Santa Cruz County History
HISTORY OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.- E. S. Harrison, Pacific Press Publ. Co., San Francisco, 1891
CHAPTER IV.
RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
BY ED. MARTIN.
TO turn back the leaves of life's history forty years and depict the habits, manners, customs, and social life of the people that settled this portion of the State, in the absence of any written data for a guide, is no easy task. We have to depend largely on a retentive memory and the unwritten tales of others. The building up of this county in a certain sense is the history of the building up of the State. The people that settled in other counties were to a great extent similar in tastes, occupation, and surrounded by the same conditions as those of this particular spot, and all have contributed their share, great or small, in advancing the progress of the State and their respective counties to the position enjoyed at present.
"The Mission of Santa Cruz, from which the county derives its name, was secularized in 1834, and has now a growing population." The above is from the report of M. G. Vallejo in the Senate of California, dated April 15, 1850. For the purpose of this article we will commence from the year 1850. At this time the population of the county was six hundred and forty-three, the majority living in and among the Missions of Santa Cruz. From Pescadero to Santa Cruz and from Santa Cruz to Pajaro River, the population was limited to the owners of the ranches, their Indian servants, and packs of yellow dogs, which took delight in following the Gringo on horseback and yelling with all their powers. The Californians of this date did not take kindly to the advent of the newcomers, and this dislike was shared by the entire household, including the yellow dog. Over the plains now dotted with numerous orchards and well-tilled farms, roamed herds of wild cattle; coyotes and wolves were numerous, attacking the new-born calves, and occasionally a grizzly bear would condescend to be in the company of these mongrels of the plains. The native Californian was content with his surroundings, and would gladly have warded off, if possible, the incoming tide of people that were destined to push him out of his vast domain.
At this time it seemed as if we were thrown back at least one hundred years, to colonial times, especially in the manner and mode of locomotion. Travel at this period was entirely a caballo, on horseback. The Californian and his wife or inamorata rode on one horse, the latter not behind on a pillion as the colonial dame, but on the saddle, while the señor sat behind and guided the reins and held onto the señora, which was considered an improvement on the colonial practice. Not a bridge existed in the county, and as the streams became unfordable in the rainy season, they were crossed by swimming the horses, or delay was had until the stream became fordable, as no one was in a hurry, and time was not an essence of any contract with the native Californian. They were not troubled about the mails arriving on time, or mourning over the non-arrival of the daily newspaper. No doubt these people enjoyed life in their own peculiar way, and would rather have remained undisturbed, enjoying their ease, their frijoles and tortillas; but manifest destiny decreed otherwise, and, not being able to keep up with the grand march of progress, they have been left behind in the struggle for position, wealth, and power that has surrounded them for the past fifty years.
From 1850 until 1852 there was no large increase in the population of the county. Farming was carried on to some extent in and near the "Mission," which was the name generally used when speaking of Santa Cruz, and for a number of years this was the designation given by all classes when speaking of visiting the village of the "Holy Cross."
Santa Cruz was the main shipping-point for a number of years, as it is at present. Schooners plied between this port and San Francisco in the years 1851 and 1852. Several wrecks occurred on the beach. The mariner of that day, not being familiar with the storms, stayed too long at anchor, and found to his sorrow that he should have hoisted his sail sooner and saved his vessel from being beached. Lumber was shipped from Santa Cruz from the sawmill of Captain Isaac Graham, who had located on the Zyante ranch. There were no lumber trusts or combinations at this date, but $200 per M was the price paid for the article. Not much sawed lumber was used in this county at that date. The style of architecture in vogue was the renaissance, or the old masters, the houses being built of shakes and clapboards. When the door was opened, the entire house was disclosed, windows were deemed superfluous, and it would have been considered aristocratic and dangerous for anyone to indulge in such extravagance.
The extraordinary yield and high prices of potatoes in the fall of 1852 started quite a large emigration from the mining to the farming counties. Land was rented at $100 per acre in Santa Cruz on the flat where now a large portion of the city is built, but as potatoes brought sixteen cents per pound in San Francisco, this was not an extravagant rental. In the same year a number flocked to the Pajaro Valley, and the following year a large acreage of the valley was devoted to potatoes, in the fond expectation of realizing a fortune out of one year's crop, but, alas! their hopes were doomed to disappointment. Potatoes became a drug and rotted by the wayside. The business was overdone. California was not able at that period to digest such a large amount of spuds, hence there was a general collapse all around. Nothing dismayed by the failure, however, the greater part of the farmers kept in the same business; many succeeded in recuperating their fortunes, acquired lands of their own, and are enjoying the fruits of their victory, have become old settlers—sometimes called "mossbacks" and "Silurians" by those who have had the advantage of their experience.
