Phoenixiana: Or Sketches and BurlesquesGeorge Horatio Derby (1823-1861) of Massachusetts graduated from West Point in 1846 and served in the Army Topographical Engineers at Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo before being sent to California in 1856. He remained there for seven years, leading three exploring expeditions and winning a place as one of the state's first humorists with pieces published in the San Diego Herald and republished around the nation. Phoenixiana (1903) reprints a book originally published in 1855. It contains Derby's pieces as "Professor John Phoenixiana" and "Squibob," poking fun at such topics as military surveyors and explorers; contemporary travel accounts of the Mission Dolores, Benecia, Sonoma, San Francisco, and San Diego; literary societies and women's clubs; astronomy; and Army life. |
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Page 5
... Dunshunner , DR . TARGEE HEAVYSTERNE HERR VON DER WEEGATES . DR . FOGY L. BIGGUNS DR . TUSHMAKER ENRY HALFRED JINKINS , R.A. ADOLPHE KRAUT · HI FUN • Geologist . Naturalist . Botanist . Ethnologist . Dentist . · } Draftsmen ...
... Dunshunner , DR . TARGEE HEAVYSTERNE HERR VON DER WEEGATES . DR . FOGY L. BIGGUNS DR . TUSHMAKER ENRY HALFRED JINKINS , R.A. ADOLPHE KRAUT · HI FUN • Geologist . Naturalist . Botanist . Ethnologist . Dentist . · } Draftsmen ...
Page 8
... - cability by an experiment , I placed Dr. Dunshunner at a distance of forty paces from my Theodolite , with a flint - lock musket , carefully primed , and directed 66 him to flash in the pan , when I should 8 PHOENIXIANA.
... - cability by an experiment , I placed Dr. Dunshunner at a distance of forty paces from my Theodolite , with a flint - lock musket , carefully primed , and directed 66 him to flash in the pan , when I should 8 PHOENIXIANA.
Page 9
... Dunshunner lying on his back in one direction , and my hat , which had been violently torn from my head , at about the same distance in an- other , I concluded that the musket had been acciden- tally loaded . Such proved to be the case ...
... Dunshunner lying on his back in one direction , and my hat , which had been violently torn from my head , at about the same distance in an- other , I concluded that the musket had been acciden- tally loaded . Such proved to be the case ...
Page 12
... Dunshunner , and gazing from side to side , with an air of ineffable blandness and dignity , brought up the rear . I had made arrangements to measure the length of Kearny Street by two methods ; first , by chain- ing its sidewalks , and ...
... Dunshunner , and gazing from side to side , with an air of ineffable blandness and dignity , brought up the rear . I had made arrangements to measure the length of Kearny Street by two methods ; first , by chain- ing its sidewalks , and ...
Page 15
... Dunshunner discovered a stratum of white pine , three inches in thickness , and beneath this again , sand . It is densely populated , and smells of horses . Its surface is intersected with many pools of sulphuretted protoxide of ...
... Dunshunner discovered a stratum of white pine , three inches in thickness , and beneath this again , sand . It is densely populated , and smells of horses . Its surface is intersected with many pools of sulphuretted protoxide of ...
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accidently shot admiration appearance arrived Artemesia Astronomy beautiful Benicia Bogle Bowers brilliant star Brown California called Captain carpet-bag constellation crowd David Harum dollars door Dunshunner E. W. KEMBLE Earth Edward Noyes Westcott excited expression father feel gazed gentleman give Gyascutus hand head heard Heavens Hotel House idea inhabitants inquire instant interest JOHN KENDRICK BANGS JOHN PHOENIX Joseph Bowers Judge Jupiter Kearny Street lady LECTURES letter literary look ment miles mind Mission of Dolores Moon morning Mudge Muggins never night nose observed paper passed Pike County planet Playa Plaza present readers remark replied route San Diego Herald San Francisco Saturn shouted smile Solar System Squibob steamer Street Tehama thought tion took tooth turned Tushmaker Uncle Remus Vallecetos week wharf young