CHINESE IN CALIFORNIA. 275 



Ornamental trees in California are larger and far more beau- 

 tiful than with us. We saw a sycamore or buttonwood tree 

 115 feet high ; a California laurel fifty feet high with trunk ten 

 feet in diameter. On our way from San Jose to San Lorenzo, 

 on the Western Pacific Railroad, waiting for a train, and seeing 

 in tlic midst of a grain-field a large horse-chestnut tree, we 

 thought we would give it a closer examination. The tree ex- 

 ceeded our expectations both in size and beauty. It was fully 

 fifty feet higli, witli a spread of branches forty feet by measure- 

 ment. The branches swept the ground on every side, and were 

 then, June 28, in full bloom. The flower spikes were from 

 twelve to eighteen inches in length, many two feet, all in a 

 drooping or pendulous position. After that time we met with 

 thousands of this species in different parts of the State, but no 

 specimen approaches this either in size or beauty. Our party 

 decided to have this tree propagated ; and in commemoration 

 of our visit named it " Esculus "VVilderi." 



Under this tree we found a party of Chinamen, who had been 

 employed in binding grain, preparing their dinner. We were 

 received kindly, and at once invited to partake of their humble 

 meal. " Want some soup? " " Yes," was the reply. This Avas 

 served in a bowl with chop-sticks, and we Avere delighted at our 

 success in using them. "Want some cake ? " "Want some tea? " 

 "Yes," and after partaking of these, we offered them money, but 

 they disdained filthy lucre, and we parted much pleased with 

 these Orientals. Boston is well known to the Chinese, and they 

 call the white men " Bostons." And here allow me to remark, 

 that we feel no alarm on account of their immigration to this 

 country. The introduction of the Chinese is in accordance with 

 the designs of Providence. It is this that has brought them to 

 our shores, and we might as well expect to retard the motion of 

 the heavenly bodies, as to arrest this progress of civilization. 

 We give it, therefore, a hearty welcome, as one of the means of 

 developing our vast national resources, and as the best means of 

 ultimately Christianizing a great heathen nation. Already they 

 are attending our schools, acquiring our language, adopting our 

 customs, and some are filling places of trust in financial, com- 

 mercial and other business. We had intercourse with many of 

 these men, and found them favorably inclined to our country 

 and its institutions. We attended a Sabbath school of two or 



