USA > California > The California pilgrim: a series of lectures > Part 4
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They get off to and having prayed, they retired to sleep in bed in due time.
much comfort and cheer. .
I saw in my dream, that early in the grey dawn of the morning, Rev. Mr. Search was abroad. He soon had True Heart with him; and then they were ready to escort the Pilgrim. Without allowing him time to think of what was close around him, his guides first had the Pilgrim to the great height in the rear of the town. As he toiled up the steep it reminded him vividly of the " Hill
They get to tho top of Russian nin.
Difficulty," up which Christian went on a pilgrimage many years ago ; which hill himself did not fail to encounter, very soon after his having come up to the gate of the " King's Highway."
On reaching the top of Russian Hill, Pilgrim was delighted with so magnificent a prospect as he beheld, and his whole What they saw nature was exhilarated. When he had taken from the top of the hill. a view of all around, they explained to him the interesting and remarkable features, the hills, the islands, the bays, the slopes, the ridges, the farms and the gardens. Among them they also pointed out to him, on the opposite
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TIIE CALIFORNIA PILGRIM.
shore of the bay, Teria Quereica, an incipient city, called also by some the town of Liberty, because the authorities had power by charter to regulate all matters affecting the public morals, to prohibit and to license Sunday-parties, picnics, duels, theaters, brothels, and what not.
The story of this town's rise and progress set Pilgrim to musing, and made him sometime silent; for he thought of Egg-nogg-town, Dog-scramble, Race-horse-lane, Smashi-up- hollow, Fistienffburg, and various other localities around the slough of Mortal Corruption ; all of which had shared the fate of Doomsend.
The thought comforted him, however, that this place of Liberty might never be populous; that in the future it might get a new character, if not a better name ; and so he turned and looked at the city lying at his feet, to mark its bulwarks and towers, its cupolas and spires. It did not surprise him to find one building, whose externals marked it as held in subservience to the See of Rome. His eye then caught another edifice with a top piece on, of a whitish grey hue, done up in a cheap, ambitious, style ; which True A glance at pub- Heart told him was the dome of the theater
lic buildings and the churches. of injunctions ; but whether the injunctions to buy and pay for the structure, or not to do so, were then in the ascendant, neither True Heart nor his friends could tell. He saw two or three religious edifices of respectable propor- tions, yet wearing too much the aspect of neglect, as if in debt ; while several of the buildings that were shown to him as churches were low, mean, and shabby in their appear- ance. When Pilgrim wondered at this, Rev. Mr. Search said that his and other congregations were in the habit of talking magnificently about churches, but, hitherto, their talk had not proceeded much farther than the private con-
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THE CALIFORNIA PILGRIM.
ferences and committee rooms where it was held. There was hope-though it rather seemed as if the good people were putting off the rearing of temples for the pilgrims to What the people worship in until they had all acquired splendid seemed to be waiting for. fortunes, had fine business houses down town, elegant briek mansions up town, and could keep sumptuous establishments ; unmindful of the fact that, in other days, the people of God were found rearing their defences, and rebuilding their temples, before they prepared houses of luxury for themselves to dwell in, or paid court to case and indulgence.
So, when the three had sufficiently bemoaned this state of things, and discussed some methods of remedy, which all resolved themselves into the necessity of nobler views of the Glad-land, and of fresh supplies of sacred influence descending thence, they went down the hill, and passed along some of the streets. As they were going down through They come into one, Pilgrim heard piercing musie, the thump the lower re- gions. of heavy feet, a cracked voice drawling out on a high key, " right chasse," "promenade all," and the like technical terms ; and he heard also many outlandish oaths and noises. He saw bloated men idling about, and red faced females in dirty little groggery pens, and, now and then, a more flaming and fiery looking place, where males and The reels. females were going through with reels of fact and reels of figure, and in garbs that beggared description. True Heart said that street was always noisy and disturbed ; but, by night, the uproar in it was terrible. He always avoided it in the evening if he could, and so did all respee- table people. It was a sink of iniquity; and, although an immense sewer ran the whole length of it, it was not capacions enough to drain off the garbage and filth of the
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THE CALIFORNIA PILGRIM.
inhabitants. Even the angry winds and a fiery storm that "The sow that once swept it clean, did not prevent an after was washed." accumulation of the same sort of stuff. It was set down in the books and charts as Pacific street ; but was more fitly ealled Uproar Valley, or Bedlam Avenue.
