National Republican., 1882-01-07
THE GOLDEN GATE.
OUR LETTER FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
Visitors Astonished and Dellghted-The Grand
Cllmatc--Chlnatown and Other Sights-Thc
Fruits OF CalifOmia-Theatres aud
Miscellaneous Gossip.

Special CORRESPONDENCE of THE RErunLrcAN.
SAN FRANCIsCo, Dec. 27.--I am very much like n
little girl read about not long ago who, when tho
famous Golden Gate or entrance to the bay of san
Francisco was pointed ont TO her, cxclaimed 81
don't see any gate, It is all water" From child
hood the terms Pacific Slope and Golden Gate
have been associated in my mind with azure skies
glinting sunshine, fabulous wealth, and huge
nuggets of gold cropping out upon oll sides wait
them up. But, like dreams ofthe future In youth
ful minds, the reality is very different from what
fancy pictured II to be. There Is much here
though to astonish and delight the visitor The
city itself may be reckoned one Of the
wonders OF the ninteenth century. In 1916
consisting Of COO inhabitants, i now numbers
more than two bundled thousand. Located upon
n barren soil, made up of s0nd hills and deep
gullies, the present magniticence of the city is
been expended in cutting away hills and grading
streets, and that land Inns been mnde to the eX.
tent of several acres. Where in 1919 large ships
rode at anchor are now paved streets and stores
and dwellings. The former name OF the town
lNerbn Bucna, signifying good herb was given TO
it.on account of the large quantities of certain
plant growing all around H. The present name
was not given 1t until 1877.
gHE CLIMATE Is so DELIGHTFUL
and so different from that of our Eu tern States
one feels inclined to locate permanently, aud
even now, while you are all shivering with cold
and struggling with frost and probably snow, the
grass here is green and beautiful, and howcrs are
blooming in the open air. Indeed the luNuriant
growth Of flowers IN this climate Is enough to make
the Eastern horticulturist turn greeil with envy.
imagine helitrope growing six ,and seven feet
high and blooming with sprays as large as your
hand, and houses covered with the delicate
fuchias trained to this roof, which In summer make
IL fairly brilliant with thier waNy blossoms. |
think there must be something also in
the climate par rtlcularly adapted to the develop
ment of children, for have never seen finer
handsomer children anywhere. The ladies dress
great deal, aud scaskin sacques and diamonds
arc more often seen than plain attire. They arc
very dainty about their feet, for you must know
the high winds here are very trying sometimes
md so good an opportunity Of displaying fancy
hosiery and handsomely fitting French boots Is too
SSfs sTIa to are San MSS also 'nS some Of
the streets Montgomery and California streets
are both important business streets, and
Kearney street seems to be the fashionable prone
made ofcourse every stranger visits the Chinese
quarter and usually one vi u is sufficient. Talk
and other cities why, they are as patchouiy" and
"new mown hay compared with the odors which
emenate from this quarter whether the unsay-
choice It'd bits, such as fricasseed dog, boned cat,
or rats on toast, or whether they are due TO gem
eral unclcaniness, am unable to say, only they
are bad, very bad. Some OF the streets i'll this
quarter are precisely like
STREETS IN THE CITIES OF CHINA,
open shops, silks and wares, geegaws and coniec-
tions flowers and pigtails, just the same. The
Chinese question is getting to be weighty Que ON
this side of the continent. The stream Of immi-
grants continues to pour in. Last week one ship
arrived with three hundred and ninety, and
another is daily expected with one thousand on
board. Six hundred returned to the Flowery
Kingdom ON the last ship leaving the port, but
more come than go back. Numbers of them are
employed here as servants and some of them make
very capable servants yet the experience OF
most housekeepers with them is rather unsatis-
factory. aud sometimes both embarrassing and
ludicrous A lady told me the other day that she
went to call upon another lady, who happened AT
the time to be in the midst of II bath. A dreamy
eyed Mongoldn answered her ring at the door,
and, when she asked II Mrs. - was in, replied
IN the most solemn manner, " Yes; missee up stalls
cleRnee hesclf" Another lady discharged her
Chinese cook for general worthlessness and en-
gnged another man to take his place.
