Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-12
FOR TIE STRANGER.
SOMETHING AROUT SACRAMENTO,
BUT NOT FOR SACRAKENTANs.
Home Influences - Oar Homes
Streets - Parks - Gardens
Drives institutions.


forts thai contribute 20 its freedom in IN
tellectual fields. And this is true, no matter
how untutoled the mind or limited the
canacitv. The rustic innocent that ex-
pressed his supremest desire to be SO stu
ated that he would have only to think.
had glimmering Of this ideal state. On.
of these conditions grows
THE 10 T FOB HONE.
Nowhere stronger than III Sacram ento. In
its true sense il is not mere attachment 70
place or close relation to environment u
is the qualification Of the inborn desire for
kingship in some spot on earth. Physical
comforts only contribute to this end. The
man or woman loves home because It is
realm where he or she tolerates no rival
the scene Of struggles and riunphs;
spot where love is the poetry OF existence,
and domestic felicity the reward Of 3 SOW
ereign ruling by right and with the single
desire to make his or her realm the com
pletest in all that contributes to
intellectual pleasures, which never
can be fully satisfied. And upon
however hOmely plane ii may be mani
fest. It still is the sum and end Of hu
extend beyond the delight the parent feels
in watching the unfolding flower Of off
spring. 1t may limit itself 10 the suuusing
Of the senses with surroundings of beauty.
Il may find its working field IN the research
70 which a well-supplied library IS con
slant invitation. II may be active only in
the couquerius Of the soil but whatever
its direction, IL constitutes the ambition Of
the man, and is only broader IN scheme
A. -
fines of home and exeTts itself for the bet
terment of neighbor, friend, stranger or
the world of men. Even where ayariCe !
appears 10 be the controlling influence and |
the love Of money apparently absOTbs all |
else still tbSre IS beyond, behind and IN f,
derlying it The ultimate hope and desire TO |
make these acqusitiO- contribute most
largely to the realm wherein the home |
master is king and high priest. And this, !
we hold, is true, if even the case ls taken |
into account CT the man or woman with no /
home, but whose kingom IS limited 10 the |
mere single place Of existence and that a (
narrow room and the property Of another |
When therefore, the stranger who has read |
the world to some purpose enters city, |
village or mere settlement, he will find i |
not at all difficult to read
THE CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE
vi Lut DllJt ny AlC III ~ Cos bhNy A4tAFS ]
made upon their home surroundings. lie !
viii readily analyze the purposes, intellect !
ual capacity and development, and the |
physical achievements OF q people, by !
study of their architecture, and the orderly |
or disorderly adm nislration apparent. He |
viii read their culture in their very door |
yards. and record their moral character al |
ter q study of the family groups in the !
evenings cool He will judge uner1ingly !
-ff Frf~ flar
content and their methods of attaining
ends. He does not need 20 visit the bcsi /
ness mart, or dwell upon the Wharyes Of |
commerce. to fathom the aims and sue |
cesses Of their life. He will rather seek !
the retired ways where the inner life is |
manifested upon the outer walls of dwell !
ing places. He will there determine, by |
characters Of unerring certainty, 10 JUST !
what extent the influences prevail that are !
the motors Of human exertoD 10 attain !
lofty ideals.
sA0RANEyTo's HOMES
Are submitted to this test and judgment by |
every thoughtful and rejecting stranger
who visits the place. Are we prepared to
stand by the result of such judgment, for
that we shall be so Judged let us assure
ourselves. The Eastern visitor who rides
through our streets, and for few hours
mingles with our people. Is dullard who
does not form a correct estimate OF our
tastes and ambitions and who does not
correctly weigh and measure our culture,
intellectual capacity, and the sum OF our
exertion to live sahsiylngly. Would we
declare these TO be unvarying rules2 As
to communities, aggregauons of homes
YES; as TO individuals and individual |
homes, no. For it is true that there are |
false exteriors, as there are false lives and !
masks worn which human vision may not |
penetrate. But we do say that the sum |
and motive of the civilization Of q people |
is unerripglv manifest by their exterior |
methods Of living, and the trend of the |
sum of human endeavOr in communities Is |
written upon the walls and hagstone5. !
And Sacramento, we judge, has not broad /
reason to fear the reading of hers. 10 CON |
yev to the stranger our idea Of the char
acter of this population would be but to /
give him the testimony OF one witness, aud /
that one be would esteem preludiced. But ,
If we tell him OF the city Itself, and It's /
homes. he Will be able, on the basis OF the !
verify of the statement, TO form bis own .
estimate and to verify il or modify 1t when |
opportunity shall enable him to judge for /
himself Of this city OF but about thirty |
years age.
THE CITY Is LOCATED
At the confluence of the Sacramento and |
American rivers, upon bottom lands Of
some miles in extent. behind which rise |
fable lands to the north and northeast, the
first terrace of the foothills of the SieTras.
Southwark there are reaches of valley and
low land until the vision is checked by the
distant ranges Of the coast hills. To the
west il is an endless stretch OF valley. The
American being q torrential stream, and !
pouring into the Sacramento with sudden
ness, has in the past subjected the city to
l. 81 fiNh iniN1nit IN HE o.
ple during many successive years have
builded great barriers that encircle the
place with q wall of defense sgainst all
possible assaults of the waters. The city is
thus artifcially land.locked. Its streets are
laid out at right angles to each other, and
are really avenues, the narrowest being
eighty feet, and the brosdesJ in excess Of
one hundred in width. These highways
are dead levels, except where approaches TO
the business streets lead up to . level
dozen feet above the common plane.
The streets are from A to Y, count
ing from north 10 south, and
from Front to Thirty-hrst street, count
ing from west TO east. The blocks are 300
feet by $40 in exterior bounds, and each is
cut by a 20-foot alley, affording access to
the rear of all full lots which are uniformly
so by 100 feet. The rosdways on the upper
grade, and in few instances upon the
lower grade. are paved, merchantmen OF
graveled. Those not 30 treated are each
spring rounded up, smoothed and made fit
for driving. The walk-ways are all broad,
and in the majority of cases are but two
thirds or half paved or planked toward the
curb, the remaining space being seeded to
grass, and forming charming border and
barrier to the sidewalk All the streets,
some more densely than others, are planted
with
SHADE TREEs,
Which vary from walnut, locust and null
berry TO poplar, elm and other ornamental
trees. These are all OF mature growth, and
afford q delightful shade to the drive and
walk ways. In some cases this outrageous
shelter is so generous SIS 10 all but meet
overhead from either side of the avenues
In the business center of the city ia q spa