o'clock, one bitter cold day, when old Erie was bound captive in crystal chains by the ice king, the box office man issued the following order to the boy-of-all-work about the theatre, a gawky lad, named Hiram, just from the country: "Hi say, you, hi'm going to the Post Office with these 'ere letters; put that pie hinto the stove and 'eat it hagaintst hi get back." Interpreting him literally, the young one, fresh and green from the country, as soon as the pie was fairly warmed, pitched into it, and by the time the box officer came bustling in, glowing from the cold, he had nearly devoured the pie. Struck aghast at the impieous spectacle before him, the box officer struck an attitude that even the Prince of all Princes of Denmark-poor Gus Adams-might have taken points from in the ghost scene. About the same time he struck the pieratical glutton, knocking his form nearly into pi, exclaiming, indignantly, "What the bloody 'ell 'ave you been habout? Hi told you to put the pie hinto the stove and 'eat hit. Hi didn't mean for you to heat it, you hinfernal rogue you!" But the best specimen we have yet seen was that of the bloody barber that shaves us-we don't mean by the sanguinary appellation that he is particularly cutting in the way of his profession, but he likes to "cut a swell" out of his chair. Discussing that all-absorbing topic, Frazer River, the aforesaid addressed one of his familiars with "Arry, wy don't you go? You are 'ale, 'arty, 'ealthy a hoperator has 'ails from hall Hell Dorado county!" We haven't indulged in a shave in 'Angtown-as Lee, the circus man, used to style the handsome county town of Placerville-since; its decidedly dangerous at that shop, at least. You run the risk of being victimized as well as the Haitch. A HUMOROUS, but observing contributor, who has evidently been gathered into the fold of the righteous by the recent revival in this State, sends us the following: MR. EDITOR: Did you ever observe what a difference there is in the style of prayers? Each one who prays at all doubt and who should not?-evinces in his praying the peculiar idea he has of the Supreme Being; an idea which varies in different persons according to the scope of their thought and education. Some adopt the narrative style and pray as if they were relating a story; others are declamatory in their manner of addressing the Almighty. A few are bombastic and leave no doubt as to the opinion they entertain of themselves. Some, again, pray familiarly, as if God were always with them; some vaguely, as if He were everywhere, and as much anywhere else as present; and others, again, pray ingly, as if the Lord were afar off, or possibly not listening. Many supplicate blessings, and some assume to confer blessings by praying. I have known persons, who in their prayers were always soliciting information, and others who were ever essaying to convey intellilatter class, I remember particularly a gence to the ear of Omniscience. Of the school teacher by the name of Smithand John, at that—a pious soul, who always commenced his devotional exercises as follows: "Paradoxical as it may appear unto Thee, O Lord, nevertheless it is true." This beginning is thoroughly impressed on the memory of all good Mr. Smith's scholars, from the fact that a large boy, on one occasion, a mischievous fellow, controverted the master's propo sition, by repeating aloud: "Paradoxical as it may appear unto Thee, O Lord, nevertheless it is not true, as Smith says, that we are all sinners." But I was speaking of style. This good man was so much in the habit of imparting instruction, as to forget that anything could appear paradoxical to Him, who understands perfectly all facts and reasons. Smith's great effort seemed to be to convince Omniscience of a few facts which were patent to everybody else, and he never wearied in his exertions. He would continue: "If thou doubtest thy servant, O Lord, peradventure thou wilt believe thy daughter Hannah, and others of thy household, who are ready to testify, that sin abounds, like rank weeds, in this part of thy moral vineyard." But the eccentricity of Smith's prayers finds a counterpart in almost every congregation. At any rate, there is in each a great variety of praying. After all it profiteth little what the style is, only so the heart be right. Editor's Table. Those, therefore, who are rushing northward in such break-neck style, would do well to remember that at present there is but very little doing in the mining localities along Frazer's River. We would also remind those who are throwing up a good paying business to take the chances in the north, that for a full month at least-per heavy, while they will be unable to make their salt. It seems also to have escaped the attention of our Frazer-bound friends, that they are leaving a "mighty good country." They forget that here, in our own beloved State of California, are being daily discovered gold diggings as rich as any that exist anywhere. We throw out these hints, not because we imagine that they will have the effect to keep down the prevailing fever that is carrying off our population at so fearful a rate, but solely on account of the gratification which follows a conscientious discharge of duty. FRAZER RIVER! We have heard of that, before. If our memory serves us, the newspaper editors of our