you go the back-flourish in a style that would | astic expectations in reference to my skill in this open their eyes? Couldn't you charm the ladies with some novelties in the poetry of motion? Zounds! couldn't you make those clumsy Dutchmen wish they had cultivated the science of skating in the United States of America? Pooh! pooh! what a burlesque they make of it! they don't know how to skate-they don't comprehend the first principle of the art! complex and difficult art. The weather was cold and the straps were rather short; but I succeeded in getting the skates on at last, and an encouraging cheer arose as I stood up and made a few preparatory flourishes. It should be borne in mind that eighteen years had elapsed since my last excursion upon ice. Well, I don't intend to boast. It is not my way. I like modesty in all "Sir," said a polite gentleman with whom I things; but I can say with perfect confidence and had a slight acquaintance, stepping up with a propriety, there was not a skater upon that field handsome pair of skates swinging from his hand, of ice who attracted half so much attention as I "would you like to try your skill? I have just did from the very first stride. It was altogether been enjoying it; but perhaps you are not ac- different from swimming-this thing of sliding customed to skating?" on the top of the water-frozen water, too, and "Accustomed to skating!" I retorted, a little very slippery at that: the hardest kind of water indignantly; "why, lieber Herr, I was consid-in case of sudden contact between the surface ered the best skater in Louisville, Kentucky. True, I have not practiced much in California, but you know skating, like swimming, can never be forgotten. So, by your leave, here goes!" Taking the skates, I went down upon the ice. A dozen boys rushed toward me and offered to put the skates on my feet for the trifling consideration of three kreutzers. "Gehen Sie fort!" said I, "did you ever know a Californian who couldn't put on his own skates?" The boys, when they heard themselves thus addressed in German, cried out, "Ein Engländer! Ein Engländer!" and about fifty miscellaneous skaters of both sexes rushed up to see the Englander put on his skates. I could fancy as I buckled the straps on my boots that every man, woman, and boy in the crowd enjoyed the most enthusi and the point of a man's nose. Very strange, wasn't it?-one leg actually tried to run away and cut a figure on its own account. The other started off in an opposite direction, and made a strong effort to drag back the first leg and carry it forcibly along, thus exhibiting a very curious and unnatural rivalry between two members of the same family. I leaned over at first to try and get a little ahead of leg number one, which was considerably in advance at the start; but the other, taking a sudden shoot out at right angles, enraged me to such a degree that I immediately whirled and got after it, determined to make it bear the entire weight of my body; but somehow I was utterly unable to gain upon it a single inch. At this stage of affairs a number of ladies came flourishing around me, with the distance; the final complication of flourishes which brought me up all twisted into a compound and tangled knot; and the very singular and romantic adventure which occurred at this period of the affair. I flatter myself such an exhibition of skill has rarely been witnessed on the River Main; and I am the more confident in this opinion on account of the number of ladies who gathered around to enjoy it. their merry laughing eyes shooting forth scintillations of electricity; and, being of a very susceptible temperament, I think the sight must have disconcerted me a little, for I began to look up in the sky quite accidentally, and my back was all doubled up trying to keep from noticing them. The little boys cheered and cried out, "Engländer! Engländer! ho, ho! see the Engländer!" The gentlemen roared "Bravo! bravo!" and the ladies were absolutely convulsed You remember, perhaps, the old shawl I wore with suppressed admiration. It was a new style at Washoe? Well, that identical shawl dropped of skating altogether. They had never seen from my shoulders just as I was brought up in such complicated figures executed by a foreign- the unexpected manner already described. Now er or any body else. These manifestations of comes the cream of the romance. A beautiful applause gave me considerable confidence; and, and blooming young lady came sweeping along after jumping three feet backward, two feet for- on the ice as gracefully as any sylph could possiward, and eighteen inches in the air, and dou-bly be expected to travel on skates. She saw bling up several times before and behind, I stood the shawl-darted at it, caught it up with amazperfectly still, merely to show that these remark-ing dexterity, and was about to hand it to me able feats of activity were not