The new conner remained but few hours
and left without any explanation. She
engaged another who remained one day and
night, and suddenly left without even asking for
his wages. The same thing happen with one or
two others, aud the lady was completely mystihed
and went TO the keeper of an intelligence Office for
some light on the subject. The man went to her
charged cook before leaving had pasted slip on
the wall, which, being translated, read: This no
good ladce: she wOrkee yOu hard and no payee
wages" This warning had frightened off the new
corners as soon as IT met their eyes. There have
been such wonderful stories told of
THE FRUITS OF CALIFORNIA,
! was prepared to find mammoth pears, strawber-
ries as large as your fist and cherries which re-
quire more than two bites to be enjoyed. The
pears are certainly huge, and think one of some
uf the varieties would make. a comfortable lunch
for two persons. Both tropical and subtropica
fruits are grown here, and in the summer Time
am told you can go into the market, and at single
stall purchase eighteen or twenty different kinds
OF fruit. The vineyard craze seems to be taking
possession OF the whole State, and farmers arc In
many Identities planting grnpe.yines instead Of
grain. Excellent wine Is manufactured In the State
aud probably the grape crop pays better than some
OtherCrops The fruits and Yegetnbesnresoldb by the
pound, and sometimes you are obliged to purchase
several pounds in order to get the whole of one
article. The stories about California fruits are
the following about some peaches think will
equal any OF the others A gentleman living at
Shasta, in the northern portion of the State, owns
a very fine estate. and prides himself upon the
productions of 1t. Some friends visiting him in
peach season were invited to walk out and look at
his splendid orchard, laden with the luscious
fruit, which was nearly ripe. They did so, and
admired 1t in fitting terms; but one of the party
looked In @ silence lor time. a1d then exclaimed
told me should have taken them for pumpkins"
The street cars are rather curious to a stranger,
horses or engine They are moved however by
cables operated by stationary engines and in such
billy city itmust be great saving of horse flesh
Toone accustomed to the quiet observance of the
Sabbath in the Eastern States there is something
very grating in the Dissertation of the day here.
Falcons, stores, and places of amusement do a
fourishing business on that day and 1t is not in
obscure streets and suburbs either where this is
done.
THE CALIFORNIA THEATRE,
which has Just been re6tted and reopencd, and is
probably one of the most elaborate in the country
announces that 1t will be open Sundays. The mat.
t
the citizens are strongly in favor of enforcing the
law requiring such places to be closed on Sunday
and which they claim has been declared constitu.
IiOnal. The army and navy are well represented
here and one sometimes meets q face which was
familiar OH the streets of Washington One of
your old residents is engaged here in journalism
Mr.. Gassawny, formerly of the Second National
Bank. He Is making quite national reputation
as the humorous writer in the Post under his old
Capital nom dc plume of Derrick Dodd.
In my travels through different parts of our in
comparable country have observed the different
traits and peculiaritles belonging TO the several
sections. In the South the people are noted for
their frankncss and genuine hospitality. In New
England for their neatness, ingenuity, and ire
pressble curiosity and throughout the West for
their industry, bravery, and determination to
overcome obstacles while here in California
think II may be called spread -eagleism. They
certainly are more pulled up with State pride
than any people ever met,
NO SUN SHINES AS BRIGHT
as their sun, 10 moon sllveTy, no flowers as
beautiful, no trees rs large, no fortunes as great
no knowledge rs comprehensive, no generosity as
lavish as may be found in California. Boston,
with all her conceit and complacency is no.
where when compared with the conceit of this
city and the State of which she forms an impor-
tant part The Eastern States and cities are in her
eyes regular old torgies and far behind in every
thing worth knowing. You can never get n
Californian to admit that anything is
better in other parts of the country than
they are here; They even insist fhat
have ooppery taste-are far superior to the best
"Glen Coves" or Blue Points, and other things
quite as eXtravagant Christmas mas been ob-
served with due ecldt, and life flows ON brightly
and joyously. BY the time this letter reaches you
= Old Time will have gathered another year to his
mighty sheaf, made up of the countless years of
the past, and you. Will have fairly entered upon
the Joys and orr0ws, the hopes and fears the sue
cess and disappointment which the New Year may
have in store for enQl of EMIL.