The conditions of society, the customs, habits, and social amusements of this period, were peculiar. For several years the Californian predominated; his customs and language were interwoven with the new people that had taken possession of the land to a greater extent than would have been supposed. It was necessary for the purpose of trade and traffic to acquire some knowledge of the Spanish tongue. At this period the merchant used every effort to capture the Spanish trade. The large ranches were intact, and no mortgages were on them. Cattle by the thousands ranged over the mountains and plains, and if the don had no ready money, he had collateral, and was given, to his sorrow, unlimited credit by the accommodating storekeeper. The large ranches did not disappear, but they changed hands through due process of courts, and in a manner entirely inexplicable to the don, who in later years has paid the penalty for his extravagance of former years.
The American enjoyed the fandango of the don, imitated his costume, murdered the soft Castilian language in the vain attempt to make it fit in with a Yankee accent or Pike County dialect, "but he got there just the same," and is now master, and the don is "not in it." The social gatherings of the American population at this period were not very numerous. A solitary fiddle was about all the orchestra that could be had at a dance, which was generally known as a "stag dance." Native Daughters and Native Sons had not arrived. Society was purely democratic. The prominent citizen had not made his appearance. Men wore flannel shirts to save washing, and white shirts would have been entirely out of place. The few women wore poke bonnets and were not troubled about fashion-plates.
In regard to amusements, we had political excitement. The county was Democratic in politics, save and except 1855, when the "Know Nothing" party swept the entire State, and a year afterwards the leaders of the old party, "the war horses," were crying out lustily that they had never left the Democratic party, that they were led astray and would never do it again.
Campaigns in the 50's were fierce and exciting. After the death of the Whig party, the only parties in the county were the Simon-pure old Democrats and their opponents, marching sometimes under the head of the People's party, or any other name that would likely lead to victory. Secession and Anti-secession, Squatters' Sovereignty, Douglas Democrats, and Breckinridge Democrats, a few Republicans denounced as abolitionists, constituted the political make-up of the period. Elections were not so expensive to the candidates; the partisans shouted and worked for their favorites without money and without price, the political striker had not asserted himself, and there was no register law in force, no particular form of tickets necessary; each party adopted tickets so ruled that the votes could be determined as the ballots were deposited, barring the scratches. Notwithstanding the voters were worked up to the highest pitch, the elections were conducted as quietly as they are at the present time. The people have always been law-abiding save and except a horse thief would come to an untimely end without due process of law.
The old-fashioned camp meeting was a relief from the quiet monotony of existence. From the adjoining counties came numerous families to attend camp meeting. These meetings were conducted by ministers of the Methodist Church South, which was at this time in the ascendency. The Methodists North visited and affiliated with their brethren of the South, but their relations were strained even at this period.
Watsonville in 1855 was quite a village, having been started in 1852 by Judge John Watson. In this village were two churches, Methodists North and South. Quite a race was made by both persuasions to see which building should be erected first, the godly and ungodly joining in building the temples. "No 'dam Yank' is going to get ahead of this crowd;" "No Pike County Missourian shall lay over us," these were the watchwords and the battle cry. Both churches were erected, however, without any more feeling than was prevalent at the time, the feeling that the slave power was too aggressive, and, on the other hand, that "the abolitionist wanted to steal our 'niggers,'" or " niggros," as the graduates of the William and Mary Colleges in old Virginia expressed themselves. It was no uncommon thing for men to attend church in those days, probably having no other place to go, and for the sake of meeting the few women that might attend. Preaching in the evening was announced to take place at "early candle lighting." The hymns were lined by the minister and sung by the congregation. The choirs had not commenced to run the church; no soloist was on hand to sing an operatic religious air. The Methodists were primitive and tolerated no unseemly display. The gospel given out at the camp meeting was straight from the shoulder, and no hope was held out for the Wicked unless they came forward., took their seats on the mourners' bench, and repented of their sins. Brother Cox, who had been at one time a hard case but had forsaken his cards, dice, and other wickedness, used to relate his experience and warmly exhort his hearers to come and partake of salvation. Brother Morr, reverently termed "Joe Bowers," was another powerful exhorter. Brother Bailey, generally known as "Porcupine Bailey," from the peculiar cut of his hair, was the leader of the Methodist Church South, and was looked up to as a guide and counselor. Captain Barry, an unbeliever, used to pass the hat in church for contributions, and would whisper an appeal to his fellow-sinners in this manner: "You blankety blank sinners, ante up; these people can't live on faith entirely." The captain generally obtained a good voluntary offering from the heathen.