involuntary, and with a smile of malicious triumph, when I dartthat I could stand still whenever I thought prop-ed forward to receive it and to express my proer to do so. The thunders of applause that greeted this achievement were truly gratifying What do you think happened? Positively to my national pride. Cries of Bravo! and En- the most remarkable and mortifying accident core! resounded all over the ice. The ladies ab- that ever occurred here or elsewhere, to the best solutely shed tears of delight, and saturated their of my knowledge. I undertook to make a gracehandkerchiefs with the excess of their emotions; ful obeisance to the beautiful creature as I apand the little boys shouted, in a paroxysm of proached; but being unable to stop my headglee, "Engländer! Engländer! see the En-way or regain my equilibrium, on account of gländer!" some radical defect in the skates, actually butt found thanks and unbounded admiration. While I was studying out what sort of a fig-ed her over! Yes I confess it with profound ure to cut next, a very respectable-looking old humiliation-butted that bewitching creature gentleman stepped up and observed in good English, "Sir, I beg pardon-" "Oh, don't mention it," said I; "there's not the least necessity." "Sir," continued the old gentleman, "I observe that you are an Englishman." "Precisely," said I; "born in the city of Lun'on seven and thirty years ago. That's where I learned to skate, but the weather is generally very foggy there, which accounts for the winding and circuitous figures I cut on the ice." "I thought so!" persisted the old gentleman, "in fact, I knew it; and having observed your motions for some time, it occurred to me to suggest, with due respect, that if you continue cutting the same figures much longer you'll be very likely to strain yourself. I know of a man who was ruptured in that way." "The devil you do!" said I, indignantly; "that man certainly didn't understand how to skate. You will observe, Sir, that with me the case is entirely different. I am going to cut some figures now that nobody ever saw or ever will see again in this part of the country." The old gentleman begged that I would not attempt any new feats of dexterity; but nettled at his unfounded insinuations, I boldly struck out. This time it was really miraculous the progress I made after eighteen years of inactivity. It is entirely out of my power to describe the galvanic jumps, the sudden and incomprehensible whirling of each leg entirely on its own responsibility and without the slightest volition on my part; the wild, savage, and determined manner in which I threw out my arms and grasped at imaginary objects in clear over, hoops, shawl, muff, skates, and all, beautiful creature and renew my acquaintance | thin man, with light hair. "Oh, San Francisco with her. She has a very pretty pair of ankles, though, of course, I don't pretend to say that is any of my business, only in so far as beauty can never cease to be appreciated by all men who fully and fairly represent the noble State of California. One of our most common experiences in Germany is to be asked about persons who have emigrated to the United States. There is scarcely a shop-keeper, railroad conductor, guide, or inn-keeper, who has not a brother, uncle, or cousin in "America." Not long since I went into a cigar store in Frankfort to purchase a few cigars. The proprietor, a very worthy sort of man, spoke a little. English. He thought at first I must be an Engländer, I spoke such an English style of German; but upon learning that I was from the United States, he was quite rejoiced, and immediately informed me that he had a brother in America. Perhaps I might know him? His name was Ludwig. I thought I knew a German of that name, was not exactly certain, but entertained that impression. "Whereabouts in America does your brother live?" I asked. "Is it in North America?" The cigarman thought it was. It was either in North America or South America-he couldn't recollect which. "Is it in New Orleans?" He was not quite sure, but that sounded a good deal like the name of the place. Yes; felt pretty confident it was in New Orleans. I didn't know such a person in New Orleans; in fact, had very few German acquaintances there, but I knew a man by the name of Ludwig in San Francisco, a tall yes, that's it!" cried my friend, greatly rejoiced; "he wrote to me that he was going to San Francisco! That's the place where they dig gold isn't it?" "Not exactly the spot," said I, "but somewhere near it. What sort of looking man was your brother?" "Well, Ludwig was a man about forty years of age when he left; a short, thick-set man." "With light hair?" I asked, determined to hold on to some point of identification. "Yes, that is to say his head was bald when he left, but his hair might have grown out again." "Wasn't it originally light?" "Ya, wohl! about the same color as mine" (the