They came presently to a street which Pilgrim did not hear the common name of, but which, True Heart told him, was known in some private circles as Vinegar alley ; because What necroman that article, having been carted in, in immense cy will do with casks of vinegar quantities, at one end, came out at the other, through divers importing houses, in bottles, kegs, and casks, labelled claret, old port, hock, sherry, madeira, muscat, heidsick, etc .; and thus was put into market. He said that in a country like this where flies, dust, and spiders abound ed, it required but a month or two to bring out the oldest looking bottles in the world; all covered with cobwebs and dust, looking as if they might have been hoarded in the cellar of some old country nabob for half a century.
Somewhere in the same vicinity also, they found located the " Whisky Exchange." This was a place where that "Unity in vari- article became mysteriously transmuted into ety." all sorts of distilled and fancy liquors, brought out in casks with fancy painted heads and foreign brands ; yet all done to order in San Fastopolis. True Heart said, that, however such "spriritual rappers" as started the bungs might account for the fact, it was a fact, which any
Something to be
one might ascertain, that the amount of pure
explained.
wines and liquors-so labelled-shipped from San Fastopolis for the interior, in any given time, was sur- prisingly greater than that entered at the custom house during the same period.
Pilgrim said he had heard of a city famous for its ale,
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THE CALIFORNIA PILGRIM.
where the best manufacturers of that article were said to draw their supply of water from a pond into which were thrown all the dead dogs, cats, pigs, and other odorous things from the city. But where the people of San Fast- opolis obtained good liquids for these purposes he was un- able to perceive ; nor could True Heart tell him, for it was a matter about which he had never thought before ; but he Wise precaution had heard some dealers saying, in private, that they were very cautious about swallowing certain liquors they found in the market.
Passing onward, they had some discussion among them- selves concerning the confusion of the names of streets, no one being able to give any good reason for calling Battery street by that name, till True Heart suggested that there might be some remote reference to the kind of treatment A street and a and usage country merchants met with in that conjecture about
it vicinity, especially after tasting a good many liquor samples.
Just then the sign of "Goahead and Driver " attracted The firm of Goa- the attention of Pilgrim. It had so familiar a head & Driver, where born, &c. look that he fain would see the proprietors themselves. Ile found they were even the same he sup- posed ; men who were born in the town of Selflove, in his native province ; but were last from the city of Enterprise in the province of Welldoing, and whom he had heard of as among the most moral and hopeful youth of the place ; taking the lead in all movements to advance religion, learn- ing, sobriety, and good order. He greeted them cordially, and asked them of their welfare. They said they were one of the oldest among the well established houses ; were doing a large and profitable business, and were already reckoned
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The prosperity among the most wealthy of the city ; as their of the firm. elegant building so completely filled with their own stock of goods would prove. Pilgrim seeing some sus- picious looking casks, faucets, and tumblers in back, as they went about the building together, ventured to inquire Theory and if they adhered to their temperance doctrines practice. in this far-off region. They said, "in theory as much as ever " but, in practice, they were obliged to conform to the custom of the trade. "Circumstances you know, Mr. Pilgrim, alter cases. " "Oh yes !" said Pil- grim, but it is more difficult for me to see how they can alter principles.
G. & D. We have not altered our principles, dear sir, in the least ; we have only suspended their operation.
PIL. Or rather violated them ; have you not ?
G. & D. Have it so, if you please. You are sharp at distinctions.
PIL. Thank you, not sharper than yourselves. However, you "own up," and confess. That, at least, is candid ; it is good to confess when guilty of that which is not good.
G. & D. But you must reflect and consider, Mr. Deliberation re- Pilgrim, and not be too severe on us. You quired. should bear in mind that all our customers want wines and liquors, and will have them, and will go else- where for them if wo do not keep such articles ; and so we should lose the profit, and perhaps the customers.
PIL. But are there none in your sort of business that refuse to sell the articles, and never keep them in their stores, who still are thriving in a business way ?
G. & D. Yes! a very few; but they fill orders and supply customers by sending to their neighbors for such
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Diabolos in some quantities as may be called for ; which amounts sort whipped. only to whipping a certain old character round the stump, and leaving the profits of the trade to others.