State have written two or three small paragraphs on the subject. Well, the Frazer River country appears to be a good place to go to. If our eyes have not deceived us, a few have gone there. Seriously-for this Frazer River business is no joke-we are sorry to wit-haps two, or more-their expenses will be ness the wild excitement which at present prevails in relation to the newly-discovered gold region. We know that we might as well attempt to dip the ocean dry with a spoon as to stay the human tide now setting in the direction of Frazer River; still, we would not feel that we had performed our duty, did we view the present state of things without throwing in a few words of friendly advice. We do not doubt the existence of an abundance of gold in the locality named. If any doubt of the sort was ever entertained, it has been more than removed by the continued one-sided advices from that quarter. And we would repeat the counsel given by us some time since, that those who have grown tired of their career in California and are doing nothing, had better try their luck in the reported gold fields in the British Possessions. But really we have seen nothing to create the mad rush we now behold. We must bear in mind that all the reliable authority, while it establishes the fact of the existence of the precious metal in the region of country to which we allude, informs us that it cannot be procured, in any considerable amount, until after the river falls, which it is understood occurs some time in August or September of each year. This fact of itself should be sufficient to take the edge off the present excitement. The reports that have reached us are, we admit, quite moring, and have agitated our own nerves very sensibly since the last interview with our readers; but a little calm reflection has sufficed to keep our pulse healthy. JOHN BULL has again pulled Jonathan's nose. More: He has kicked and cuffed him. More and worse still: He has spit upon him. And all this in the broad light of day, and in the presence of the civilized nations of the world! Do you doubt it? Behold the record: How long has it been since the power and authority of the American Consul at Hongkong (Mr. Keenan) were disregarded, his rights trampled upon by an insolent British Magistrate, and the Captain of an American vessel fined and imprisoned for doing his duty? We are aware that this outrage for a time set all Washington in a blaze, but that was all. The stain upon us still remains, as fresh and ugly as the day the act was committed. This is but one of the many insults offered our flag by British officers, during the past few years. All other events of this sort, however, that have come to our knowledge, sink into utter insignificance beside the recent systematic attack upon American | greatly mistake the tone of public sentimerchantmen in the Gulf of Mexico! The ment. It is the last straw that breaks the history of this last outrage, as detailed by camel's back, and it is these last outrages eye-witnesses, is enough to make the blood upon the American flag that must change of every American citizen, who has the our policy of "masterly inactivity" to imleast regard for the honor of his country, mediate, determined resistance. boil with indignation. What American, with a spark of pride in his soul, does not feel the sting of these British insults? But what are the facts: Well known American vessels, while lying quietly in harbors, were boarded and searched by drunken British officers, who met the slightest resistance with pistols, knives, cutlasses, disgusting oaths and gross insult to our flag. Equally well known ships, while pursuing their honorable course in the waters of the Gulf, were, at about the same time, fired into by British guns, their papers overhauled by British officers, and everything on board bearing the name of American ridiculed and laughed at! We might multiply these instances, but are content with what we have given. As may be imagined, the American captains who were thus attacked and.insulted, were deeply incensed at the authors of the outrage. They, however, feeling unable to defend themselves, were forced to submit to the treatment, degrading as it was. We are tired of asking how much longer such a state of things is to continue. We have already suffered these insults to be heaped upon us until our own citizens, at home and abroad, are beginning to feel ashamed of their country. Even Spainweak as she is has been so long permitted to use our vessels as targets for her guns, that we do not wonder at the difficulty experienced by our Minister at Madrid in getting anything like an amicable adjustment of affairs. She has very naturally been led to suppose that fighting is not in our way, and that, therefore, we can be kicked about at the pleasure and convenience of all who desire to try the experiment. The powers at Washington have been altogether too slow in the matters to which we allude. There is, however, a point at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue, and if we have not now reached such a point, we THE interesting series of articles in relation to Tehuantepec, from the pen of Col. A. J. Grayson, have been highly prizedas well they should-by our readers. But little, comparatively speaking, is known of that wild, romantic region, and when