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A C1UITM1S CHOmOS. low III a 7r glitiM f champtgna and I harry And tarn to tha bumper of winn again : Tha Ant aaroka af midulght niaat and ui ail merry, lad thii be tha choral that mkf the rafrala: i ll Chrieimalli hera, Ik best (' the year '11 meat it with lore, u eaeh baart may dearea N a aorraw ihall darken Oar raa a, u we bearkea T th joy belli that ring io the rear' jubilee I II. let bamty ed nyety trie to the meunre Whioh aiaaical o,donoee mark fur their feat- , The maw ef the dance it a well print or pleaaare, And adda ita own aiarm U this festival real Oh I Chrietmn it here, 1 he hnc of the your I nn hail it with jollity, rreet 't with dance, i'or auiaee are booing And warm hard" are meeting, While rhythm of maxiethe teneut entrance I III Of feattier aad plenty 'tia fitly the leaton, Co (tire to the lnd:gent p irt of your ttore; Tor he who withholds it, doet charity trea- Aad fafla in hit duty to think of the prar. Oh I Cbrittinat i here. Tbe beat ol thaywr Thehometof Ueaeedy with tftj full and tree. IV. A tout far the Chrittmattidel drink it in Iadnei With pea e te the world, into all men eodwill; Her the tanthine of Joy pierce the ihadowi of ladnm, And Life, for ear gulfing, ebo.oe wine) diUilli Ok 1 Cbriatmaa, it here. The beat of the year, The teatna ef merriment, charily, ong Bucb metn'riea entwine it, .Kith heart tha i eni-hrine it Amid theaffictioni Tihioh (row green and trend Lm 0. ITarlf in reoMie Mag a time. In OH Tlrajlutn Uffore tbe War. IwiiTTia ret tbi afpkal ablik. BT MARIA ICopyrirhbd mi kj S. S. MeClure J Id the days that aro no more, the legal Thanksgiving Day wan not known in Virginia. Nor vet New Year'i Day, as kept by the Knicker bocker burghers. The 22J of Febru ary wm celebrated by oollege ora tions: tbe Fourth of July given over to political burbcaes, Christmas time was the reservoir into which 6V. touched the flush tido of lamily, social aad national rejoicing. With lofty as with lowly, it, was a watch tower set on a hill, tho benign light of which, like the flaming sword guarding Eden, flashed every way, Backward rays from Christmas goue met and mingled with the rays of Christmas coming. We began to count the days yet Unfulfilled with the reddening of the rock maples The opening of the chinquapin burr, the apple harvest, the fall of the leaf, the change from pucker te sugar in the pulp of the persimmon were way marks, impa-ej tieDtly numbeied, in i he procession of months and weeks toward the cul minating glory of the year. Housekeepers commenced prepara tions for it in sober earnest by the last week of November, specially in the country. The traditions of our English ancestry told mightily in modeling our habits of life. "Christ mas in town" was deprecated with it dash of compassionate contempt by planters and their families. They kept open house at that season with heartiness that looks to us now like bootless extravagance. The premises were sot in order early in December as for royal uup'ia'a and court banquets. Mince meat was al ready made, moistened with peach brandy in quantity and quality suf ficient to season it against mud and mould, then packed down in huge jars and- bladders tied over tho mouths. With the first hard frost came "hog killing" providing bams, spareribs, chimes and sausage of de licicusness inimitable, and to those who never tasted them, unimagina ble. Pots of lurd "dried out," into snowy harduess, wero ranged on the store loom shelves, destined to furnish hot baths for the br:ods . ot summer chickens, cooped np and fattened on outs and Hiush. Pens wero built for -lately turkeys and pompous Mus covy ducks, and the tenants fed as regularly and bountifully as were the children who honed to eat them. Later on came cake making, Dever intrusted to the hands of hirelings; fruit cake, with juit enough flour wrought into it to hold together the fatsnd liberal soul; pound cako, into whose, manufacture sixteen ounces ofeaoh ingredient was righteously compounded; ginger cakes, war ranted to keep for months; spice and lemon cakes, and, in the last days of joyous activity, sponge cake, moulded and frosted into snowballs as big as the fist, and owing. their buoyant being to eggs and elbow power, with not so much as a dust of baking powders. En glish plum pudding was not made in every family. On tbe threshold of this emprise diffident housewives and easo loving cooks paused, dread ing and daunted. Ouly veteran divers, plunging into the depths of ancestral recipes, brought up success and established a culinary reputa tion vaunted by children and chil dren's ohildrcn. As December nights grew toward their longest aud December days ncared the briefest uf the calendar, feather beds were beaten for ten minutc each, by the fiail like arms of colored housemaids, under the eye of her mistress or faotorum, and provision of blanket, sheets, etc., made lor temporary sleeping places. On a rainy or snowy day, an armful of straw, fastened to the end of a pole, was thrust up the throat of every chimney to burn out the en crusting soot. Ilena, incited to the full measure of their duty by arts peculiar to colored poultry keepers, yielded eggs by the hundreds for puddious and pios, with especial re serve tor egg nogg. ty Christmas Jive every pantry was packed to groaning; oomels of name aud a galaxy of sparks streamed from tho kitchen ohiiancy; every -eligible nook holi a bed; a dozen young girls with attendant gallants surrounded the drawing room fire; the play of repartee and compliment, and the ripple of legato faug'itcr rose And ebbed to the piano accom paniment responsive to the sweep of white