PIL. They may not be so scrupulous yet as they ought to be ; but they show this, at least, that they will not them - selves sell liquors for the profit's sake ; they only order them for customers, to retain custom. Now, if you all did so, would not such a course throw the whole of that kind of
One way to trade into the hands of a few, to whom the
manage.
business was congenial ; so that the next step would be the making of it a separate business, with which no one need meddle who did not fancy it ?
V. & D. Yes ! But there is the difficulty ; to get the consent of the mass of the traders to the arrangement, one half would seek that branch for the profit's sake.
PIL. But you are now so wealthy as to command cus- tomers ; you do not need the profits of the business ; the loss of a few customers can work no serious injury to you. Ad- mitting, for the moment, therefore, all you have alleged in defence of your course to have been sufficient to justify it heretofore, I submit that there is some doubt about the force of the reasons now. And, besides, it must be hugely uncomfortable for you to keep your eonsciences, for the time, laid up-like some torpid animal in winter-in a state of suspended animation, while you pursue a course you dislike, and only half assent to, merely-for what ?
G. & D. Why, for the sake of more money, and for the Wanted ! Prin- want of more principle and pluck, you would ciple and pluck. say. Very likely you would be right ; as you generally are. We never considered this thing consistent, except with the general notion that we must live and do something ; that we were brought up to trade ; and that by
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THE CALIFORNIA PILGRIM.
trade we must make our way in the world. Getting herc we thought there could be no good and prosperous business done without carrying on this ; and we have done so ; possi- bly, not to our praise.
PIL. Allow me to ask if you know Rev. Mr. Search.
G. & D. Oh, yes ! He is our preacher ; and an exeel- lent one he is ; we hear him once every Sunday.
PIL. Only once ? Is not that inconsistent with your praise of him ? Surely, two " excellent" sermons are twice as good as one.
G. & D. True ; but one of us looks after the store while the other is gone. We don't both hear the same discourse.
PIL. Where are your clerks ? Are none of them trust- worthy ?
G. & D. We hope so. But they claim Sunday for themselves, exempt from all care.
PIL. But, if you were particular about them, and each should take his turn, you would both have two-thirds of your Sabbaths for church-going !
G. & D. Well, Mr. Pilgrim, you are an old neighbor, and understand our delinquencies pretty well. We have subseribed more than a thousand dollars for a new church ; when that is finished, we will go twice a day. As to this dirty part of our business, if you should come in often, we The traders are should have to work out of it sooner than we generous.
expected. As it is, we will each of us give you a " slug" for your good arguments and good temper ; it is worth that to get such a lesson in a pleasant way. Pilgrim thanked them heartily, but declined receiving the money ; saying he was not in need. He hoped they would not forget the talk ; but would do right, and prosper. If, 5
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by and by, he should be in want he would let them know. So he bade them good-day.
When Pilgrim rejoined his companions he apologized for his long absence ; and then related the conversation. Rev. Mr. Search said he knew them. They were noble young men. They had few superiors. They were not, like too many sorry wretches, ready to give up their christianity, and throw it off, and turn and trample on it, like swine ; nor yet to abandon character and everything, for the sake of riches Sympathy for and popularity. He deeply sympathized with people in a try-
ing position. them in their difficult and sore trial ; for they were withholding themselves from the fellowship of the church, and the active duties of piety, lest they should seem to reproach Christ's cause ; and, consequently, were made uncomfortable by their position. He hoped they, and all such, would see the way to be clear in the matter speedily.
It was now toward evening; and I saw in my dream; that A wharf for Pilgrim and his companions were come to a
steamers. certain wharf; where were great members of teams, piles of merchandize, and crowds of men, of divers na- tions. There were noisy runners, fruit pedlers, boys with brimless hats selling papers, gaping crowds of loafers, express wagons, dashing carriages, and long poles with burdens on either end and Chinamen under the middle. A half dozen or more fleet boats, with flags flying, were turning their wheels, blowing off their surplus steam, ringing their bells, and tugging at the lines, as if impatient for the race. Some people were chatting with their friends ; some were shaking hands with theirs at parting ; others were running to and fro to find theirs ; and breathless men, almost too late, were hastening on, sweaty and dusty, knocking over orange baskets and news boys, and losing their hats and baggage.
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The steamers The craft soon moved off, one after another,
get under way. and gave the whole scene in the harbor a living and beautiful aspect, as they walked the waters.
