Year: 1871

COLUMBIA, (Cal.) Feb. 13, 1871.


Editor Standard: A change has come
over the face Of nature since the date of
my last from these diggings. The rainy
season opened here with few unpleasant
effusions of cold rain, hail, sleet, and snow
straight. These storms were short, of q
squally nature, and high tempered. Some
fallshorn sheep, in several localities, died
under the pressure of these spasmodic,
relentless dashings from overhead. This
squally' edition of storms, however, was
soon exhausted, and tho weather became
calm, clear and cold, freezing harder dur
ing the nighttime than the " oldest inhab-
liant" Of these parts ever knew it to do
before. Such was tie character of the
weather here on my arrival from the Sound
country, and the prospects for the future
sustenance of man and beast were by no
means fattering. But subsequently We
have been favored with several warm rain
storms, gotten up in the very best style of
the art of storm making, and as above de-
clared, a change has come over the face of
nature hercabouts, much improving the
appearance and condition of things, both
animal and vegetable. The feed is start
ing up finely for the relief of the hungry
herds, and the prospect of the grain crop
was seldom if ever more encouraging at
this period of the grain growing season.
So the changes for both man and the do
mcstic quadrupeds to make their way
through the year of our Lord 1871 with
an average degree of comfort, may be con-
sidered rather favorable. Any how, we
have got to pursue life's journey to the
end, como what will. ~.


Through the kindness of friend at
Port Gamble, l have received a package
of the Sound newspapers, in the perusal of
which l get an insight of what has trans
pired in the upper country, of interest,
since | came away. The railroad question
appears still to take the lead of all local
questions. That agitatng and troublesome
question of the terminus appears to be not
yet settled. am sorry to learn this fact
There is danger in its delay. Terminus
on the brain, of long duration, is liable to
weaken that organ, aud to result in con-
sequent decentralization of the mental facul-
ties. In the history of railroad affairs it
can be shown that persons have actually
died Of the railroad mania. The disease
generally operates on the brain, but some.
times it strikes down into the stomach,
and even gets down below the digestion
works into the vitals. Such attacks are
almost certain to produce death. But
Sound people, as matter of course, are
able to endure greater hardships, and to
stand heavier onslaughts Of malignant dis.
tempers than others, and therefore, aud
consequently, it is to be hoped that the
Sound people of Washington Territory
may survive the attack of the railroad dis
case, until that narrowing and troublesome
question Of terminus has been set at rest.
After that has been accomplished the dan.
ger will be all over, of course.


Although I was sorry to hear of the un.
settled State of the railroad terminus ques-
ton. I was pleased to learn some other
things recorded in the newspapers in re.
ference, one of the most satisfactory of
which was the very kind aud generous
manner in which the editors and publish
crs of the several papers on the Sound
were remembered by their patrons on New
Years Day. The editor of the Times ac-
knowledges the receipt of generous do.
nation of excellent wine," which was
"ponied up" to him for New Years treat
by kind and considerate patron of the
i" Pony Saloon" and by which the thirsty
gentleman was enabled to "drink the old
year out and the new year ill.," The In
tel2fgencer editor says he was made the re-
cipient, on the same occasion, Of huge
speetcake-huge in dimension, and sweet
by internal swectenipg and external orna.
mentation. According to the intimations
Of the said editor, the cake must have
been a mAappcr in size, and. beautiful al
most beyond description in external EN-,
bellishmeut. But neither size, nor beauty,
nor both combined could save it. The
vacant digestive ventricle of hungry ed
itor knows no mercy in its replenishment.
Neither beauty nor any other consideration
can afford protection to any article of food
in the way of an empty stomach, and as
large and beautiful as was the cake in
question, the editor himself owns that it
soon went from his gaze. Away went the
thing in double quick time down the grub
track through the gentleman's neck into
place where it was wanted. The donor
was good person, the cake was good, it
did the editor good, and l am glad he got
it. The STANDARD editor, etc, were like
wise generously cared for. They acknowl-
edge the receipt Of "a generous supply Of
cordials, wines and cigars" by which,
doubtless, they were made happy, and en-
abled to drink and smoke the old year out
and tho new year in, thus getting the
length ofa cigar ahead of the Times man.
May the cordially Of their patrons, and
the ,oine and smoke of their happiness never
be diminished. '


The balance of the Sound papers I have
not seen, otherwise should have been hap
py to notice their good fortune.


SLUIcE FORK.