fingers. City guests were always hidden and always came to the plantation Christmas frolic. "Company" was no trouble: hospitality was as natural and easy sb breathing. But tho holiday reception was the cream of welcome to the visitor. If eight bachelors lent and smoked in the uilco" in the yard, and as many girls occupied J me one snare cn&rnber ot the homo stead, nobody felt orowdedAThoro fmK';k- 'C, . ... ... .TTj were plenty, of feather bedi and blankets, great stores of linen heir looms that required the wear ot two generations to make them thin, and big fires burning all night in every apartment for ventilations. Supper would be served at 8 o'clock, perhaps later. A repait of hot fried or smothered" chicken, tewed oysters, four or five kinds of cold meats; waffles, hot rolls, corn bread in divers shapes, battercakes: wafers as thin as paper, that yielded crisply to the teeth and stimulated, not sitibfiod, appetite damson, melon, peach, quince, strawberry and cherry preserves; home made cakes, tea, coffee and great pitchers of milk with all the cream lett on. In spite of the luxurious abund ance nf their menus, the Virginians of that date were seldom gormandi zers. There was little talk in well bred companies of eating and drink ing, Sumptuous fare was accepted as a part of their daily living, and even high faasts were never mere "feeds. If they lingered over their upper on this evening it was in en joyment of social converse, not of grosser creature comforts. The plantation tiddler was in his place at the top of the long drawing room when the hilarious bevy flut tered back thither. The portly host usually led off the first set with the belle of the party, and his wife was sometimes his vis-a-vis. Churohly elders who had scruples about dano ing in general were coaxed into tak ing the floor for this "once a year." As the clock, struck, twelve they joined hands in a wide circle and sang "Auld Lang Syne" or quite as often "Praise God, from whom all blessings Jflow." They were not ashamed to name Ilim to whom all praise belongs in thpse brave, sim ple days that are ao morel One more set the Virginia reel, danced on Christmas night in tho Mother Country to this time, under the name of Sir Roger de Coverly, and the wassail bowl of egg nogg was brought in. A toast to the health ancLhap piness of present and absent friends was drunk, and the girls, betook themselves to the cheery, crowded chambers overhead, leaving the men to smoke aud talk politics about tho drawing room hearth. Before suorise, every sleeper on the plantation was aroused by the doafening boom of the "Christmas gun." A heavy blast of gunpowder was rammed into a hollow ttce and firod a daybreak. Detonations of lesser force followed, from Iocs rid dled with auger hole and stuffed with powder, guns, pistols and '-'pop crack ers," while the outcries of v'Chris'mas git", my marstorl" "Chris'mas git', my mistisl" under windows and halls, rivaled tlie "baksheesh" yells of the Bedouin. Nobody in that region and time said, "Merry Christmas," but, always, "Christmas gift." Tho strife as to who should get it out first was, with children and servant, a claim upon the liberality of the later speaker. What was undoubtedly the primal significance of the greeting was sol emn and beautiful, nothing less than proclamation of the unspeakable Gift heralded by the angels aulhem above the plains of Bethlehem. Breakfast was not over until 10 o'clock, dinner was served at i or 3 o'clock. Neither soup nor fish was regarded as an essential to the feast. Roust turkey at the head of the table was balanced by boiled turkey with oyster sauce at the loot, lloast goose, midway between the two, mingled fragrant steam with rising incense of roast duck on the other side ot the castor; chicken, lamb, roast bed and "shoat 'perhaps a sucking pig baked whole and the inevitable boiled ham, wero separated by vege tables, pickles, catsups and sauces. Family silver reflected tho sunshiue of happy faces; cut glass as old an swered in silvery chimes the tuneful clamor of young voices. The country fashion of taking wine together lent individual interest to the revel. The urbane host was ever on the lookout for opportunities to send the decanter along with "Miss A ! Mr. B. asks tho pleasure of tak ing a glass of wine with you." Then the graceful lifting of glasses, the exchauge of bows across the board, the complimentary phrase from one, the smile of acknowledgement from tho other it is all old 1'aNhioned now, but it was far prettier than the cus toms that have driven it out. "Ladies and geutleinen!" called out dear old Mnj. A. from the head of the table in the floodiide of the Christmas wassail, "1 crave leave to offer a toast!" His plantation skirted tho Appo mattox river, which lies between, Powhatan aud Amelia counties. At his right s it his favorite neighbor, Powhatan L , who was betrothed to Amelia C , a Florida belle, not preout today. "A toast!" repeated the h"St. rising, mautling tumbler in hand, his eyes brimming with fun and fond ness. "1 give you the Appomattoxl May it cease to flow, that Powhatan and Amelia may be forever united." Ah! that was the sort of thing they did in the old .Virginia days, before war laid their pleasant places waste. People watched for chances to turn phrases handsomely, studied the oapabilities.ol language to give pleasure to their auditors. Elegant conversation was a popular accom plishment. Now it is subsidiary to dancing, murdered by flirtation. I have spoken of Christinas week.! to limit the festival to a single day would have been reckonod maim ing of their ohief social rite. From one manor house to another rolled the