| Title: | An Irishman in California. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3981 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | 1861-70/6 |
| Year | 1869 |
| Sender | unknown |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | San Francisco, California, USA |
| Destination | N.Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | unknown |
| Relationship | re Irishmen in California |
| Source | An Irishman in California. |
| Archive | The Central Library, Belfast. |
| Doc. No. | 9508091 |
| Date | 28/05/1869 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 11:08:1995. |
| Word Count | 305 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | AN IRISHMAN IN CALIFORNIA A San Francisco letter says. - Among the residents of San Francisco the Ulster metropolis is well represented, and from thence some of our more prominent citizens hail. The fame and excellence of Belfast linens are well-known in most American households; so much so that with some in whose early studies the department of etymology has been neglected, the words "linen" and "Belfast" are looked upon as synonymous terms. Another production of your enterprising town has recently grown into popular favour with bibulous Californians. I allude to "Dunville's old Irish whiskey", which, when adulterated en route, contrasts so favourably with the thunder-and-lightning liquid of American manufacture. Belfast-men here, as a general thing, and to use a general phrase, hold their own. They are not so numerous as their fellow-countrymen of the South and West, but [as a?] class they are more noted for shrewdness and frugality. As a rule they are not in so much favour with, although, perhaps, more respected by, the American people. The sharp cuteness of the Yankee is fully equalled by the "wide-awakeness" of the Ulster-man; and your true Yankee cannot comprehend how or why a mere Irishman has any right to exist whom his cuteness is unable to overreach. As an illustration of the rapid strides to wealth and influence which some of our countrymen make in California, I will mention the instance of our present Mayor, Frank M'Coppin, Esq. Ten years ago, he arrived in this city a friendless and impecurious stranger, his first employment being in the capacity of a labourer on the first street railroad built in San Francisco. Today he is one of our "solid men", and Mayor of this rising and prosperous city of 150,000 inhabitants, having acquired his wealth and honours through his own energy and the force of his own innate sterling character. - Whig. |
