Phoenixiana: Or, Sketches and BurlesquesThe first collection of sketches by the legendary California journalist and humorist George Horatio Derby (1823-1861), who came to California during the Gold Rush and quickly became a regular and popular contributor to the local newspapers. Derby wrote under several pseudonyms, including John Phoenix, John P. Squibob and Amos Butterfield, and his writings influenced both Twain and Harte, among humorists. |
From inside the book
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Page 16
... week before us , and we heard of them occasion- ally on the march . On consulting with my assistants , I had determined to select , as a base for our operations , a line joining the summit of Telegraph Hill with the extremity of the ...
... week before us , and we heard of them occasion- ally on the march . On consulting with my assistants , I had determined to select , as a base for our operations , a line joining the summit of Telegraph Hill with the extremity of the ...
Page 26
... weeks grew to the prodigious height of thirty feet , and still preserving its proportions and characteristic appearance , extended in each direction , until it covered a space of ground some forty by twenty feet in measurement . " This ...
... weeks grew to the prodigious height of thirty feet , and still preserving its proportions and characteristic appearance , extended in each direction , until it covered a space of ground some forty by twenty feet in measurement . " This ...
Page 35
... week my attention was attracted by a large placard embellishing the corners of our streets , headed in mighty capitals , with the word " PHRENOLOGY , " and illus- trated by a map of a man's head , closely shaven , and laid off in lots ...
... week my attention was attracted by a large placard embellishing the corners of our streets , headed in mighty capitals , with the word " PHRENOLOGY , " and illus- trated by a map of a man's head , closely shaven , and laid off in lots ...
Page 44
... week , very miserably , though we are bound to confess that her performance of King Lear last evening , was superior to any thing of the kind we ever saw . Miss Pelican is about forty - three years of age , singularly plain in her ...
... week , very miserably , though we are bound to confess that her performance of King Lear last evening , was superior to any thing of the kind we ever saw . Miss Pelican is about forty - three years of age , singularly plain in her ...
Page 59
... is about twenty - five minutes shorter than ours ; its year seven and half months or thirty- two weeks . The diameter of Venus is 7,700 miles , and she receives from the Sun thrice as much light and heat LECTURES ON ASTRONOMY . 59.
... is about twenty - five minutes shorter than ours ; its year seven and half months or thirty- two weeks . The diameter of Venus is 7,700 miles , and she receives from the Sun thrice as much light and heat LECTURES ON ASTRONOMY . 59.
Common terms and phrases
admiration American appearance arrived beautiful Benicia Bogle Boötes Bowers brilliant star Brown California called Captain carpet bag cent character cloth commenced constellation crowd dollars door dress Dunshunner Earth excitement father feet gazed gentleman give Gyascutus hand head heard Heavens Hotel House idea Illustrated inhabitants inquire instant interest John Bigler JOHN PHOENIX Joseph Bowers Judge Jupiter Kearny Street lady Lectures letter literary look MARSHAL JUNOT Mary Howitt miles mind Mission of Dolores Moon morning Mudge Muggins never night observed paper passed Pike County planet Playa Plaza Poetical present readers received remarked replied route San Diego Herald San Francisco Saturn Skewball smile Society Squibob steamer story street sugar box thing tion turned Tushmaker VIRGINIA COMEDIANS vols volume wharf Whig young