Year: 1860

day-not alone from the circumstances /
am about to relate-but no matter. The
experience of every early adventurer
here is dotted with enduring landmarks,
to guide the noiseless step of recollection
back through the dim vistas of the past,
and lengthen the great way'of life
Broad, this evening, is the road to travel
to-day, and flowers still blossom beside
it, and thorns finger in the sight but
further, and it narrows into thread-like
path, along which the flowers lie dead and
scentless, and touching here and there at
few moments of bliss or sepulcher of
hope, approaches the confines of memory,
and is soon lost to sight.


Well, it was the seventeenth of Novem-
Der. The day had been a dreary, driz-
zling one, and as night approached the
wind lulled, and heavy fog rolled ike
a mighty avalanche of snow over the
hills west of San Francisco, and settled,
in thick, almost drenched mist over
muddy street and house-top. Twas in
deed a cherries evening, and we did not
wonder then nor do we now, that the
gambling-houses were crowded and the
bars of the drinking saloons thronged, for
the city was full of strangers, and prom
enadiug the halfpaved streets by the
uncertain light of an occasional door
lamp, could scarcely be deemed posi-
tive enjoyment.


The 'El Dorado was the great CEN
tire of attraction. 1t was not only one of
the largest and most substantial struct-
ures in the city, but its proprietors were
men whose wealth was counted by tens
of thousands; and every bank in its
capacious saloon was loaded with golden
slugs and ounces. Through the room
were ranged no less than twenty tables,
at which were played faro, monte, vingt-
et-noir, lansquenet, and variety of other
games, the very names of which have es-
capped me; while from a raised platform
poured forth continuous food of exoui
site music from band of the best musi-
clans in the country. The finest musical
talent in the State found employment in
the gambling saloons of San Francisco
and Sacramento, and many of the most
noted performers in the country to-day,
made their debut before an audience of
gamblers. Simonton, the wel-known
violinist, and Pettinos, one of the best
pianists in the State, for two years oc-
cupied together the platform of the 'El
Dorado at Sacramento, receiving sixty
four dollars per day for their services,
and the very first musicians in the city
once led an orchestra at another gamb-
ing-house in the City of the Plains


AS we said before, the El Dorado
was crowded. Many were betting and
venturirg their last dollar with an uneer-
tain characteristic of the time, while as
many more were elbowing their way
from one bank to another, with no other
object than the qualification of their curl
osity, and the vain hope of seeing some
desperate gamester tap bank and win
it, A dozen or more were reeline
through the saloon entirely too wealthy in
their own estimation even to covet the
piles of lucre around them, while not a
few might be observed with hands jam
med in their empty pockets, staring ab-
stractedly at the progress of game that
had relieved them of the last ounce.


The band had commenced its second
performance for the evening, and seemed
intent in boisterous execution to drown
the clamor of clinking silver, when a tall,
muscular looking miner stopped in frent
of the door, and gazing moment at the
scene within, buttoned his thin coat
around him and started slowly down
Washington street. He was coarsely
but comfortably clad. A pair of heavy
brown whiskers completely covered
his face, and the broad brim of slouched
hat rested almost upon bis shoulders.


This way, Jane,' said voice to a
female who had just emerged from a
small wooden building Immediately be-
low the El Dorado and stood hesita-
ting beside pool of mud and water
The miner stopped, and as the woman
carefully selected stepping-place and
sprang to the pavement, he involuntarily
caught her by the arm. Somewhat sur
prised at the prompt assistance, she gaz-
ed into his unshorn face for a moment,
and thanking him politely, passed on with
her companion, who had taken a more
circuitous but less dangerous Ito his pol
ished boots) route to the sidewalk.


Hesitating moment, the miner turn
ed and followed. He started as he saw
her enter the gambling saloon. PUSHING