The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-28
FIELD A FORTY-NINER.
Early Experience Of the Venera.
bic Justice.
TIE GOLDEN DAYS OF CALIFORNIA.

1t Was Indeed "a GLORIOUS Country"-Ef-
feet of Presenting Forgotten Note.
Money In the Nick OF Time Sample
High Prices.
WASHINGTON, April Especial Jus
tice Field, the famous jurist who will in
few months beat all records for length Of
service upon the supreme bench, has writ
ten, but not yet published, an account of
his carly days in California. 1t is an OK
cccdingly interesting document, and havo
been permitted to quote from it at length.
Upon landing from the steamer in San
Francisco, writes Justice Field, "my bag
gage consisted Of two trunks, and 1 had
only $40 in my pocket. WAS compelled to
pay 81 to have my trunks taken to room
in an old adobe building. This room was
about 10 feet long by s feet wide. and had
bed in it. For it's occupation the sum of
$50 IL week was charged. Two of my fell
low passengers and myself engaged it.
They took the he'd nnd took tho floor 1
do not think they had much the advantage
on the score of comfort
Cheap breakfast.
"The next morning I started out carly
with SO in my pocket. hunted up n res
taurant and ordered tho cheapest breakfasu
l could get. 1t cost INC SO. a solitary dol
lar was therefore all tho money in tho
world had left, but was in no respect
despondent over my financial condition
AS walked along the streets 1 met II great
many persons had known in New York
and they all seemed to 10 in tho highest
spirits. Every one in greeting mo said 1t
is glorious country or Isn't it glori-
Gus country! or Did you over see Il moro
glorious country or something to that eff
feet. In every case the word glorious
was sure TO como out. There was some
thing infectious in the use of the word, or
rather in the feeling, which made its rso
natural. L had not been out many hours
that morning before caught tho infection,
and though had but single dollar in my
pocket and no business whatever and did
not know where l was to get the next
meal, found myself saying to everybody
l met, 1t is II glorious country
The streets were filled with people it
seemed to me, from every nation under
heaven, all wearing their peculiar cos
TUNES. All seemed to be busily occupied
and in n state of pleasurablo excitement.
Everything needed for their wants-food,
clothing and lodging quarters, and every
thing required for transportation and min
inS-wcrc in urgent demand and obtained
extravaganza prices. Yet no one seemed to
complain of the charges made. There was
an apparent disdain of all attempts to
cheaper articles and reduce prices. News
from the cast was eagerly sought from all
newcomers. Newspapers from New York
werc sold mt 81 apiece. had a bundle of
them, and, seeing the price paid for such
papers, gave them to n follow passenger,
telling him he might have half he could
get for them. There were Ga numbers, il
L recollect Alright, and the third day after
our arrival 10 MY astonishmcnt he handed
me S32, stating that he had sold them all
at 81 apiece. Nearly everything clso
brought IL similarly cxtravagant price.
Hard Luck.
After break fast followed the crowd tn
the courthouse and found that Judge AL.
mond was holding what was known MS
tho court of first instance, and that a case
was on trial. 10 my astonishmcnt I SAW
two of my fellow passengers, who had
landed the night before, sitting on tho
jury L waited till the case was over and
then inquired how it happened they were
there. They said that they had been at
tracted by the crowd, just as had been,
ana that while looking on tho proceedings
OF tho court the sheriff had summoned
just arrived in tho country. But he said
that fact made 10 difference Nobody had
been in tho country three months They
added that they had received IS each for
their services. AT this piece of news |
thought Of my solitary dollar and won
dered If similar good fortune might not
happen to me. SO fingered in the court
room, placing myself near the sheriff in
the hope that on another jury he might
summon ne. But it was not my good
luck.
Passing down Clay street my attention
was attracted by q sign in large letters,
Jonathan ID. Stevenson, Gold Dust Bought
and Sold Here AS l saw this inscription
l exclaimed, Hello, here is good luckl' for
suddenly recollcctcd that when left New
York my brother Dudley had handed mo a
note against Stevenson for $3.50 or 500,
stating that he understood the colonel had
become rich in California, and that if such
were the case to ask him to pay the note.
l had put the paper in my pocketbook and
thought no moro of it until the sight of
tho sign brought it to my recollection and
also reminded mo OF my solitary dollar.
The colonel had known mn yor,, ,yoli IL,