\t thaler 
ORNAMENT THE SCHOOL GROUNDS. 
In too many places tho ground around the 
school house is destitute of a shrub, or tree, or 
flower—nothing but a hare yard, worn even bare 
of grass by tho many little feet. We never pass 
such a school house without a feeling of regret, 
especially when we remember how beautiful it 
could be made with only a little labor, which 
could bo performed by tho scholars, or by their 
older brothers and friends. We kuow of a case 
where the older boys in a district clubbod together 
and improved the grounds for those who succeed¬ 
ed them. With how much pleasure will thoso 
thoughtful youth look upon tho result of their 
labor in after years, lie who plants a tree, plants 
a monument for himself. Wo commend this 
example to all Young Ruralists. 
Mrs. IlOYT, in tho Wisconsin Journal of Educa¬ 
tion, gives Borne valuable thoughts and directions 
nn the Hiiblect. from which wo mako the following 
[Special Correspondence of Moore’s Rural Xew-\orker.] 
A T1UP TO CALIFORNIA, 
Physical description of California 
taint — Gold region 
and San Jouijuoi — 
of climate. 
term li Golden Gale ” 
Standard of pricts in 
Calusa, Cal , Anc. 10, 1£«>- 
A muf f physical description of California and 
its gold region rosy not be umiep. It extends, from 
southeast to northwest, nearly 750 English miles in 
length, and an average breadth, from east to west, 
of 250 miles. Its superficies, therefore, may be esti¬ 
mated at ahont 188,000 square miles, or nearly three 
times the size of all the New England States, and 
its e> tent —Valleys of bacramen 
Rainy and dry seasons — Vane 
Agricultural products — Origin of t 
_ Size of San Franeise.o bay 
1850 and 1800 compared. 
DWKIildNC.S, 
at others of wood, hollowed out, from blocks of 
willow. Their possessions of horned cattle, 
sheep, goats, and dogs, are sometimes considera¬ 
ble. They have no kind of carriages; hut on 
removing from place to place, their mats, furni¬ 
ture and utensils are packed on oxen, which also 
usually carry the women and children. 
Their dress consists of skin cloaks, similar to 
thoso of tho other Hottentot tribes. When visited 
by Barrow, tho women wore square ornamented 
aprons, suspended from the waist, with coppet 
chains, and beads of gloss around the neck, wrist, 
aud logs. These chains ho supposed to havo been 
procured from tho Dainaras, a tribe of Kaffirs to 
the northwestward, dwelling at tho foot of the 
Copper Mountains. 
Four Corunna* paid Btirchell a visit, and ho pur¬ 
chased of them a fresh ostrich egg for a small 
piece of tobacco. They belonged to a neighbor¬ 
ing kraal, of wbioh one was tho chief. Of this 
man ho drew a portrait. After making the bar¬ 
gain to trivo him ft largo piece of tobacco, he 
hie of sustaining a population oi 60 ,UUU,ouu, or w ; t b savage nations during the last two centum ». 
once aud a half the present population of the an( i the general effects of such intercourse upon 
United States! A great chain of mountains, the latter, would furnish a Btory, wo think, by no 
called by tlio Spaniards the Sierra Nevada, or raoanB (iattoring to our boasted civilization. In¬ 
snowy range, runs nearly through the center of B t ca j 0 f using tho power which knowledge gives 
the southern district. Further north, this monn- og for t ho good of those less favored, oa a general 
tain range, (which has ft probable average height n , lo | t has been made use of to advance our seltlsh 
of from 8,000 to 10,000 feet above the level of the an d 0 f ten cruel purposes, and to the injury and 
bcb, though many of its parts rise much higher, degradation of those who are entitled to our 
and are covered with perpetual hdow,) becomes „y 1U patby and aid. The following interesting 
the eastern boundary of tho Btato, and at tho aocoQn t of the Coranna tribe of Africans, who 
extreme northern limit, by various cross ranges, b ave 8 „fr«rcd less by contact with tho whites 
separates it from Oregon. Eastward of the Sierra ^an Borne other tribes, we extract from Narra- 
Nevada, and between it aud the Territory of Utah, tlv , t an( i Adventures of Travel in Africa: 
lies the curious and extensive district called the Wbca the Dutch had possession of tho Cape 
Great Basin, which has no outlet to the ocean for i/s (jololiy, tho various nativo tribes suffered greatly 
scalers l from their oruel oppression. Ono tribe, the Go- 
Between the Sierra Nevada and the Const I.ange, ranna8j or Korubs, were protected, to a eonsidera- 
lie the fertile vftlleya of the San Joaqnin and ba- extent, by tho wide desert Karroo, situated 
cramento, together with all the lateral valleys and between them and tho Colony, lienee they dis- 
foot hills, extending from the summit elevation of p( a y Ct j m0 re civilization than the general race of 