wellwritten articles, properly illustrated, (as ours have been) are presented, they are apt to excite attention. We are indebted to Col. Grayson for much curious and valuable information concerning Tehuantepec. From his long residence in the country, he is familiar with his subject, the illustrations of remarkable scenes and places being from sketches taken on the spot by himself. So interesting indeed are his articles, that we desire to give them to our readers in as complete and perfect a shape, and as free from blunders as when they left his hands. For this reason we embrace the opportunity to refer to several errors which occurred in the article in our last issue. The beautiful Bird, for example, which the types made us name the "Para" of Tehuantepec, should have been Pavo, the difference between the two names being, we believe, very great. It was also stated, that the height, of the church at Gechecova (not Gechecora, as printed) is 300 feet, when that was but its length-the exact height not being given. It was likewise our intention to have accompanied Col. Grayson's sketches of Tehuantepec with an engraving of the little boat-the "Wanderer"-in which he accomplished the greater portion of his journey, but were prevented from doing so by the drawing sent us being mislaid. These errors and mishaps, though perhaps unnoticed by the public, are exceedingly provoking to an editor; and what is more, they will sometimes occur in spite of fate. The Sunday Law recently passed by our We have always pointed with pride to our contributors. We love their genial | Legislature, has been generally observed presence in our sanctum, and open their mysterious little packages of song or story with peculiar delight. How painful was it, then, for us to observe, recently, in a respectable journal, the intimation that one of our favorite friends-a lady at that had imposed upon us in the matter of a poem. Such an intimation, too, coming at a time when the whole press of the State was engaged in exposing the shameless literary thefts of other parties, but aggravated the instance in question. To give the matter in a nut-shell, it appears there are in existence two poems entitled "The Ocean Burial;" one by Mr. GEORGE N. ALLEN, and written, we understand, a great many years ago;| the other by the fair contributor to our pages, and published in the April number of this Magazine. The striking similarity between these poems at once excited attention, and in the succeeding issue we pronounced that in our Magazine a "base plagiarism." We have since been assured that the lady never read or heard of Allen's "Ocean Burial," and this being the case, we feel bound to acquit her of the offense charged. All we can say is, the two poems develop an accidental commingling of subject, ideas and language truly wonderful to behold. throughout the State. It is true that in many instances it was violated, but as this was done chiefly by parties who desired to test the constitutionality of the enactment before the Supreme Court, we may conclude that ours are a Sunday-loving, church-going, law-abiding, God-fearing people-as all honest people should be. Our only surprise is that the law did not meet with greater resistance. We must bear in mind that here in California we have a very mixed population, with a great variety of religious opinions. Besides that class whose peculiar teachings specify some other day than the Christian's Sabbath, on which to worship God, we have a large, respectable, and highly intelligent body of citizens known as free-thinkers, who we might expect would snap their fingers at the Sunday law. Such, however, has not been the case. "AN old Bachelor" gives us in this issue two or three interesting pages from the history of his experience. "Did I Love Her?" he asks. We think the reader will say he did. We are well acquainted with the author of the touching narrative, and know that the picture he has presented is not overdrawn. Though many long years have passed since the scenes described by him were witnessed, he still seems to enjoy and prize, above all things else, the love of his Mary. A BEAUTIFUL monthly publication, entitled the California Culturist, has been laid on our table. It is edited by Messrs. Wheeler & Wadsworth-well known, competent gentlemen-and is devoted to the interests of the Agriculturist, the Herdsman, the Florist, the Mechanic, the Manufacturer, Miner and Naturalist. The number before We can safely promise our readers a real treat in our August issue. Our opening article will be an exceedingly well-prepared description of a journey from Acapulco to the city of Mexico, by the way of Tasco, by a highly intelligent gentleman of San Francisco. The article will be accompanied by numerous spirited engravings, presenting the more remarkable scenes and places on the route, including a fine view of the grand plaza and Cathedral of the city of Mexico. besides containing forty-eight pages of In addition to this, we shall give an in- valuable reading matter, is handsomely emteresting story, translated and altered ex-bellished with colored plates, presenting pressly for our pages, from the Spanish of the mammoth specimens of California fruit Cervantes, entitled "The Gipsey Girl of as large as life and quite as natural. The work deserves success. Madrid." us, |