Port Tobacco Times, And Charles County Advertiser

LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles Co., March 11, 1874.

Mr. E. Wells.—Dear Sir:—In one of your late issues I noticed your requests to your correspondents, and as I found nothing to deter me from risking another letter, will again tax your patience. I will try "to stick to the point," if I can find one worth sticking to. I think you struck "the point" when you gave that advice. You may lay aside your Latin dictionary, for I don't intend writing any Latin, but if I should be forced to use it I will translate it for you.

After reading the communications from your classical correspondents, Justitia and Veritas, I felt a pity for your readers—those, like myself, who know "little Latin and less Greek."

It has just occurred to me that I made use of two Spanish words in my last letter, one of which I was thoughtful enough to translate: if you will forgive me this time, I will promise never to do the like again.

I could give you some poetry, but so many sublime stanzas, from Burns and Shakspeare, come to my mind, asking a place in your columns, that I haven't time to determine which are best entitled to that honor. I would give you some wit, but fear you might take me for a fool, for you remember somebody has said, "True wit to madness is near allied." I would tell you what follows and who said it, but am afraid you might think it poetry; I want to stick to my promise as well as "to the point."

I could also give you some very wise sayings, which I learned at school during my boyhood such as "Large oaks from little acorns grow;" which means, when paraphrased, "Big negroes from little darkies grow;" make a note of this politicians. There is an error somewhere just above, but let it stand, perhaps the critics won't discover it, and if they do you will be blamed for it. I have nothing to say about political tricksters who are endeavoring to depose educational benefactors: neither can I tell you how some have ridden, and of others who seem anxious to ride into office astraddle the poor negro, no matter what amount of chafing has to be endured. I know of no official honors so valuable as to induce disappointed politicians to emerge from the obscurity which their folly and prejudices consigned them: nor of those in embryo who are prematurely thrusting themselves forward as the only fit leaders of the honest masses. It would be useless for me to write of those things, if I could, for you see and hear them at home. I could give you some Biblical extracts, but presume you have a Bible, and that you go to church once a week, where you hear the choice passages read and a good sermon besides. I wish I had something to tell you, for my letter is deficient in news. But you have so much that is startling, ordinary events would scarcely attract notice. If I haven't stuck "to the point" please excuse me, for I have had so many bad examples set me lately that it is quite natural that I should follow some of them.

We are still enjoying the pleasures of rural retirement, which we would not exchange for the honors and excitement of public life. Our habitation is the temple of health, hospitality and piety. We rise in the morning with the sun, regaled by the warblings of the lark and the mocking bird. When we leave the table we issue from our dwelling not ashamed to meet any one, nor dreading the solicitations of friends and the reproaches for broken pledges. And as we wander up the valley, beneath bright skies and over green fields, our thoughts are as free as the air we breathe, but their frowns never disturb our meditations for "I place them either far before or far behind me."

Our labors are sweetened at intervals with the prattle and glee of the young, and when our daily work is done we retrace our steps homeward, our path now decorated with the bloom of wild flowers, which seem to be made more beautiful by the reflected rays from the snow which covers the stupendous mountains near by. Campbell must have been in a place like this when he wrote the following line:

"Ye field flowers! the gardens eclipse you, 'tis true,
Yet, wildings of Nature, I dote upon you,
For ye waft me to summers of old,
When the lawn teem'd around me with fairy delight,
And when daisies and buttercups gladden'd my sight,
Like treasures of silver and gold."

Pardon me for making this quotation, for it suits "the point" so well I couldn't leave it out, it is better than Latin, anyhow. I would write an essay on rural retirement, to calm the turbulent natures of some of your people, but as you won't let me write on both sides of the sheet, I will have to close as my paper is almost gone.

BACHELOR.

P.S.—Please make application, in my behalf, to the proper authorities for an agency for that Dictionary, by Simms & Millar. Send me a copy at once, if you have one left, so that I can begin work. Excuse bad spelling, will do better when I get that Dictionary.
B.
To "Bachelor,"

As you are so far off and write with good black ink, and very correctly, you have our permission, and we beg you, to stick your "points," as thick as you please, on both sides of the sheet. Our article was not intended to point at you.