Horse racing was indulged in on Sundays, in full view of the churches. Bull fights and other noisy amusements were commended in the early days. It must be borne in mind that Olympic clubs were not yet established, hence the pastimes savored more of the frontier than the highly-refined amusements of the present day.
The alcaldes under Mexican rule were succeeded by justices of the peace, and were called squires, the title of judge being limited to county judge and district judge. Squire S., deeming it his duty to prevent a violation of the law, informed some of the Sabbath-breakers that they were liable to be arrested, which information was kindly received, but the race was run.
As the county filled up and families became more numerous, schools were established, society became better organized, public sentiment refused to countenance outdoor amusements on the Sabbath, hence Pedro clubs were formed, which, while not so noisy, and holding forth in barrooms, hidden from public view, did not offend the public taste so much as the other class of amusements indulged in by the crowd on Sundays.
Santa Cruz and Watsonville were the primitive towns in the county for several years. Intercourse between these places was always friendly and social. "Grand balls" at stated periods served to attract visitors to both places. Stages were running from Santa Cruz to San Juan, connecting these with a line to San Jose and San Francisco. San Juan was for a long time exchange station for the overland route to Los Angeles. It required two days to make the trip from Santa Cruz to San Francisco. Letters from the East were received by steamer, and the arrival of the steamer mail was an event anxiously looked for. At this period the old associations were not entirely discarded, as hordes of people in the East were eager for tidings from California.
In 1855 the Sentinel was transplanted from Monterey to Santa Cruz, where it is still published. While the local news was furnished from this source, the news of the great outside world was obtained principally from Eastern newspapers. The New York Tribune had a large circulation in the county for several years. In some localities, strange as it may seem at this date, yet a fact, nevertheless, subscribers to the above paper were looked upon with suspicion, by some of their neighbors, and were denounced as rank abolitionists. The impending conflict was going on until it culminated in the "late unpleasantness." The Chico Democracy so called, and their allies, called "Dough‑faces," were in the ascendency until 1860, when the election of Abraham Lincoln started a new order of things in more ways than one.
In 1860 the population had increased to four thousand nine hundred and forty-four, quite an advance in ten years. From 1850 to 1860, owing to the unsettled condition of the titles to land, not much progress had been made in the State of permanent improvement. The habit of the people throughout the State were migratory, changing from one county to another. This period may be aptly called the " Squatters' Period." A great many believed that the Spanish grants, by which large ranches were held, would eventually become government land, hence squatters' riots were common through the State. In Santa Clara County the District Court adjourned, being unable to have its processes enforced, owing to the unlawful acts of the settlers on a certain Spanish ranch. In this county a little war was imminent on the Arnesti ranch, in Pajaro Valley. The U. S. Marshal, sent to serve certain processes, had a soothing effect on most of the unruly settlers, and after long and tedious lawsuits, order was restored, and the rights of the owners of the land protected. The District Court of the county was kept busy listening to disputes between owners of large tracts of land in different parts of the county. In these cases some of the most eminent members of the bar of the State appeared as attorneys, in what at that time seemed useless litigation. Happily for all concerned, these tedious lawsuits were finally determined and settled, so that purchasers have of late years been secure in their titles.