either range. It is in the cross valleys, running HoWentota who i( V ed on its sklrtB. They are now 
up to the summit elevation of the Sierra Nevada, ^lely; dispersed over tho country on tho norili- 
that the chief gold placers are situated. The whole erQ ^ fjf the c!ar [ ep or Orange River; but it is 
country in this quarter, for a length at least of nQt eu8y t0 ^ e fp ne the boundaries of their country, 
600 miles, and an average of perhaps 30 or 40 conBt antly shift their quarters, and the 
miles, is highly auriferous. If some Bmall por- vil]llgua 0 f two or three Iribea are so intermin- 
tious of this region seem to be almost exhausted, gled that it lH difflcul t to decide to which the 
yet its whole extent is so great, and so many parts torritory belongs. They never consider the soil 
yet, untouched, that all, by the aid of proper M wort b claiming, or even disputing about. The 
scientific appliances, can be mudo still to render a watcr an d the pasturage are all they esteem, and 
bountiful reward to the miner, and it may be truly wb en these are exhausted, the land is abandoned 
Baid, Beverai generations muRt pass away before useless. 
the California gold region can be emptied of its j c tb eir pcrBons tho C'orannas are moro cleanly 
treasures, or cease to be profitably wrought. This tljan thfl i{ ot tentots, arising probably from the 
may lie more particularly said of the gold-bearing Sundance of water with which the Orange River 
quartz rocks and veins, which, in many places, w bo8t» banka they frequent, is supplied at all 
are exceedingly numerous and rich. ^ seasons, and more especially in the summer, und 
The richest agricultural portion of the State „bich la scarp In rdmaet every other part of the 
comprehends the great vulieyH of Sacramento and „ out b crn ang ,e of Africa. Their dress and do- 
«an Joaquin, with all the smaller side valleys rnu- meBtic n t enB il8 are neater and constructed with 
ning into them. Tho Sacramento takes Its riso morQ 0ar0> T heir dwelling*, which ure formed 
the wagon, to take his OmH again; when,catching | 
aight of the ilrawing, ho was instantly struck with , 
a most laughable degree of astonishment, and lor 
a minute, stood with bin mouth and eyes wide 
open, dumb with wonder. At last, without tak¬ 
ing his eyes oil' the picture, ho called to his com¬ 
panions to como and see. 
A crowd now being collected, astonishment 
was general, and the various expressions of it not 
a little entertaining; none ever having imagined 
that objects could be bo imitated by srt i, to 
exhibit the color and appearance of i .. they 
seemed to believe that it had been done by u ; 
while others supposing it to bo the fish itself fas¬ 
tened to tho paper, asked where was the wound 
I with which it had been struck. Ciftious were 
their looks of incredulity and amazement, os 
they examined the back of the drawing, and 
actually felt tho thinness of what they supposed 
to be a solid flslu There was but one way in 
which the mystery could bo unraveled; so Bur- 
ohell showed them his brushes and colors, and in 
their presence, laid somo of the same tints on a 
piece of paper. After tiiis, they all retired satis¬ 
fied and greatly pleased; tho wonders they had 
witnessed forming tho topio of conversation. 
In crossing the Orange River, which is both 
wide and rupid, the Oorannas adopt a curious 
contrivance to transmit their Bbeep and other 
property. They take a log of wood, from six to 
■ eight feet In length, and at a few inches’ distance 
I from ono of its ends, tlx a wooden peg. On this 
weeping willow appears best as a single tree, and 
In a level space. The spruce, hemlock, ash, aud 
beech, from our common forests, all male: beauti¬ 
ful shade trees. Among thoso that can be easily 
procured, In Home portions of the country, aie 
tho horse-chestnut, locust, and hickory, the mag¬ 
nolia and the cottonwood of the Southern States, 
and tho buckeye, sycamore, and black walnut of 
the West The Boft maple is especially valuable 
a an ornamental tree, on account of its red blos¬ 
som# of early spring, its dense, green foliage of 
j summer,and its beautiful dress of deep crimson 
after the first frost of autumn. Bat whatever are 
ib j tie < selected, the arrangement of thorn 
s i.l bo the subject of careful Htudy. They 
nhoaid be planted singly, or in groups. Single 
tree . should bo suoh as have a graceful and beau¬ 
tiful outline, and convoy to the mind the feeling 
of completeness. Croups should always ho com¬ 
posed of ono principal tree, larger and taller than 
the rest, with tho others grouped around it as 
Bubordiuates. Shrubs that are used for hedges 
should be planted In gracefully curved lines, so 
us to screen Bueh fences and buildings as, expos¬ 
ed, would detract from the general beauty of the 
scone. 
