, 1890-04-20

Fresno is one of the handsomest cities
of the Sacramento valley. One rides for
many miles around the broad, level sweep
of green. with never a break, save where
the purple orchard scents the air, and
then again miles of green, trimmed with
millions of wild flowers, such as Cali
iornia alone can furnish by the township
in unending yet blending colors.
On the way to Frcspoone also discovers
a product of the Golden State which he
had not heard about before. 1t is the
wind mill All along down from Sacra-
mcnto you discover this rank growth.
About Stockton the wind mill grows to a
great height, and ever in the most barren
soil. Some have a bright red blossom,
whilst others are variegated, and still
others are red, white and blue, A field
of large. double wind mills in full bloom
is n fine sight. | do not know what they
are used for unless it be for purposes OF
irrigation. Now, however, after the in.
tense rains Of the winter, it seems almost
a mockcry Tor this great army OF unem
ployed wind mills to stand around with
the water up to its knees and its idle
hands in its pockets.
Fresno is In the heart of a beautiful
grape growing country, but these grapes
are not used to promote the interests of
the flowing bowl. The vine growers here
are all engaged in the raisin' of raisins.
Among the horny handed but wealthy
tOilers here | found Joseph L. Goodman.
When the angels were engaged in nam
ing that rare and radiant maiden whom
the %neighbors called Lenore, they chris
tened Joseph 7. Goodman with the name
he has so honorably borne for over half a
century.
Seeing the evils arising from the cult
walton of the grape as n wine producer,
yet fully alive to the great advantages to
be derived from grape growing generally
as a source of food supply, he gave his
attention to the cultivation and propaga-
ton of the raisin. Selecting the large,
fat, early dwarf, maroon pie raisin of com
merce, and crossing it with the cltrOn,
he soon obtained a hybrid raIsin. with
seeds in 1t. which could be hardly distin.
guished fINm the royal octave raisin of
Spain. lie now produces tons of this
beautiful fruit each year at an enormous
profit, and each night as he %retires he can
place his hand on his heart and say: AT
least | have never aided in the great and
growing but reprehensible industry of ell
ing d%runkards' graves.
Mr.. Goodman has a history. He ran
the Territorial Enterprise in those early
days when such Joung strugglers "a
Daniel De guile, the bright young
Frenchman. and Samuel i Clemens, the
talented Missourian, worked for him.
He was one OF the features OF those won
derful DAYS on the Comstock which can
never come again.
TWAS my good fortune to see a con
siderable of him. Not SO much as We see
of our lady friends in society when in
full dress, perhaps, but still saw him in
his working clothes and in his every day
In San Francisco they told me about
his attendance at the obsequies OF Sandy
Baldwin. Baldwin and Goodman were
last friends, and when Sandy died Mr..
Goodman was asked to act as chief pail
bearer. He came down from the mines
fer that purpose, and had to borrow some
clothes from John Mccullough. They
were very good clothes. but not long
enough in the sleeves or the legs for
Joseph I. Goodman. The Prince Albert
coat was plenty long enough in the skirts,
but revealed a sweep OF forearm and fan
mel shirt sleeve which came very near
giving a a tinge of sadness to the funeral
His trousers also were If the ~hydrophobia
variety, and in order to make friends with
the tops OF his boots they had sacrificed the
valued friendship hat had existed between
themselves and the waistcoat. as it we're,
In the midst of all this the master OF
ceremonies suddenly decided that Mr..
Baldwin's pail bearers ought property to
consist Of Judges and political dignitaries
of the state, rather than of his old and
tried friends. who might be barren of
titles This WAS contrary to the Bald
WIN style, however, and highly offensive
70 his friends, especially Mr.. Goodman.
who had eaten and slept with SANDY e.,
many moons. and had even taken him