In 1860 the population of the town of Santa Cruz was eight hundred; population of Watsonville at this period, four hundred and sixty. Santa Cruz, being the county seat, and having enjoyed the advantage of quite a settlement for years prior to the discovery of gold, was better known, and offered more inducements to settlers than other portions of the county. The shipping facilities were better, and other opportunities besides farming were offered for investment. The manufacture of lime was assuming shape, and has since become one of the leading industries of the county. Sawmills were started in several portions of the county, especially in the vicinity of Santa Cruz. The pioneers in this branch of industry do not appear to have been very successful. It was not until some agreement as to prices was resolved upon, to speak properly, a combination made among the leading lumbermen of this and other counties, that promoters of this enterprise succeeded in their undertakings. Formerly it was quite common for sawmill men to run a season, when, their cash and credit becoming exhausted, the mills were abandoned. Whatever evils against public policy there may be in combination of capital, one thing is evident, that the sawmills of the county have been successful in recent years, have not only paid their men promptly, but continue to do so. At the present time the lumber business is on a sound basis. The Loma Prieta Lumber Company, the F. A. Hihn Company, of Aptos, Cunningham & Co., the Santa Clara Valley Mill and Lumber Company, are the principal concerns in the county in this business. The statistics of this work will probably give the amount of lumber annually cut at the leading mills. While the redwood forests have been largely shipped to supply the demands, a ride to Big Basin, in the upper part of the county, above Boulder Creek, a short time since, disclosed any amount of virgin redwood that the ax of the woodman had not penetrated.
Apparently very little material progress had been made in the towns during the previous ten years, judging from the character of the buildings erected, which were evidently of a cheap style of architecture. It would seem that the people who had flocked to this county had not come to stay. There were no public buildings worth mentioning. The courthouse was a dilapidated looking building. There were no public school buildings worthy of the name. The transition from pioneer life to an advanced stage was going on very slowly. The streets of the two principal towns were in a wretched condition; sidewalks were not much in vogue. In the rainy season the traveler took desperate chances, especially at night-time. Gas light was unknown. Street lamps were conveniences that had not made their appearance. In fact, some of the old landmarks are still visible, but we are glad to note that handsomer structures are being substituted for the unpretentious buildings erected in the earliest settlement of the towns.
It should be taken into consideration that the means of the first comers were limited ; the amount of capital brought by them was not large. The property acquired was due to their own exertions and industry, hence they builded as well as their limited means would permit. Another fact in connection may be stated, that the opportunities of obtaining money from abroad were few. San Francisco capitalists were loath to loan out money on county securities, hence we can say that the pioneers did as well as could be expected with the limited collateral at their disposal. It must also be remembered that communication between California and the world at large was very tedious and unsatisfactory. No railroads traversed this State until a comparatively recent period. In fact, California was an unknown territory and an unknown quantity. Within a few years past it is a well-known fact that prayers were held in behalf of persons who were intent on leaving their home in the East for the purpose of settling in the benighted region of California. Isolated as the people of California were for a long time, and relying on their own exertions, the energy and enterprise of the first settlers of the State, the hardships suffered, the privations endured, by them, and the many and various sacrifices made, are certainly worthy to be placed to their credit.
The San Lorenzo Paper Mills were established on the San Lorenzo Creek, a short distance from Santa Cruz, in the year 1860-61, and employed about sixty operators, and the value of the plant was estimated at about $100,000. These mills were in successful operation for several years, but were destroyed by a freshet that washed the boilers and other machinery out of the buildings, and left the mill in a dilapidated condition. The owners declined to rebuild, gathered what machinery they could out of the wreck, and removed their establishment to another part of the State. Two paper mills are now in successful operation in the county, one at Soquel, a village, about four miles from Santa Cruz, and. another at Corralitos, about eight miles from Watsonville. Both of these mills manufacture paper from straw, furnished principally from the grain-fields of Pajaro Valley, for the mill at Corralitos, and from the fields adjacent to the mill at Soquel.
The powder mills on the San Lorenzo River are another important industry of the county, located on the San Lorenzo River about three miles from Santa Cruz. The works are owned by a company of San Francisco capitalists, who have expended vast sums of money in this enterprise.
The manufacture of leather is another important industry of the county, and has afforded employment to a large number. R. C. Kirby is the pioneer in this line of enterprises; and still conducts his tannery. Kron has a large tannery on the San Lorenzo. Porter Bros. for many years carried on a similar business near Soquel.
For many years the advantages of a railroad were pointed out by the local papers. Efforts were made to induce the "prominent citizens" to invest, but no one seemed to be willing to undertake the job. In 1871 the Southern Pacific extended their line from Gilroy to Pajaro, Monterey County, about a mile and a half from Watsonville.
