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
... hope with 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 ...
... hope with 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 ...
Page 33
... hope that I might find some one of them that would enable me to express precisely my ideas ; but the same insufficiency of adjectives exists in all except that of the Flathead Indians of Puget Sound , which consists of but forty- six ...
... hope that I might find some one of them that would enable me to express precisely my ideas ; but the same insufficiency of adjectives exists in all except that of the Flathead Indians of Puget Sound , which consists of but forty- six ...
Page 34
... hope , immortalize my humble name as the promulga- tor of the truth and the benefactor of the human race . Before entering upon my system I will give you an account of its discovery ( which , perhaps I might with more modesty term an ...
... hope , immortalize my humble name as the promulga- tor of the truth and the benefactor of the human race . Before entering upon my system I will give you an account of its discovery ( which , perhaps I might with more modesty term an ...
Page 38
... Hope , 10. " Firmness , 2 . Veneration , 12 . Philoprogenitiveness , 0 . Having gazed on this for a few moments in mute astonishment — during which the Professor took a glass of brandy and water , and afterward a mouthful of tobacco - I ...
... Hope , 10. " Firmness , 2 . Veneration , 12 . Philoprogenitiveness , 0 . Having gazed on this for a few moments in mute astonishment — during which the Professor took a glass of brandy and water , and afterward a mouthful of tobacco - I ...
Page 130
... slap her on the back , declare ourselves in favor of erecting a statue of Andrew Jackson in the Plaza , and , to prove our sincerity , run up to - day at the head of our col- umns a Democratic ticket for 1855 , which we hope 130 ...
... slap her on the back , declare ourselves in favor of erecting a statue of Andrew Jackson in the Plaza , and , to prove our sincerity , run up to - day at the head of our col- umns a Democratic ticket for 1855 , which we hope 130 ...
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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