Part 29 (1/2)

[65] Horace Greeley, ”An Overland Journey from New York to San Francisco.”

[66] _How Santa Claus came to Simpson's Bar._

[67] _A Ward of the Golden Gate._

[68] S. C. Upham, ”Scenes in El Dorado.”

[69] Volume xv, page 466.

[70] See also page 103, _supra_.

[71] The late Sherman h.o.a.r of Concord, whose name is inscribed on the tablet in Memorial Hall devoted to those Harvard Graduates who lost their lives in the Spanish War, was almost exactly such a character as Bret Harte described,--long to be remembered with affection.

[72] H. H. Bancroft, ”Chronicles of the Builders.”

[73] C. W. Haskins, ”The Argonauts of California.”

[74] Benton, ”The California Pilgrim.”

[75] _A Pa.s.sage in the Life of Mr. John Oakhurst._

[76] Delano, ”Life on the Plains.”

[77] ”The Virginia Editor is a young, unmarried, intemperate, pugnacious, gambling gentleman.”--George W. Bagby, ”The Old Virginia Gentlemen and Other Sketches.”

[78] They were the Reverend Walter Colton, Chaplain in the United States Navy, and Alcalde, as already mentioned, and Dr. Robert Semple, a well-known Pioneer politician.

[79] ”Men and Memories of San Francisco,” by Barry and Patten.

[80] ”California: its Characteristics and Prospects.”

[81] See also _supra_, p. 169.

[82] It must be admitted that the ministers were placed in a difficult situation, being obliged to cope with the hardy, humorous materialism of Pioneer life. The following dialogue is an authentic ill.u.s.tration:--

”Mr. Small, do not you believe in the overruling Providence of G.o.d?”

”Which G.o.d?”

”There is but one G.o.d.”

”I don't see it, Parson. On this yere Pacific Coast G.o.ds is numerous--Chinee G.o.ds, Mormon G.o.ds, Injin G.o.ds, Christian G.o.ds, _an' the Bank o' Californy_!”--”The Californians,” by W. M. Fisher.

[83] A traveller pa.s.sing through Dolores in Mexico was the witness of a marriage like that of Stephen Masterton: ”Whilst stopping here I saw a smart-looking Yankee and a Spanish girl married by the priest, whose words were interpreted to the bridegroom as the ceremony proceeded. The lady was of rather dark complexion but extremely pretty; and although she knew scarcely a word of English, and the bridegroom knew still less of Spanish, it was evident from the eloquence of the glances which pa.s.sed between them, that they were at no loss to make themselves understood.”--”Personal Adventures in Upper and Lower California,” W. R. Ryan.

[84] Mrs. Kemble, on the other hand, as the Reader may remember, described him as ”tall.” His real height, already mentioned, was five feet, eight inches.

[85] W. D. Howells, ”Literary Friends and Acquaintance.”

[86] See Pemberton's ”Life of Bret Harte,” page 228.