In 1876 a narrow-gauge road was built and running from Santa Cruz to Watsonville, and from that place to Pajaro connected with the main line to San Francisco. This second road was built by a local company, of which F. A. Hihn was president. The county furnished a subsidy in the shape of bonds, to the amount of $100 000, while an election was held to determine whether the county should lend its aid to this enterprise, and if the subsidy was valid, yet there was considerable opposition manifested. The railroad has since been changed to a broad gauge, and is under the control of the Southern Pacific.
In 1866 the town of Santa Cruz was incorporated, the governing power being vested in a board of trustees. The same year, through the exertions of ex-Senator Cornelius Cole, who was then in Congress from this district, an act of Congress was passed giving the trustees power and authority to make deeds to parties of town lots, the United States relinquishing all claims to any lands in the Mission of Santa Cruz. Under Mexican rule the alcaldes were in a habit of giving titles to land within the mission to anyone applying for them. Some doubt was expressed in the validity of these alcaldes' titles, hence the passage of the act of Congress referred to. The foundation of the titles of land within the limit of the city of Santa Cruz, formerly the town of Santa Cruz, dates from the time of the passage of the act, and the subsequent issuance of deeds by the trustees. From this period people felt secure in their possessions, and commenced to make improvements on their property. Santa Cruz was incorporated as a city, with mayor and common council, in May, 1876.
In 1868 Santa Cruz County suffered a loss of a portion of her territory, the same being annexed to San Mateo County. Included in this slice was the town of Pescadero, which is quite a prominent resort in summer-time. It is situated on the coast about thirty miles from Santa Cruz. The reason given at this time for this act of secession was that San Mateo was nearer and more accessible to the people of Pescadero and vicinity, their business relations with San Mateo being larger than with Santa Cruz, and the condition of the roads leading to the latter place being better, especially in the winter season, when the roads were dangerous and at times impassable. Thus through a false economy this county lost a valuable piece of her possession.
In 1870 the population of the county was eight thousand seven hundred and forty-three. The year 1873 was a very busy and prosperous season through the county. Santa Cruz was coming into prominence as a summer resort. The stock market was booming, money was plentiful, and three stage lines were loaded daily for the city by the sea.
Watsonville, in the center of the Pajaro Valley, was experiencing a boom in building. The grain-fields of the Pajaro and adjacent county had yielded a rich harvest. Wheat commanded a high figure, and other products of the valley were in good demand, at remunerative prices.
Felton, a small village about eight miles from Santa Cruz, was shipping lime, shingles, and lumber, the latter being sent to Felton by means of a flume, having at the present time its head at Boulder Creek. Felton had inhabitants enough in 1870 to entitle it to an election precinct, and one was established.
The number of school districts in the country at the present time is fifty-four. No better indication of the growth and prosperity is required to be shown than by the increase of schoolhouses. Scattered everywhere, in the valley, on the mountain top, in the cañons, are to be found schoolhouses, well furnished with all the modern accessories for teaching the young idea, and with a corps of teachers that are a credit to any community. For several years the district school was in vogue. The teacher was selected by the trustees, who generally turned over the examination of the capabilities of the teacher to someone more learned than themselves. Boards of education were an unknown quantity. If the teacher could hold his own with the pupils, he was considered fitted for the position. In one case the writer remembers of an instance where the teacher was treed by some of the unruly pupils, and the unfortunate dominie did not dare come down for fear of a licking.
From 1880 to the present date the county of Santa Cruz has made great strides. In 1887 a land boom struck several counties, Santa Cruz among the rest. While in other places the boom was kept up by the aid of brass bands and excursions, and a sort of land gamble was inaugurated, in this county the market for real estate became active, but no undue excitement was manifested. Several tracts were thrown on the market and sold off for town lots, which have since been built on, and no reaction or bad effects have been felt; on the contrary, real estate has kept steadily up to good prices. Choice building sites are in demand at all times, and handsome profits have been realized by dealers in real estate.
In Pajaro Valley the erection of Claus Spreckels' beet sugar factory gave quite an impetus to the town of Watsonville, and advertised the valley all over the world.
It is hardly worth while to discuss the question of the old and new systems, not only in the school world, but in all departments of public and social life. The world will not stand still, even to please any of our most prominent citizens. The present school system, with its fine public buildings and other accessories, was not established without some opposition. In looking over a file of the Weekly Sentinel, the eminent old Silurian that has figured in the history of every county of the globe, to wit, "Junius," was a-kicking over the idea of building a new schoolhouse, and that the people would be taxed for it. " It is too soon," " Times are too hard," "Let us wait awhile," " We are taxed to death now," " The old log cabin schoolhouse was good enough for us," and so on ad nauseum. The same kind of argument was used when any public improvement was contemplated, and is in the mouths of plenty of persons at the present time.