gladsome party, tarrying by appoint mcut, a day at this, a night at that, talking, dancing, driving, walking, singing, love making in such iuno ocnoy of delight as is possible to none but the young. Now and then they danced Virginia reels, quadrilles and cotillions (ado out of fashion now), on the bare oaken floor of a bam like parlor, furnished with uncushioned chairs and thin legged tables; as the wide, rambling house in which they encamped for the night's frolic was unpainted, wiudows arid doors had shrunk from the casings, and the blaze of the yule log flared in draughts pouring in from all quarters. Sometimes their progress was made in rusty, shack ling chariots, lurching heavily through red mud two feet deep, and over corduroy roads that would have shaken old bones from the sockets. Over all and above all, they carried the brave, gay spirit that laughs at external discomfort, found every where gontlo breeding aud whole souled hospitality, adorning Christ mas hospitality as the flexible soravs of their own running cedar the was sail bowl. NubMrribe lor the "Appeal," MEMPHIS DAILY THE CITY OF THE A GFLS. THE CEMIEK OF A UARUF.N OP FLOWERS. Its Climate and I's Advantage for Health 1 he Chinese end I ulna town Hies and Fleas the Special Torment. IsriouL ooBBBsroxDixci oy th trraiL.1 Loa Angeles, Cal., December 12. Les Angeles, or "the City of the Angels," is rightly named, and will in time beoome one ot the show places of the country. Ot course you have heard all about the "glo rious" climate of California, and this "climate" seems to reach perfection in this, the southern metropolis ot the State. At this writing the weather to an Eastern mind is phe nomenal. Flowers are in bloom, grass is green, and everything has tte appearance of spring. Winter, in fact, is practically unknown here. Very few of the houses havo fire places, and those that havo are mostly for show. But enouih of climate, etc., that has already been written to death by enthusiastio correspondents-and visitors. So I will endeavor to give you the plain mat ter of fact impres-ions of an ex Memphian after a six month s' resi dence here. Los Angeles is cer tainly a delightful place to live, and will be, doubtless, an important poirJt from a business standpoint EODie day; The country is rapidly filling up, real est a to is booming and many elegant resi dences are now in ooure of erection. The winter "rush" is larger than ever before. Business hero at pres ent is mostly of a retail character, there being comparatively few job bing houses. There is a considerable trade in grapes, wine, oranges and other fruits, and this is growing every year. The city now claims a population of 45,000 to 55.0(H) which, it true, is unprecedented. The cost of living is about the same here as in Memphis; house rent is, perhaps, higher. All fruits'and vegetables are cheap and very nice, l-resh meats are about the Fame, and salt meats much higher. Sugar used here is mostly from the Sandwich Islands. Wood and coal are very high, but fortunately very little has to be used. The coal is brought from Australia to San Pedro, which is teally the seaport of Lis Angelas, aad is brought to this on the cars, a distanco of eighteen miles. It sells generally at about $10 to $12 a ton at retail, and wood sells at $10 to $15 a cord. Oasolino, how ever, is mostly used for domcstio Surposcs, a portion of which is pro uccd in this country, Newhall being tho principal point, situated about fifty miles from Los Anceles, and the remainder is brought from the East. Almost every one uses gasoline both for cooking and heating purposes, and it sells for $1 50 per five gallon can. Good servants are very hard to get and wages are fery high, ranging from $15 to $30 per month, and as a consequence people, as a rule, do their own work, unless they are wealthy. The laundry business is virtually monopolized by tho Chi nese. THE CIIINESK, by the way, are quite a factor in Los Angeles civilization, and deserve moro than a passing notice. This is essentially, a pro-Chinese town. There are probably 3000 of them in the city. They have their distinctive quarter, kuown as Chinatown, with their own theater, shops and other places dear to the Celestial heart. As before remarked, the laundry business is in their hands, and they also cut quite a figure in truck or garden farming. They are tolerated because no other labor can be had, and they Uave consequently mado themselves almost a necessity. Occa sionally, however, the anti-Chinese feclifg will crop out, s was evi denced in an attempt to burn Chiua town a week or two airo. Several houses were destroyed before the fire was extinguished, but the next day the "guileless heathon" proceeded about his usual avocations as it noth ing had happened. Altogether t!io Chinaman is a strange being. lie is patient and long suffering, and is a marvel of industry and thrift. He is not a good citizen, however, aud it is owly a question ol time when Joi n wilHiave to move. OTIIEH PESTS). As every locality, oven tho most favored, has its drawbacks, so has this. It is true they are small, hut thoy aro not the less aunoying. 