School grounds arranged in this manner would 
become great, powers of refinement and influence 
for good. When trees are once planted, the winds, 
i the sun, und the rain, nurture them, supplying 
i their every want, and converting their pnny BtalkB 
• into giant forms, until 
t “ They stand moiety, and tad, and dark, 
Fit shrine for humble worshiper to hold 
Communion with hie Maker." 
But trees cannot grow in a day, neither are they 
more valuable than those shrubs and flowers 
which are at once, and in such diversity of form 
and tint, within our reach. Plant treeB, most 
certainly; and wherever they would be a beauty 
or a refreshment, let their roots begiu to pierce 
the mold above which their branches may, year 
after year, wave with a fascination of grace aud 
variety, like which there is nothing else in nature. 
But while making provision for these more en¬ 
during aud imposing improvements which must 
i be tho work of time, do not forget 
“ That delicate forest flower, 
With Hcentud breath, and look so like a smile. 
In their influence over the feelings, to refine 
and soften the nature, to elevate tho thought, and 
to imbue with that love of the beautiful which 
must always precede the practice oi v Irtue, flowers 
have a value peculiar to themselves. Their gay 
colors attract the eye, their exquisite forms chain 
tho observation, and with the odors exhaled trom 
the scent-chambers of drooping bell, or golden 
chalice, there comes a soul of piety, a sense of 
sweetness, a something tlmt finds its way into tho 
very recesses of tho youthful nature, winning it 
to goodness, and exalting it to beauty, 
“ Ere it is aware." 
■< ft is rnt faith that erery flower 
*1..k If Kruiitlwis M 
in 1848. The term was descriptive simply of tho 
rich and fertile country around tho shores of the 
bay, and of the wealth, which the commerce of 
the Pacific, passing through tho strait, would 
certainly givo to the future metropolis of the 
Pacific. Since the discovery of tho aurircrouB 
character of the country, the title is seen to be of 
a still more felicitous nature. This entrance is 
about five miles long and of an average breadth of I 
one and a half or two miles/ After passing 
through the “Golden Gate," tho great bay of Ran 
Francisco opens up. This bay lies almost at riglit 
angles to tho entrance just described. It extends 
from north to south nearly 70 miles, with an ave¬ 
rage breadth of 10 or 12 miles. 
The standard of prices in 1850, when compared 
with that of 1800, reveals a shade of difference. 
Then, eggs sold at one, two, and three dollars 
apiece,— inferioi 
dollars a pound, 
lars a barrel. 
was paid for the Custom House. From eight to 
fifteen por cent a month, with the addition of real 
security, was regularly given in advance for tho 
use of money! 
Now, money can bo obtained for three per ccuk 
per month,—hoard be had from Beven dollars to 
twelve dollars pur week,—five dollars to ten dol¬ 
lars pays tho doctor for extracting a jumping 
mo l ar —twelve dollars buys a No. one pair of 
boots, and "two bits’’ (twenty-five cents) pays 
« Biddy" for washing your socks. Wages of 
mechanics are down to four and six dollars per 
day. Cooks have to bo content with sixty, eighty, 
and ono hundred dollars per month, and table 
waiters with thirty-five dollars to forty dollars. 
Poor whiskey is down to a “bit. ” a drink, and a 
dinner for yourself and mule costs but one dollar, 
Rents have fallen off. A tolerable store in San 
Francisco can bo had for one thousand dollars 
per month, and a crack billiard saloon for half that, 
while small, out-of-the-way hotels and stores cun be 
leased as low as two hundred dollars per month. 
Everything now is moderate aud modest, except 
doctors' and lawyers' fees, which know no abate¬ 
ment. Lawyers fatten here. For crime and litiga¬ 
tion this country is without a parallel. Lawyers are 
full of jobs, with heavy fees in advance for the ex¬ 
orcise of their skill, talents, and ingenuity. This is 
still a fast country, and "Young America” here 
finds ample room to spread himself. s. b. k. 
Enjoy* tho fcir It tiro# then." 
And it is a truth founded no Icbb on observation 
than philosophy, that every child reflects, to a 
fearful extent, the spirit of its surroundings. 