cigarman had jet-black hair). "That is to say," I added, hastily, "it was not very light-a little disposed to be blackish." "Ya, wohl! Ya, wohl! that must be the very man!" "And you say he was not very tall, and his name was Ludwig?" "So, mein Herr! gans so! that's my brother! I thought you'd know him." Here the cigar-man was quite overcome with joy, and called to his wife, who was in the next room, to come and see a Herr Amerikäner who was acquainted with Ludwig. The good dame came waddling in, and when the matter was explained, her face was suffused with smiles of delight, and she made many professions of gratitude. "And how is Ludwig doing? making money, eh?" asked the man. "Yes, I thought he must be doing well. His restaurant was well patronized. He looked like a man that was doing well the last time I saw him." "Poor Ludwig!" sighed the affectionate brother; "he never could get along in Frankfort. It didn't suit him. He always had a turn for traveling. He once walked all the way to München, and was pretty near starved when he got back." Here the worthy couple got into some reminiscences of Ludwig's early career; but their conversation being in German, I could not understand much of it, and took my leave; not, however, without receiving the renewed thanks of those excellent people for the great service I had rendered them by knowing Ludwig. I have nothing to urge in extenuation of my hypocrisy on this occasion, except that it seemed to do the brother of the erratic Ludwig so much good to see a man who knew Ludwig personally that I had not the moral firmness to refrain from affording him this satisfaction. If there be any serious wrong done in the matter, the fault lies with Ludwig, who should be more punctual in his correspondence, and keep his relatives advised of his movements. The prevailing idea respecting California is, that it is a perfectly savage country, utterly destitute of law. In regard to savages, I tell them there are some there to be sure, but they are becoming rapidly civilized. The white settlers civilize them in one way, and the Government in another. Between the two there will soon be no savages to complain of in the State. "Touching the matter of law," said I to a German friend the other day, "you make a great mistake. There is plenty of it in San Francis Co. I was once engaged in the law business there myself, and can speak from experience." "But," said the worthy German, "I understand property is very insecure there. Is that so?" "By no means," said I; on the contrary, I know of no country where property is secured by so many titles. I own a small piece of property myself in the city of Oakland for which I paid three times. I consider it therefore three times as secure as property in any other State of the Union, or even in Germany. [This, by-the-way, was when I was engaged in the law business.] A large proportion of the real es tate in California consists of ranches and mining claims. Now the great advantage of this sort of property is that it is perfectly secure. It may be covered and overlapped by divers lines, but it always remains fast to the ground. You are therefore very much mistaken, my dear Sir, in supposing property is insecure in California. Security is the rule rather than the exception in that noble State. You can not borrow a dollar at two per cent. a month in San Francisco without giving the very best security." The explanation seemed satisfactory. My friend expressed his conviction that there was something in what I said; and we immediately proceeded to a beer saloon, where I astonished him by paying for his beer as well as my own. He looked as if he thought California was certainly a very rich country, and seemed much impressed at the novel circumstance of one man paying six kreutzers for another man's beer. I would gladly relate many more of our experiences, but this imperfect article must be brought to a close. The old home feeling comes over me as I look forward to the day of our departure, now rapidly drawing near. Germany is a pleasant country to visit. It LETTERS FROM AMERICA. The must be a pleasant country to live in-for those who have never lived in California. gardens are beautiful; the music is delightful; the houses are elegant; the lager beer is excellent; the schools are admirable; and the people are cheerful and polite. I like them all; I like every thing; but (don't mention it to Mrs. Brown, if you please) I can't stand the country any longer myself. It is too slow-too old-fashioned for a man who has seen something of Washoe life. One may enjoy it for a year or two by stirring about from place to place; but the novelty passes away sooner or later. The happiest of all our happy days in Germany is when the postman's voice is heard in the passage amidst the din and clatter of children singing out cheerily, "America! America! Briefs und Zeitungen!" Letters and newspapers from