Year: 1874

the broad Pacific. In such an event we |
intend to initiate the example of the
president Noah of olden time, and build
an ark in which to save ourselves
Whether we shall admit on board the
craft pair of every sort of living crit
ters that inhabit the country here and
hereabouts, is sort of qdien sabe ques-
ton. If my own counsels preraili in the
matter, you can safely bet your lowest
down "scad" that there are lots of anis
mate beings, both in the human form
and otherwise, that will not get aboard.
None but the best breeds of people and
brutes will be admitted, and the insect
tribe, with very few exceptions, will be
left to paddle their own canoe" We
propose to take nothing with US that is
susceptible of being converted into
nuisance, not if We know ourselves Old
Noah missed it most egragiousIy in tak>
ing skunks and other nasty animals
aboard for preservation, the result of
doing which has been that an abomina-
BILE stink has been kept up in the world
from the assuaging of the flood to the
present time.


Noah was a mo, ciful man but it can
hardly be said he was wise benefactor
of the human race or races of his time
He mixed up with them and preserved
too many vile critters of different sorts
for their future wellbeing. If we strike
adrift this year, our ark will not be in.
numbered with human deadheads, hiss
ing serpents, nor vicious or bad-smell<
ing animals of the brate persuasion.
With the best ark, the best people, the
best animals, and the best Of everything
calculated to promote our comfort and
happiness, we shall strike out for some
Ararat, upon which 80 make safe and
permanent settlement. But a truce to
the flood question.


The California Legislature met at Sac
ramento on Monday the first day of the
present month, and when last heard
from here, but little beyond the organi-
alton of the two houses had been done.
From what has transpired in that body
since its meetin :, it would seem that
more than the usua! harmony and good
feeling is likely to prevail at the present
session. The organization in each house
was completely in the power of the Dem
ocrats and the Independents, who unit
ed for the purpose, and who will stand
together1n sufficient force to overcome
the corporate-n onopolyites, and to car
ry to successful issue such measures
OF needed reform as may be introduced
Some disappointment and demoraliza-
ton was produced by the sudden and
entirely unexpected resignation of Cas-
serly, and what the consequence OF his
resignation will be is by no means clear;
it may increase Booths chances of be-
ing elected and it may not. Ifthe Dem
ocrats and Independents strike the right
man they can elect him, but unless the
right man is hit upon Booths success
is already assured. Governor Booth
breaches very good political and moral
doctrines just now, but it should be re-
membered that in the past he has been
|


instrumental in inficting upon the coun-
try the very evils of which he now CON-
plains. His change is not sincere. 1t
is only matter of policy with him.
Ostensibly he is now trying to pull
down what he has been building up in
the past.


Last fall, year ago, friend of mine
went up from here to see tho Sound
country, and particularly to prospect
the San Juan and adjacent islands, hav-
ing in view the establishment of the
sheep raising business, if favorable
chance could be found. In the early
part of the past fall he made a some-
what hasty tour of the islands and
across the mainland of Whatcom coun-
| ty, and FROM thence to Seattle arriving
at the latter place at the tins of the
King County Agricultural Fair. He was
not favorably impressed with the ap-
pearance of the islands. He thought
much of San Juan too sandy and poor
| for farming, and said that no running
water was to be seen at that time upon
the island. He liked Seattle at the first
view and thought the Fair a success
| He is still on the Sound and contem..
1 plates more extended observations
among the islands and over the country
generally in the coming spring. The
advantages or disadvantages of couu-
try cannot be ascertained in day, a
week, or month. One needs to spend
several. years in country that is new to
him before he is en- sbled to get the prop
er =" hang" of it and know how to prop
erly appreciate it. A country needs to
be summered and wintered several times
over III order to be correctly known. i
Lave resided in California over twenty
three years, and yet do not know it
thoroughly. Nearly every year some
thing new turns up. A bran new bug or
other insect comes along to prey upon
the vegetable plats. or else perhaps
some double-and-twisted packer-up or
atmospherical '.eemboberation' is kick
ed mp in our weather affairs which no
one ever before dreamed Of or supposed
was possible. In The latter times the
elements appear more unsteady and
ductuating than formerly. Nature it