Just as Pilgrim was turning to ask something in respect to the sort of men connected with the steamers, there dashed by them at a furious rate, through the receding crowd, a pair of spanking bays, attached to an elegant An elegant turn- vehicle, that seemed but a plaything to them out.
In the vehicle were two young men, who com- posed a fashionable law firm, with a fashionable sign, in a fashionable street, and who kept this fashionable equipage. They were dressed in elegant black, with white neck eloths and waisteoats, and white kid gloves ; and they handled the ribbons scientifically. The one wore short hair, and heavy, forward-looking, fierce whiskers, and an imperial. The other's hair hung in long, and carefully curled, ringlets, of a raven hue. His complexion was fair and delicate; and the dark down on his lip passed for a mustache.
True Heart said he had overheard a friend giving some
The story of a account of that brace of lawyers. Their brace of lawyers. fathers were very wealthy men, and brought them up to college and a profession. They were younger sons and therefore thus favored. They had been sent into this region as a fine field for genius. But so it was, that their reading of law was at first but a sham ; and now they read cheap novels, lake poetry, ladies magazines, and Sun- day papers, and sporting publications, and the London Punch, almost exclusively. Truc, there was an air of learning and study at their rooms ; for they had been fur- nished with noble libraries ; and little Everdig, the white- haired clerk whom they kept for his board, was always thumbing the books iu them. As to the firm, they could
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scarcely distinguish Lord Coke from Chancellor Kent, Grotius from Blackstone, or tell whether Peters was a reporter or a commentator. They were utterly briefless ; their time being given to pleasure rides, calls, theaters, etc. They would draw three thousand a quarter, on the " Old Gents" at home to make up deficiencies ; and occasionally get a friend to give them an easy case to argue in court,
A brilliant repu- with the points all arranged for them ; hire a
Tation obtained
by dint of hard- reporter to be present and puff the brilliant reporting.
advocates, and then send the papers home to astound " Ma and Sisters." The style of the film was " Takem and. Pleasem ;" very funny ; and prophetic they once thought; the senior, of his success with clients, and the junior of his, with juries and the ladies.
Now, as the travelers passed up one of the streets on their return, I saw that Pilgrim stopped suddenly, and gazed in- tently into a saloon, with bawdy pictures on gandy and gilded walls, where were a huge bar establishment, several gaming tables, and a band of music. Presently he walked Another old ac- into the room, and up to the bar, and took quaintance turn- ed up in a new the man there by the hand, saying, " How are place. you my old friend Smooth ?" Smith, sir, said he, is my name, Artichoke Smith.
Am I mistaken ? said Pilgrim, do you not know me ? I have not the honor, sir, said he. I am the son, said Pilgrim, of Freelove Gaine, of Doomsend ; and I took you to be the Rev. Artful Smooth, of the town of Volubility, Rev. Artful Smooth. hard by my native city. Hush, hush ! said he ; turning as many colors as the dying dolphin, but not quite so beautiful; don't mention that name here, for They withdraw Heaven's sake! Speak in whispers ! Rather, from the gaze of
the public. sir, let us withdraw to another room ! Now be
1
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seated, sir ! We are strangely met, sir, what have you to communicate, sir ?
Now this Mr. Smooth was a short, small framed man ; round, full, and fatty ; with little, white, dumpy hands, staring eyes, and prominent lips ; and he was of a florid complexion. How Mr. Smith His hair was red by nature, but it had looked.
been cradicated by art; and he now wore a black wig, of long, frizzled hair; set high, so as to show a prodigious forehead. He spoke in an orotund, with a vain, pompous, affected, almost sickening manner ; and drew himself up so wonderfully, standing there on his two pegs, that Pilgrim was taken all aback, and scarcely knew how to begin.
I saw you, by chance, and knew you, and could not omit to speak with you, said Pilgrim. How long, sir, pray, since you forsook Volubility.
A. S. I had long felt, as you, sir, may be aware, that
A reason for my talents were being wasted where I was, emigrat.ou. that I was being buried up in a small town, that I was being poorly appreciated ; and so I came thence four years ago.
PIL .. Have you ever preached anywhere in California, Mr. Smooth ?
A. S. Smith, sir, if you please ; A. Smith .- When I. A change and a was being brought hither, sir, I changed my transmutation. plans and my name. The Rev. Artful Smooth never landed here ; he was then being only Mr. A. Smith, and such he continues to be, at your service.
