Russian River Flag, 31 August 1876
San Francisco Letter.
Ed. Flag —The annual Fair is in progress, and at present the centre of attraction, attendance being some below the average of former exhibitions.
The main features of interest to some are; The magnificent and large church organ, built here ; Father Neri’s electrical displays; a barrel of oil with glass heads, and a Punch and Judy show. Others of either sex see nothing but their negative, and spend six nights a week in flirtation. Business in the main, at the Fair, is to show your best clothes; don’t forget it when you come down.
The Hayes and Wheeler blues are a multitudinous organiztion, increasing enormously every weekly meeting. Four hundred were initiated last Tuesday evening.
To preserve the military dignity of the coast, we are running a genuine military court martial, to find out why one of our high rank officers disregarded the general order in not marching his men out on the third of July to parade and participate in the sham fight. It only costs the people $200 an evening. We are an amusement loving people.
Fruit is so cheap it has lost its relish. I have the authority when I say it won’t pay to bring fruit over the bay from Fruit Vale. Watermelons down in front of the warehouses are piled up like cord wood.
Hoodlums are committing such depredations that it is really dangerous to be out after dark, necessitating continual vigilence by those compelled to visit unfrequented localities. Their only redeeming feature is, that they keep the police awake and make them put in full time while on watch.
Vic.