Home! It is worth one's while to go abroad just to learn how much enjoyment may be gained from this one source. "There is an innate feeling clings How often, as I wander about under the leaden sky, pondering over some old ruin or gazing afar off in search of some little bit of nature undisfigured by the hand of man, the glorious skies of California come stealing over my memory; how the broad valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, with their mountain barriers, their wood-skirted streams, and their wild spring flowers, sweep out into the dim distance before the mind's eye; how fresh, vigorous, and hopeful seems life in that land of promise! I think of the pleasant nights I have slept upon my mother-earth in the Coast Range under the starspangled sky; of the free, hearty, and genial society, with kindred tastes and interests; of the many kind friends we left behind in Oakland, once and still our home; of the flashing waters of the Bay, and booming guns of the steamers sweeping in with friends and tidings from the great outer world; of all that is naturally associated with freedom, energy, and hope. I think of these, and then the rattle of drums and clang of bayonets arouse me from the reverie. Alas! there is no real freedom here. The spirit of decay broods over all. Military despotism reigns in the air, in the fields, in the cities, over the hearts of men-crushing the energies, blasting every aspiration for the future. There is a profound sadness in the very lightness of their pleasures and pastimes. I wander in the crowded cities and hear no familiar voice, see no familiar face, meet EULALIE. T was noon of a cold, cheerless, wintry-feeling day, early in November; the raw, untempered north wind seemed to creep into the very marrow of one's bones; and the weather was pervaded with that chill, uncomfortable, shivering influence which is most commonly conveyed in the expression, "the air is full of snow." Indeed it had been snowing a little at intervals all day: not with that free-hearted abundance which is suggestive to young minds of sleighing parties and mulled wine, and to older ones of snow-shoveling and path-finding; but in a slow, hesitating, inconsistent sort of way, as if the frost-king had caught the infection of our national cautiousness, and feared to bid his armies advance to the fields. Now and again the feathery hosts would be arrested in their winter-quarters, and the heavy atmosphere would grow lighter, and people would lift their heads to say, "Is it going to clear off? Seems to me it is a little brighter;" but this was all delusive; the light fall would recommence, and the heavy air grow thick again. But at noon the hesitation seemed over, and a plan of vigorous action decided upon; and now the wintry surface of the earth began to show the veil of snow which was rapidly accumulating upon it. Certainly, if a thing is to be done, there is a very positive pleasure in seeing it done thoroughly: a blinding snow-storm or a soaking rain may not be exactly pleasant, viewed abstractedly; but they are far pleasanter than a dull, slow, ineffectual drizzle! So, possibly, thought the housekeeper, Mrs. Merriam, in her warm, comfortable, snug kitchen, where the early dinner-which was literally a "noon meal" with her-had been already dispatched and cleared away, as, standing with both hands resting upon the window-sill, she gazed upon the wintry scene without, in fixed abstraction. Can there be any thing more indicative of wandering or preoccupied thought than this persistent outlook from a window where there is nothing to be seen? Every object now before the worthy woman's eyes-the yard, the pump, the trees, the outbuildings, the carriage-sweep, the garden-wall-she had looked upon thousands of times before; and even the snow-flakes, if they were really a new importation, just sent down, and making their first appearance on that occasion, why, she had seen very similar ones fall just so, over the same ground, from the same window, for thirty years or more; so they had not the charm of novelty to her, if they were new. Still she gazed out, as earnestly as if it was her bounden duty to see that every sprig, twig, and branch of the larch and fir trees which screened the coach-house had its rightful share of the feathery dispensation. "None that with kindred consciousness endued, If I were not, would seem to smile the less." Good-by, then, to the Vaterland! Much as we have enjoyed our sojourn in Frankfort, many happy days as we have spent in the neighboring villages, we must now turn westward, in a few A quick step tripped lightly down stairs, and brief months, I trust, to greet our cherished the inner door of the kitchen opened to admit friends, and breathe the air of our sweet cottage a pretty, bright girl, yet in her teens. home on the shores of the ever-glorious Pacific! "How cold it is, Aunt Betsey!" she said, as |