1 refer to flies and fleas. There are millions of them s,nd they are like the poor "you have them with you always." You know we have no killing frost, aud as a consequence, they grow and thrive tho year through. There are not mauy mos quitoes, hut what there are are quite as voracious and pertinacious as the mempnis article. AS A HEALTH 11ESORT Los Angeles ot course ranks high. There is something in the atmos phere here (and it is not all imagina tion, either,) which proves bcucfioial to persons suffering from pulmonary complaints. Of course people lie here, as they do everywhere else, but it they come soon enough they are generally benefited and their lives prolonged. It is remarkably healthy lor children, too; many complaints incidental to babyhood in the Kast are unknown here. There are any number of doctors, however, and they all seem to be doing well, but thoy say their patieuts are mostly from the Kast. C II AN OK 3 OP EMPI.OTM KKT. A few words on this point will not bo amiss. Mechanics ot all kinds are in demand, as a general rule, and readily secure work at remunerative prices. Carpenters, bricklayers, and other s illed workmen, oommand from $3 to $4 50 per day. Ranch or farm hands get from $1 to $1 50 a day and board, and are eenerallv .in de mand. This state of affairs, however, does not apply to clerks and profes sional men. The supply of the latter far exceeds the demand, and wnges are correspondingly low, ranging from board and lodging to $75 and $100 per month. In fact, they "size up" a man's necessities and govern themselves accordingly. Thus, if a man is in a particularly tight plaoe, his chanoes are proportionately small. This state of anairs is brought about by the large number of inva lids who come from the East; people who are not absolutely broken down, but who aro able to do light wor, and with whom "wages is not of so muob importance as a good home,' APPEAL... SUNDAY, and the opportunity of breathing this "glorious climate." There are more lawyers, doctors, rial estate men and insurance agents here than any other city perhaps of its size in the world, and how they all manage to make a living is one of the mysteries I have been unable to solve as yet, For example, there are raid to be 103 insurance agents alone, and as for real estate men, they are beyend counting. ROOMS AMD BOARD. Another feature which strikes tho Eastern eye is the large number of lodging houses and restaurants. Al most every house in the city, from the richest to the poorest, bears the sicn "Furnished llooins to Bent." Elet'int mansions and humble "adobes" are alike open to the East ern consumptive or tourist provided, always, he has the money to pay in advance. Prices range from $t to $30 per month for furnished rooms, ajcording to locality, ' le and ac commodations. Good rooms may bo bad for $12 per month. Almost all transients, and a large percentage of the resident population eat at res taurants, of which there are a large nnmber, The s andard prieo is cents per meal, but ot course it is higher in the more fashionable ones. Some aWo furnish wine with dinners at the popular price of '25 cents. Boarding houses aie few and far between. For a town of its size Los Angeles is well provided with hotels, there being no le-s than fit teen laree ho?telries io full opera tion, and they are orowded during the winter n.onths on account of large numbers of excursionists from the East, whole carloads of whom arrive almost daily. The street car system ot Los An geles is very cT2p!et, and a person can go all over the city and be brought back to the center, at tho corner of Main and Spriivg streets, without walking a step. There are two cable lines by which easy access is had to what is known as the "Hills," which are being rapidly built up with elegant rcsidcaces. The horses here are very fine, and the contrast between these splendid animals and Mr. Barrett's, little mules is "pvnl'ul." One lino ruus over to East Los Angeles, a distance of probably three and a half miles, aud fcvoral others nre as long, if not longer. The fata ts only 5 cents. An elec tric railway is now almost completed and by tho time this letter reaohes you, will probably be in operation, which will open up a large amount of property for residence purposes and lncYeaso values along tho line. Bo sides these, tho San Gabriel Valley and the Santa Monica roads run trains four or live times a day, giving easy access to a number of beautiful suburban resorts, the principal ones beirg Santa Monica, San Gabriel aud Pasadona. There tro alc nu merous livery stables, and prices are very reasonable, a nico double team eosting from $5 to $G per day and single buggies from $1 50 to $!Z 50, according to style. So you seo that the Los Angclese are determined that visitors shall have no excuse for nut seeing what they claim is the most beautiful spot on terra tiruia. WATEH WORKS. Water, as you know, is the life of a country, We have very little rajn in Southern California. The rainy season generally begins in No vember aud continues uuiil Febru ary. It docs not raiu coi.tiuuilly, but when it does rain the water comes down in solid sheets. .Fortu nately it rains mostly atnight. After tho rainy season is over there is no moro rain, except very rarely a slight shower, which causes almost as great a r'cnsation as frost would in August in Memphis. Water is, of course, needed lor irrigation, and this is sup plied by the city and private com panies. The city supply for irrigating purposes is conveyed through open ditches called iii gas (pronounced tiiukys), uu l aro under the super vision of nn official known as tho Zanjero. The lower part of tho city is supplied with drinking water by the City Water Company, t ho hource ol' supply bjin;,' Los Angeles river. Tho hill portion is supplied by the Btaudry Company, its souiee ot sup ply being a spring in the mountain, it is by fur tho bod water to bo had. Wa'cr, in fact, is piped almost every where away from -tho rivers and streams, aud cuts the principal figure in the value of land. ( TUB ELECT RIO 1.1UIIT SYSTEM. The tiity is lighted by electricity, there being something over 100 masts, each 200 feet high, placed on prominent, elcvatioi