The events of the past ten years are still fresh in the minds of all. Probably more material progress has been made in this period than in the twenty previous years.
We have seen in forty years a wonderful change. A sparsely-settled county with a few people content to live among their herds of cattle, enjoying life without any special cares for the future, satisfied with their condition and surroundings, has grown into a populous and wealthy community. At one time the cattle trail over the mountain range was the only highway; now the iron horse goes snorting over the mountains and through cañons considered at one period impassable for a wagon. Substantial bridges span the creeks and ravines. The cities are lighted with electric lights and gas. The days of early candle lighting are gone never to return. All the evidences and wants, artificial or otherwise, of modern civilization are here. Each and every one of the pioneers has performed his part in laying the foundation of the present structure of the county. If anyone supposes that the present state of affairs has been reached without effort or opposition, he is laboring under a delusion. Conflicts over needed improvements, material or moral, have been at times fierce and bitter. Feuds equal to the Montagues and Capulets were engendered and kept up for years between rival factions. " Silurian" and "mossback" are terms applied very frequently of late.
Among the Romans it was customary to date their documents thus: "A. C.,' anno urbem condite, from the date Rome was founded. Too many, perhaps, date from 1849 or the spring of 1850, and, apparently, seek to obtain a patent of nobility from having arrived in the Golden State at that time. The pioneers, we think, have done their share in sacrifices and undergoing privations in the early days of California. Most of them are in the evening of life. Not many of them are millionaires. It is a fact that those who have arrived here in later years have been more successful than those who were here in the Silurian age, so called. It is not asking too much that credit be given to the founders of the State for their well-directed efforts in shaping the affairs of State in such a manner that people of the present day are enjoying the blessing of good government.
"The early years of California must have been romantic," perhaps someone may say, " and nothing is said about it in these reminiscences." My dear sir or madam, as the case may be, is there any romance in washing dishes or any one given routine of daily labor ? Whatever literature has been given to the world of California has emanated from the mining regions and not from the farming counties. Were the people who rushed to the mines of a different type from others?—Not a bit of it. The same people scattered from the mines and settled in the cow counties, and were not of a romantic turn of mind.
Not much romance in waiting in the hope that a strike would be made so that the miner or farmer could return to the bosom of his family, or in working patiently and living roughly, endeavoring to get funds enough to send for his family in the East, and settle down in a State that was already proving an attractive place to make a home in. Letters received every steamer and promptly answered; letters received and answers deferred; letters unanswered and returned to the dead letter office; our Californian became despondent and reckless, got down in his luck and went to the devil; the wife in the East became a "California widow," and mourned the absence of her husband —these were the romances of every-day life, the same as in the present ages.
There were curious and quaint characters, also mysterious personages. People's antecedents were not inquired into very closely. Some came here under assumed names, and masqueraded for a long time, until Nemesis, in the shape of a son looking for his father, or a wife on the trail of a wandering husband, arrived and compelled a change of front.
While it is true that none of the characters as portrayed by Bret Harte were ever seen in real life, yet there were many quaint and original specimens of human nature. It could not have been otherwise, as there were representatives from all nations of the earth. The high-toned gamblers and Traviatas must have been confined to the mining regions; none ever made their appearance in the cow counties, and we are inclined to think existed only in the imagination of Bret. For a plain and truthful description of California pioneer life and customs, the late Prentice Mulford was far ahead of Harte. Life, probably, in a farming community is less exciting than in the mines, yet we had a good sprinkling of miners, who, being unsuccessful in the "diggin's," wended their way to the pastoral regions, and brought their habits with them.
The rougher element passed away, their exit being hastened by circumstances beyond their control, and they died with their boots on. This class of gentry have been extinct for many years. With the tragical there were many humorous sides to the old life, and the monotony was oftentimes relieved by practical jokes played on the unsuspecting tenderfoot.
California romance will have to be written by some future novelist, when distance has lent greater enchantment. In the meantime, the pioneers that are left will, on their festive occasions, relate their early experiences to the native sons and daughters, and swap lies among themselves about
"The days of old,
The days of gold,
The days of '49."
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler