is another of our artists" He
seems just ourselves, and one scarce
knows how deep the thorn of genius
pricks his own nature, so we are glad to
have it 90 abroad to learn what the world
may say of our picture. It is probably the
first one which will bear with it our prom
inent Californians, whose faces look from
the canvas with twinkle of Western bon.
homie, and yet with solemnity due the
occasion. Here are the men whom we may
thank for the great highway, which seems
like safe path back to the old home.
Governor Stanford, whose name is known
to every intelligent child along the Coast,
So intricately is his influence interviewer
with our history, has the central part of
honor He represents brains as well as
wealth, culture as well as intellect, the
gentleman as well as the man of business
enterprise. To him belongs the first honor
Of r.i1rnoA onI 4 10 his rNnrt1xr RIO
which catches the eye first in Mr.. Hills
picture. The portrait is a good one, and
| only lacks the illumination of the Gov
ernor's smile to make it better The four
other energies of the railroad are there
also, and there isn't resident among us
but cries out, at sight of their familiar
faces, ''Make the painting a State pur-
chase, for it seems like history to date. 2"
Messrs. Charles and E. B. Croker, Mark
Hopkins and @. P. Huntington, how close
they seem to California, since they have
helped to make her what she is, and to
give her this great outlet OF wealth. The
face of each is lined upon the canvas with
faithfulness, and they met with
SOLEMN AND CRITICAL RECOGNITION,
One by one, from an old fellow who
NlSWSu Vic JiCbuI0 Vic ilISU QdN VI
its exhibition. He looked it over and over,
and grinned and grinned again. " Y GU
see, miss, )" he said, 81 knew every one Of
them four fellers when they first come out
yer. They looks if they was better off n
I be, f" he added, little wistfully. "No
painter ever asked to make picture out
of me. But | hain't nothin' agin any of
'em. How they hev riz, though. Lord,
yes, how they hev riz - When / left
him he was still grinning recognition
at the four portraits he had pointed
out to me. Governor Strnford is shown
with his hand resting upon the hammer of
precious metal, produced and presented by
the State of Nevada, and MIR. Vandenberg,
electrician, kneels near him holding the
golden spike, in moment more to receive
the last stroke given to the railroad.
About the spike is wound wire throbbing
with an impulse toward life, which, almost
as swift as sight itself, is to give the three
last strokes of the hammer to the telegraph
offices everywhere. Rev. Mr.. Todd, an
Eastern clergyman, is offering prayer, as
may be seen by the reverent attitude Of
the people. One sees railroad men every
where. Elk Senator Aaron a. Sargent and
|
Timothy Guy Phelps; General Dodge and
Cakes Ames Judah, the First Engineer,
and Montague, the Chief Engineer of the
Central Pacific Railroad then there is the
California Grizzly-Stephen I. Gage-and
the three Railroad Commissioners, Haynes,
Trltle and Sherman; also Milton S.
Latham, B. B. Redding, DR.. Stillman,
Judge Sanderson, Jno. Corning, d. N. Miller
and DR.. Hardness. Many ladies are
present, and the Indians of that region
whom curiosity, and perhaps something of
apprehension, have drawn to the spot One
man in the rear has climbed ladder placed
against telegraph pole to obtain view of
the historic proceedings, coaches stand
upon the outskirts of the crowd, and a
breathing, putting engine beyond upon the
track. A peddler goes about selling cigars,
and an Indian squaw with pack on back
ornaments the foreoround. Picks and