s about the city. Tiie effect at niht is simply beauti ful, The lights can be men at a great distance, in 'act, it is the tint sign a visitor his that tiny arc ap proaching tho city. They look like a number of moons clustered iti tho heavens. In the city it is as light at night s iu day, and the -eene Iron, many of the higher elevations ii one of surpassing beauty. The peculiar light foieshortons the perspective, wnien maKes tne mountains appear very close, and form no admirable background for the picture, which more resembles a painted scene than a real live, sure enough progressive American city. I have never been to Italy nnr to Switzerlnud, but 1 cannot imagine a more beautiful sight thau Los Angeles after night fall, with its beautitul flowers, green foliage aud palm trees. While there are comparatively few elegant brick or stoue rosideuces, there are any number of costly wooden structures, some of them said to cost $100, 000. I cannot say thut I admire the style of architecture, it is pecu liar to Los Angeles, "Ginger bread" decoration is all the rage, aud the more seiiseless points, angles and gables, that can be put on' a house, the better pleased is the owner. Mauy of the houses are beuutifully situated on high hills, and under the eloctric light, remind one of the olden castles of romance. Id the .daytime this is different, however, and the ehange is not for the better. Then again, somo houses are built in the side of tho hills, presenting a one story cottage front to the street, while in the rear they are three and sometimes four stories deep. Some have no back yards at all, but end iu an abrupt precipice, which must keep a nervous mother with a large family of small children in a state bordoring on iusauity. Most of the houses, however, in the older parts of the city, are surrounded by beau tiful grounds filled with, semi-tropical dowers aud plants, prominent among them being the beautiful fan palms and lemon and orange trees. There are a number of parks in the city, including the old Mexi can Plaza in the lower part of iown. DECEMBER 19, 186. Many of the views from ths hills are very fine; ot every haid are sigai of progress, aew streets are beiig made, and ia some iastace sat through bills tweaty aad thirty feet. While sn sense of the high peiuts elegant hotels are built, the groiads of which are beu til ally laid tut. All the taste and experiense of skilled landscape gardeners being called to the aid ol nature to make the view pleasant to the sight ef the Eastern tourist and invalids, and for all ot whioh, they have te pay round ly, and another paradox before I for get it. Property owners here nav for the grading of tho streets and the oity sprinkles then. SUBURBAN RESORT. Los Anrelcs is furrouueVd by a cumber of besutifal little towns and villavos, the principal onossf whith sre 1'asid nn, Annhciai. San abrio, Santa Ana, Sanu Motiisi, Ijong lteauli and Wiliaington. Santa Monica is eiiihtecx miles distant, on the seacoflst, where splendid sort bathitig is enjoyed during the entire year. The luxury et a bath in the big Paoifio in November and De cember has to be enjoyed to be ap- jreoiated it oanuot be described. Ivcrybody goes to Santa Moniea here. They havo a steata railroad, tho round trip only eosting 75 sents. I'asadenA is the show place of Smth em California, and is called the "Crown Jewel of the Hna tiahriel Valley." It is beautifully situated, just at the base of the mountain, and its orauge groves are fanioas all over the Stole. It is aaito a little oity and has street cars, gasworks end all modern improvements. A Hoi ton capitalist has jost finished and opened the largest aud costliest hetel on the Paoifio coast, outside of San Fra'ieisf o. Pasadena will doubtless be heard ofJmor in the future, es pecially in the Eastern papers, as a large number of Bostouians will take up their winter residonoo there. Han Gabriel is the site of the okl Spanish mission, and is or.o of the eldest settled points ou the ooist. Tho famous vineyard of L, J. Rose, known as Sunuy Slope, aud Bald win's Hinta Anita ran on, aro near this pla3o. A poin. just coming iutt proiuincnoo as a sumuior resort is tho Catalino Islands, about twonty fivo miles off tho ooat nt San Pedro, whioh are said t) afford fine ctili water bathinc, as well an good fish ing. Santa Barbara is situated about twenty five miles up the toast, but can scarcely be tailed a suburb ot Lo.i Angeles. Thcso aro only a few of the prominent points of interest in this ncighboihood. TENNEM.SRANt IN LOS ANQILHS. There are a lnrgo number of Mem phians and Tennsacans here, as well as a fair sprinkling from Missis sippi, Arkansas and Alabama. Among those well known iu Mom phis are the Stevens brcthers, who nre leading lawyers, and Albert N. is favorably mentioned for United States District Judge. Moyo and Noah Wicks, sous ol the lato M. J. Wicks, formerly prosidcut ot the Memphis and Charleston road, aro al o engaged in the practice ot law, besides be in if heavily interested iu real (Slate, and havo aeoumulated large fortunes. Moyo was last niht n o in i naled tor Ouy Attorney by tho Democrats. Wultor D. 4tevonsen is engaged in the prattice of law. Dr. Blair is intcre-twl iu real estate. MrTand Mrs. tlulford and their daughters. Mrs. Tulls and Mrs. James Mulkey, aro residing on Washingtin street. Harry Tui'ts is in the ins'.rnuoo biuiuoss here with W. II. Burkt, ti.rmciiy proprietor of tho Helena, Ark.. H'orM. Tho lion. G. Wiley Wells, formerly Con grossmitn from tho Secuud Missis sippi District, aud Bradner W. Leo, who formerly lived at Holly Springs, Miss., are cngaod iu the prattice ' ot law in counoetion with Jmlgo Van Dyke, and have tho fined law oltioo aud library on tho coast, ('apt. Fit Geruld.formor District Attorney at Vicksburg, is engaged iu t he prac tice ot law. Judec Jfeardon, well known in Arkansas and Memphis, also lrn out bin "bhinu'lo" as a law yer. Mr. W. I). C'ullcii, formerly cotton clerk at Memphis, and a cousin of Mr. Hugh D. Cullcn, has a nice ranch at Ansa, and" is prominent in Democratic politios. Mr. II. D. Coulter, formerly of Clarksville, Tciin . is a leading dry goods mer chant and the proprietor of the Los Angeles woolen mills. 