PIL .. What business have you been pursuing, and with what success ?
A. S. I kept a bank, sir, the first year. Since then, I
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Banking. have been engaged in several public banking establishments like the one you have just seen.
PIL. I don't know as I exactly comprehend you, sir ; you said " banking establishments," I saw in the room only tables for cards and dice.
A. S. Oh, they are private affairs ;- if you will under- stand that any better; they are banks for faro, monte, and the like.
PIL. Indeed, you surprise me Mr. Smooth ! Is this possible in your case ?
A. S. Certainly sir, why not ? I gave up my profession, as I informed you. I was then only a private gentleman. I came hither to make money. Nothing I could do was so Playing a fair prof.table as this. I played a fair game. I
and honorable gamc.
paid back all winnings from any old friends, and so sealed their lips. Nobody was compelled to bet on my cards. If any did, and lost, it was their fault ; they might have known better. I told no lies, as editors, lawyers, doctors, mechanics, and traders did ; and I cheated none but such as tried to cheat me. In short, sir, I did an honorable and a flourishing business ; in my estimation.
PIL. But, is it known at your old home, sir, that you have been doing thus ?
A. S. No, sir, I think not. I do not wish it to be. No decent man will tell tales there about me.
PIL .. But, setting that aside, is not this sort of business disreputable and demoralizing?
A. S. Disreputable ! Not in my estimation, in Califor- nia. Demoralizing ;- perhaps so; if you can spoil rotten Bad eggs. egys. Most men I see here are pretty well gone in evil before they come. Their money is bound to go somehow ; and we may as well have it as anybody.
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THE CALIFORNIA PILGRIM.
PIL. But you do not consider this christian doctrine, do you, Mr. Smooth ?
A. S. No sir, not at all. I told you I did not come to California sir, to be either a preacher or a christian. I am an only adventurer, sir. I shall make my pile, go home, and be a gentleman.
PIL. Perhaps you may do so; but you forget what ยท injury you may be doing in the community ; and what reproach you may bring on the good cause.
A. S. The " good cause" be hanged. As to the com- munity, this community, sir, isn't worth a -; all are man's opinion of
An impartial knaves, thieves, swindlers, and hypocrites ! [ the community. don't intend to stay long among such infernal scoundrels as this country is full of. It's not worth your while to try to be a pilgrim here ; you'll get broke, I know. I should, I'm sure ; and I consider most people a good deal worse than I am, in California.
Well, said Pilgrim, I cannot stop to argue the point ; I fear you have been given up, or rather have given yourself up, to work iniquity. I entreat you to renounce this business. Good evening sir.
A. S. Good night.
So Pilgrim rejoined his companions; and they went homeward. But in their conversation and prayers, that night, they rejoiced and blessed God that after all they had seen, they knew there was still so much of moral goodluess and virtue in the land of gold.
MORAL.
It is the privilege of us all to give thanks thus. We all do know people among us of incorruptible integrity. Wary and suspicious as we are required to be of all strangers, ex-
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cept as we can read their characters in the face and in the manner, we are not obliged to be so when we come in contact with the tried and the faithful. We can confide in a cherished few. We can trust them to any extent.
It is true, evil reports have gone abroad concerning the state of christian morals among us, and the degree of piety prevalent in our churches. Such reports are not well founded. Certainly they convey a wrong impression in respect to such in our communities as are actually and fully in connection with our churches. There are very many among us, who were members of churches elsewhere, but are not here, and will not become such. These who keep aloof from us are the classes that give rise to these evil reports. In too many instances the stories told of their moral deterioration and defection are true. But he is a rash and unjust man, who, with a few persons in his eye, makes a sweeping charge of inconstancy, dereliction, and irreligion against us all as christians.
The ministry has come in for its share of reproach and defamation ; not without some show of reason, based on the conduct of a few individuals. There are those who have been, in some form, and at some period, in the exercise of the functions of an office so sacred, who have disgraced and abused it. Their misdoings have made partial men unjust toward the whole body of our clergymen, and base men, calumnious of them. There have been not less than two hundred clergymen resident in the State. From personal knowledge, or on what I esteem good and clear testimony, I can instance one Congregational minister as having gambled ; one Presbyterian minister as having become profane ; two Baptist ministers as having been engaged in gambling saloons ; one Episcopal clergyman as having
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