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 10
... becoming modesty ) as my own invention . It simply consists in placing one leg of a tripod on the initial point , and opening out the other legs as far as possible ; the distance between the legs is then meas- ured by a two - foot rule ...
... becoming modesty ) as my own invention . It simply consists in placing one leg of a tripod on the initial point , and opening out the other legs as far as possible ; the distance between the legs is then meas- ured by a two - foot rule ...
Page 71
... becomes the morning or the evening star , but never departing quite 48 ° from the Sun. Its day is about twenty - five minutes shorter than ours ; its year seven and a half months or thirty - two weeks . The diameter of Venus is 7,700 ...
... becomes the morning or the evening star , but never departing quite 48 ° from the Sun. Its day is about twenty - five minutes shorter than ours ; its year seven and a half months or thirty - two weeks . The diameter of Venus is 7,700 ...
Page 86
... becomes a desideratum . It is , there- fore , with pleasure I make known the following recipe , which I am assured has been tried with efficacy : Boil a quart of tar until it becomes quite thin . Remove the clothing , and before the tar ...
... becomes a desideratum . It is , there- fore , with pleasure I make known the following recipe , which I am assured has been tried with efficacy : Boil a quart of tar until it becomes quite thin . Remove the clothing , and before the tar ...
Page 92
... become embarrassed by that unfortunate word " toss , " he was obliged to bring in either a hoss or an albatross ; and preferring the bird as the more poetical , invented the extraordinary fact to explain his appearance . The above lines ...
... become embarrassed by that unfortunate word " toss , " he was obliged to bring in either a hoss or an albatross ; and preferring the bird as the more poetical , invented the extraordinary fact to explain his appearance . The above lines ...
Page 105
... become a place , and do not hesitate to advance the imbecile idea that it may become a successful rival of this city . Non- sense ! -Oh Lord ! at this instant there passed by my window the prettiest - little - I can't write any more ...
... become a place , and do not hesitate to advance the imbecile idea that it may become a successful rival of this city . Non- sense ! -Oh Lord ! at this instant there passed by my window the prettiest - little - I can't write any more ...
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Common terms and phrases
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