1 icse aro only a few of the more prominent members of the Southern oolony uow located in Los Angeles oity and country. , But 1 must briug thii already too long letter to a tlosj. 1 will, atsome future timo, writs you something about the material progress of this p irtion of California, iti products and prnsprais, railroad development and such other points that uny bo of'interoht to the Humorous readers of the "Old Reliable." I could write indefinitely about this climate and the beauties of this wonderland, but a shrill cry from my youngest hope ful, Hoy K., admonishes mo that I have other duties besides lottor writ ing, nod so 1 reluctantly lay down my pun. L. c. T. Wuhaih 'uuwll4ntlea. St. Louis, Mo., Dooember 18. h is said that overtures have been made by a reim emulative of the senior bondholac'S of the lines east of tke Mississippi river, looking to a con solidation of tbe Wabash lines East and West, in so far as the operating nud traffic departments are conocrne ; or, in other words, to continue the jurisdiction of Genera) Manager Tal madge over the whole system, bnt to keep the revenue of Wabash lines East 'd West separate. Whether such a plan is really iu operation or not is oot sertainly known. TIia Wtrhly flank Hmol. New York:, Dooember 18. The weekly bunk statement shows the fol lowing changes: Loans, decrease, $3, 719,800; rcsorve, deoroa-s, $72 3(H) specie, decrou.se, $1,610,800; legal tenders, decrease, $28,600; deposit, deorease, $6,412,400; circulation, de crease, $lo'9t0. The bunks now hold $o',tni3,fj50 in cxcen ot the 2j per cent. rule. MIdIbk Trouble. PiTTsmuRfJ, Pa., Dooember 18. Opinion is diversified as to whether there will be a strike Of the uiiimn of the Oonnellsvillo coke region next Saturday. Tho operators ar?, it is said, becoming exasperated st ths repeated demands and petty strikes, and are determined to show fight on the ix.ue. On the contrary tho men are f eeiinir hopeful aud confident and believe that ..the demands will be grauttd. ... ., ..ijjj! WHAT iVUlRlL G1S II iS DOX8 FOit TUE ONCS 8X0KT CITY Of Plttshnrff The Eevolntlon It Has Cans ft! la the Manmfaeturl g In terests aud Appeurauce of the City. aairrta ros na irruv louaa. f wests t PitUburg has long enjoysd tho reputation of being the "Srstky City." Thoso who knew it best were awaro ot the fao' that it was the dirtiest, as well as the smokiest, tity m tbe Uuited Mates, in duvs isne by it was impossible to keep one's self in a respectably clean condition longer than an hour. In that time the nostrils would be lined with a black coating, tho collars and cuffs would have somber black edees, the eyes woald he en fringed with a' bcrdcr of the same color; ia fast, there was uo satisfaction for white men to wear white garments and whito ladies ditto. The gutters along the streets were streams of blackened fUth.'and a cloud as black as the biases f hell hovered perpetually over head, so that the orb of day seldom shewed his beaming faco upon that "Hiaoky eity." STRANUKRB coming intt this great muntirastur ing center wero overe aio with op pression, exerted by the heavy and iBsocBctrablo atmosphere, ant! wero in constant apprehension ol a big term. They would actually raise thoir umbrellas on somo eseisions only to bo litu lied at by the inarod Pittsbcrgcr nho thought tho day a brilliant one. This has all been changed, how ever. These uisadvanuigoi) to phys ical vein tort havo all been removed, Nature, bv her merciful works, has revolutionised that dir.y, smoky city. And now, instead of dirty sUeots, dirty faces and dirty every thing, ull things have tho appearance of remarkable neatness and a cleanli- ucss that is surprising. Filth do s ot aooumalato like it did.llie streets I arc kept iu ft good condition, th' wiudows ot the shops are now trans parent, the ruddy complexions of the peoplo are displayed to advan tage, there is Eome cneouragcaisnt tor Cho cicetiou of lmndoma build ings everything is changed. TUF, OAUKR OK "THIS (IRRAT UK VO LUTION is the use of natural Kas iu nearly every mill and factory and duelling house in tho city and its niourtis. This element, which has wrought such a great uhttngo in Pittubtirir, both as a manufacturing uud riei dentiitl city, was first disoovorml near tluro only two years ago, al ih, airh it bad beun uliliaed in the oil regions ol Western Pennsylvania ten years before us a itsi'l, ami to somo extent as an illuiniuating t as, Somo shrewd fellow knowing ino chemical composition of this luts (beins principally carbon and hv iro gen) sunk a well some twontj live miles fr m the eity, getting tb. gns at a depth ol some ISOO foot. Tl gas lover became us eii'demio us oil did away back in the fiiriioA, tt' 1 it spread so rapidly that evory man who was interested in munufsci iririg drilled n well. The experi ments were stijcei.slul with but few excep tions, and uow (hey aro very co nmon about that city. At night the heavens are iblure with tho reflections of the gnited escapes ( these wells. It L mdeed a remarkable sight from any of tho hills surrounding Pittsbur to seo these burning wells in ovei . direo tiou about you us fur as tl vision can reach. It inspires the Micotator with awe to look from the aromi noucc upon which bo stands iuto the brow of the hill, with their lmadreds of halt nude, brawny aiui I men Hitting about capriciously i i front of the fiery lurnaoos, like so !ANt HV.MONS, ORRAT DA I 1 Of UK i) hot mo.f waving, apparently in the r, and tho ignited gas wells exudiu, their great, long flames ot living fir i into space. A thing which bus puzzled great many strangers pasttiug throi: i the city is the burning water. A out a half mile from tho eity there i uy bo seen, every now and then, i im-inon.