Flowers are the most beautiful, the most sugges¬ 
tive aud the most available ornaments with which 
.. • • --Let it bo tho 
tits and friends to supply the 
Medicines,—say laudanum,—one 
dollar a drop; forty dollars was actually paid for 
a dese of that medicine, and ten dollars for a pill 
or purgative, without advice, and with it, from 
thirty dollars to ono hundred dollars. Spirits 
were sold from ten dollars to forty dollars per 
quart, and wines at the Barnc per bottle. Board 
cost eight dollars per day, or thirty dollars per 
week. Every mouthful at dinner might bo valued 
at a dime, and a Bingle hearty meal would cost 
we can adorn the school premises. Let it bo tho 
business of parents and friends to sunply the 
means, and a no less faithfully performed duty Of 
teacher# to seo that the culture of flowers is not 
neglected in the embellishment of school house 
grounds. __ 
DON’T RUN AWAY. 
Don't run awnv from the world’s temptations 
and influences, if you are really ft coward, go 
and hide yourself somewhere until you havo 
screwed up backbone enough to free the enemy 
I lUo a man. Don't run away at tho slightest indi¬ 
cation of danger, as it' yon hadn't the slightest 
confidence in yourself. Nobody ever conquered 
a foe by beating « retreat. If you moan to tight 
the battle of life like a hero, you can’t begin too 
early. Would you respect yourself and win tho 
respect of others? Then don’t shrink away from 
the trials and temptatious, but encounter them, 
smite them down, lay them iu the dust at your 
Idol. A man who has conquered bis enemy, is 
immeasurably greater than the poltroon who 
orecpH away in abject terror. High or low, rich 
or poor, we are all soldiers iu the action that ter¬ 
minates only with the sunset, ot life’s day; and 
the weak-hearted trembler who shrinks back and 
quakes at the souud of the trumpet, is yet far in 
the rear when the light of victory uluiies on the 
crest of the warrior who pressed straight on and 
fought hi# way through. A temptation overcome 
is better discipline than twenty avoided. No man 
knows ills strength until it has been tried and 
only a fortnight previous. My iormer impres¬ 
sions were strengthened by the result. Depend 
upon it, our river can give the Rhine points; that 
is to say, cau give it the old castles and beat it 
then. Not that I should advise any one to neg¬ 
lect seeing the Rhine if he has the chance. It is 
a irlorious river, but we can beat It" 
A PICTURE OF VENICE, 
A city of marble did I say?—nay rather a gold¬ 
en city paved with emerald. For truly every 
pinnacle and turret glanced and glowed, overlaid 
with gold, or bossed with jasper. Beneath, tho 
unsullied sea drew iu deep breathing, to and fro, 
its eddies of green wave. Deep-hearted, majestic, 
terrible as the Bea, the men of Venice moved in 
sway of power and war; puro as her pillars of 
alabaster Btood her mothers and maidens; from 
foot to brow, all noble, walked her knights; the 
low bronzed gleaming of sea-rusted armor shot 
angri ly under their blood-red mantlo-foldH. I 1 car¬ 
per day. Every brick in a house was roughly esti¬ 
mated to cost one dollar before tho building was 
finished, and lumber rose to five hundred dollars 
for one thousand feet! Rents were correspond¬ 
ingly high. For a single store of limited dimen¬ 
sions and rudely constructed of rough hoards, 
three thousand dollars per month was charged. 
A ccrtuin two story frame building, known as the 
"Barker House,” paid its owners ono hundred 
and twenty thousand dollars a year in rents. A 
gambling saloon adjoining, paid forty thousand 
dollars per annum. Another small building, 
which might have made a moderate sized farm¬ 
house kitchen, was taken by Wright & Co., 
brokers, under tho nurne of "Miner’s Bank," at a 
yearly rent of seventy-five thousand dollars! 
j The United States Hotel paid thirty-six thousand 
Coat, was used very early in Ltnna as luei, n 
is mentioned by Du Ilaldo as "black stones dug 
out of the mountains, which stones burn when 
kindled, and are UHed by many persons in prefer¬ 
ence to wood, of which there is abundance.” It 
Is found in the north and in the south, and prob¬ 
ably might be had in nearly every provinceinthe 
empire. At Sbang hae, it has been uBcd on board 
of foreign steamers; in this district it resembles 
Canuel coal; it is to be had also at Canton. Le 
Cornpte assures ns that thero is net an y country 
bettor supplied with coal than China, particularly 
the provinces of Shansi, Shensi, and l’e-che-lo. 
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