-o flame in the middle f the Ohit river. It provokes 'oany Mausing ouestions, such as ' Does the water burn here, too?" Well, it is nH the wutor of course, but NATURAL '1 AH. Tho fact is, a supply pipe from one of the wells is laid on tho bottom ol the river. Every now and theu it springs a leak and the gas, being of little specific gravity bubbles up through the water, somo hot coals from a passing steamboat are acci dentally thrown overboard into tho neighborhood of the escaping gtis, which is ii.'.niled and burns like a mammoth bonfire until the leak is foaled. Natural gas is supplied to eon uinors through pipes that are con nected, as ordinary gas is, with thoso of a dwelling house', which convey the fuel to the stoves and grates. Large, perforated burners arc placed in the bottom of the grate, which are filled with broken piecos ol firo clay' When the-e beeonie boated it looks like an anthracite fire. THERE IS NO MMOKK, tho gas flame being so hot it con sumes all ot the carbon. There is no i.icande'eencc, con-,e(uontly the fli si e is not luminous, but of a blue lambout color. The heat is so in tense that it is almost, equal to the oxy hydroircn blow pipe flame whioh iu tact it is the hydrogen of the natuial gas uniting with the oxygen of the air u akes it so EVERT PRODUCT Or TUE FLAM B is destroyed, so to speak. There aro no ashes, no dust, no dirt. It is per fectly delightful, and the people now do not seem to have any apprehen sion about explosious. They light the gas aud form the family circle about the fireside with as little con cern as our forefathers did when the broad and open wood fire place was used. ANOTHER OHEAT ITEM in the uu ot natural gas is us cheapness. On streets where oppo sition oompanies have their pipes laid, a houre ot tea rooms is sup plied with fuel the year round for about $40. 0.1B1RON FIRM SAVR8 OVER $200,000 a year by having a well of its own. This gas i. .by no uieaos ooiitiucd to Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio abounds in it, likewise West Virginia, and it is also used ia Kansas. The predominating element of tho gas being hydrogen it is reasonable to believe that the produot is a re- ' suit of the decomposition of water im the bowels of the earth and it will t last as long ss it rains upon the l earth and that rain permeatts this terrestrial ball; and that it can be found anywhere, but in most place at suoh unpracticable depths that experiments will not be made. Thus it can be seen that, notwith standing the cheapness ot the msnu fact ii ro of iron iu the South, she will not bo able to outstrip Pennsylvania until she, too, gets natural gas, and there is every reason to believe she has it. CHANCERY SXE REIT. OTATE Nc fi7, R.-i'hunrery Cnn-t uf Kholby enmity I ouii I", aui-iet !. rj. William eneke ot al. BV virtu of an inlorl.iutiiry Ibltdo for (', entered in tb atiore !'' ua tha lciinjof Peceuibcr, lvo, Vlnuta Hook 6S, CUKe '., I will at i iil.liu urt ,M, tv tli mh.-i biiOler, in Croc I ,. the Clerr ni MHiter'N fitlu'i', at tht riaia trret ii;t-ino pi lli. nourt'bouae it t'UuUiy ooaut), Meui ehis, Tonn., on , Nnlnrdny, Ja anry tt, IHWt, within legal hour, the following deiorlbed lri,inrty. flituuleil tmlit if and nriir the mn '.lion line ot the o ty ot Ve,.i'i'ia, in blielliy county, Tenn. tu-wit: L ; l No. 3. n In d down o i Ih i a'nt er ioib divUton of lundii p mt ti rth in tli ,Iaia entered herxin on the liMi .day ol October, m . in .nibiiie uook no. o, iinire 4P: ie- mning i n noiut on tun north i de of Hen ry ..venue 44UV, le t weit Iroin the ootWit rornrr of the hu d conveyed by illiain iley to Henry Itoehe by drnd dm" r. corded in ink No. 1. Hare ?J. ol th Kei.tMi.1a office of Mie In county, TonneMee, i'j run tttnir thence nrntli e fcot to .soh a.ifoui then, wo.o wurdly with mid bayou 'XI trot te the rant li e ' f'ot o. O'l raid pint; tdenca nuth with tho en st line ol mid lot - o. 2, J-iO 'eat, more or Iodp, to the nort'i III e ol Henry ar.-niie, ' hen e euat with tali! a venue i led to the- b.': inniiiK. Lot 4. iia hi ill down in (he midiilitt and whicti liea iniuiedia'ely anal at .aid lot No. 8 Hid tm a Iront ot i2 '"ft on I he north aide of l.'cory iivsiiuc. hi d run bark nnrth- r nl'y. liotweoa i uritllt'1 line , jsu ten t ohya l.uyou. Lo'a Noa. .1 and A. a laid !o n on the raid iil-it, which lire in ftolitto, ilcai'tihed ee toi towrt : lltiiini inir t a itrint on Ihe north aida of Ileniy ii-ohiiia 2 I'nut wc,t iroin ihe ruth- ea t corner ui the luno. coiitr) i"l ay W llllnia Wile to Henry 1! eke hJ dvd re-n ed Ia Hook No. I. I'luie'-Mi. ol tiie Hoirl.ter'foflice o i HheUiy rounty, To.'in , aud ruaatua llienca wcK'w.iritl:" w in tho niitu me ol Henry avrnu Ui'fot; ihonnu t.orilio . tkii d viif in lino ho'wocn lot t ano ft, ;u l:iid d -if n , a tha s.iil I' I nt, -SO fret u "j.'li'l layout thence exetwitrdiy nlo.iit ai.id iui' u ti tha norlli:i t corner of lot No. 6: thence aouta on Ihe dUiillna: I'.na lirtm en lot) rt ,n,i 7, ." laid down nn ani l d tt, ilnC li e' tolliovoinl ot lief iutiinf on Henry uronue. tn - ok. ii, r., it, it i.i, i", una uc aorta una dd ii:trt of lot No. 7, wli-ch are In aalido. doacrihcd an Mlowa, '.o wt: llcinninf at the aiiuitioa' t (vrncr of llo lund conveyo by Willi. in WUoti HonryUoik' b" deed ra . or iel in tiook No 1, i me Hi. ol t I Rtp iat r' ofttco ol S'h l'y ooui.iy, icon , and which p "nt ii about (i. icct i-.vi'waidly from tho iuUr votioti of ' he em t n ot so. I hva iinyou and llotirv uvcrno, us the anmv ox ate) when a tid d -cd wu r e- u i d br A fl il'in SVi'pv lo llii 'V II ikoi nm. running I Ii- --oe n,.rlh it' iik i lie '" a' 1't ef 1 ol Una V.ii fee i ihen o ton w rd y iil.inv bc north aide of anld l.ihd -SI taot lo Ho, by hayoui t oiice in a nouthncai. rlv direrli n wllh auiil hit, ou lo ' ho nor h i u I ol ihu I una ot l it N, 7 h mill dowuon aaid pint tliuuve aoutii uo th dividing line bctweon lata 0 and 7, liS (cut, mine or tuna; tbenoa c"t noioM lalil lot No, 7 on a lino l irRllol wilh llcarr ave nue; thence aouth 10 lent, more or loan, ta the nnrlhwat corner ot (ot, S; ilinca oaat long the nor.h line of lot H, V and 111, ai lii.il d wn on sui t M, 41 tret to the north weat corner o' lot St. ua Iniddnwnon laid I'Uti thepen loath on the dividing line ba tw.'on lota 10 ai d It, 170 feet to the north liaa ot Henry event; thence east with Henry aver, tie si) fort to the boulnnlnf. Termini Site One third caahi halanoe la three and ammo fin noiebearlm tntoreat with aurely rciuired. nnd lion retained. Thia Ptci mlwr In listi. M. 1. Mc:l IOW h'LL, Clnrk and M inter. Hy II. K. Coleman. Deputy C. and at. L. I K. Lehman, n licitori. CHANCERY SALE OF 2S1ML. IWT.iTE. II. connly-Hute of ienneaaea vi. ti. W are et rtl . HV virtue of an In -trlooutory decrae for aale entered in tha abeva oanaa oa tha .'',1 day ol Heceinbor, ISSli, M. It. 8A, paaa iWf, I will ae.l at publl ) auction, to the bl.h et bidder, in front of the Clerk and Uaater'i offlce, oourthouaa oi tinelby county, Idem lhia, Tonn,, on Nnliinlnjr, Mlla rtr of Jiannary, 1MH7. within 1 nu ill houra, tha followlni deacrlbeil iirooerty, aituate 1 in tha oity a Idainiibif, feholby county, Tenn.. lo-witl An undivided S 15 inlereat In a aartala lot, deacrlbed aa followc llcitinalnf at tha outhweat corner of the Head lot, on tha north aide of Union alrent, rannint thence weatward with tha north line vf Union atroot 4 feet, mere or leaa, to a ritake taud Iiik 43 foot, mora or lo-a, eait of the aaat nbutii ent of the bridire over the bayeu thence northwardly I4sU feet, mora or leaa, to the point where the Ii vootkeame of lha triaiiKle lot of the llriiiklev nelra, oa tha aaat of the tmyou, cuta tho aouth line of oid Union il recti thnnca aitatwnrdly with tha aouth line of old Union atroot SS fool, more or leaa, to the woat lino of the tend loU thence anuihwordly with anld Kuad Una to the bevinniitK. Teriua of Sole On a credit uf ail monlha, Inleru'l liearina notea with good aovarity re iiirod: lien roUlnod, redemption barred. Ihi? Pecombor lfi, ls0. 4. 1 Mi:l)0v KLL, Clerk and Una tor. Mr II f. Colo i.an, U. C. and M. F. II i C. W. lleUkelljanlloitor. I CUP.E r i i v Hit I nmj onn s s mo mmt sn mmm "7 " - 'jTrf rtrr. hvriiiUiiHetMMoi KPN KIIIJU'HI mL I Mil UK Ik N Ct I MH0fi et n f. I warraiU uf rtsnsjsl) m rnnrt tu w.ttit .. mmw thrf wm to wm mMM im ,i a.. k. ntrMilut a rnrs. ftftua at mttem tYrr am l4rallHiii1 Fr-t. rntUol tn? liiTilltMt rnrtfl itht IpfO Slt'l ft I WW. II 04jsrt4 yatu nMMn fi trt m4i wiiivui . in. i in a. -,fM" m t t , y.t, CHANCERY SALE OF SS I. A tt KM I T So. lli.4, It -Chnienry Court of Shelby couniy-John T. W. liii) v. Win tl. I'ra bue et at HY virtue uf an Interlocutory tlerreo for artle er tored in tho uhovr nuieun (ha 7 h ity o Deccml-e-, XfM. M H. M, )e 41M, I will aell, at public auction, to 'he b theat bidder, in front of the Clerk and Maator't ofQco, at the Miiin i lreet cnttHn-.ie of tha courthoua- of h.hclt'1 - cua.-.ty, Mcnn hia. Ten neaane, on NnlnnlHir, kihdnrnl Jua n ra, INS7, within lemi' houra, the full wi.K d 'iciitrd Sroperly, ailmitcd in tho ci y of Mcmplue, helby county, Tenn.- to-wit : A lot heir tilling on the woat a de of Walnut atrent, at the no lhenl ioirnr a parcol of lund conve.ed Junnarv S. ' N.T. I y i.miiol 1'. Wnllier In truat 1 1 (1. L. l nni-on and A. S. McNenir, for Wr, nnd K l tlrrri I: llnnio runnina norlhwa-d with the ni -t line of Walnut afreet iti feel: ihcoe 'l i .') ': to a at kn: tten t aouth 7t frol t., hv linii of aaid trual proi erty itforoioiid ; thtrne e-.-t-witrd l'il fei t to tha btminnliiK. Torun of Calo Una hull carh; I ,il .noe in aix niontha, note benntif; inierra' nt t por cent, from date, with aiour tv reiiiirod; lion retained. Thia tei'oiiibr 1, Ksd B I. ViiDOV KLL, tlUrb end JKa-tar. Ily H. F Coleiinu. l. C.and M. C. W. Ilciakeil. aiiicitur. No, S Mow Itnaily. CONNOISSEUR NEW IUI'HTTtATKa Ot'AIlTKlU.T AKT MAUA1NK PnblWiodliv Baii-Y, BasksoV Btrw Jowears O N LY 50 Cts. A Y E A R . UlVio.16Cla. miaaatitieU- fklL witri porrrsi. Public Athiunit.trator'8 Sale. Offlca of Publle Adminiatrator. Courthc8e HhelbvOounty.Tenn., Decaiubar IV lSt. VfOTICB-U herebr elvontha- I wiIL aaad IV mlniatrator of the eatate ot Vm. f. Prror, deorsaaed, on Mlmrtiv. Bawaibar t0. IHHS, at the late residence of Br. Win T. Prvor, nn tho Bi Creek ro.td, on tho () . O. and S. W. K.R , near Frjaer Station, hhelby coun ty, Tonn.. pro.-od to lell.at puhlio outcry, to the helmet niddar. for ca-h, tha following property, to witi 17 lie" d of Work Moek, (leer, and Three Waionf, a quantity ol Farminii Inn lementa, Plowa, II ef, elo. Snie lo miiience at 11 o elo k a.m. JOHN LUA'lUB, Public Adm'r. and a' auch Adio'r of the alle ot Dr. Waj. T. Pryer, deee uod iv.il a