Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/362



York. Blustering waiters  in  greasy  clothes  switch- ing filthy towels  about  the  noses  of  their  guests, bawl their  orders  from  morning  till  night  and  from nio'ht till  almost  morning,  in  the  honorable  effort  to fill  the  stomachs  of  the  great  unwashed. Loud of  voice and with  faces  red  they  cry,  through  the  hole  which opens into  the  fizzing,  smoking  kitchen,  *'  Hurry  up them  cakes !""  Plate  of  fish-balls  quick!"  "One rare steak  ;  one  hash  ;  plate  o'  fried  tripe,  with  one onion, done  brown!"  "Come,  why  don't  yer  hurry up them  cakes  ;  don't  be  all  day  ! " Thus  they  con- tinue, through  the  busy  hours  of  meal  time  amidst clatter  of  dishes,  and  now  and  then  a  crash  resulthig from  a  collision  of  the  carriers,  varying  their  stern calls  with  benign  and  soothing  words  to  the  afflicted customers :  "  One  moment,  sir."  "  I'll  attend  to  your case, sir."  "  Now  then,  sir  ;  we  have  as  you  perceive by the  bill  of  fare  everything  you  can  wish,  sir."  A miner  mumbles  forth  his  order,  and  the  next  moment is  almost  lifted  from  his  seat  by  the  shout :  "  Cakes, sausage, tripe,  fish-balls,  liver,  and  tea  for  one,  quick ! '

Long Wharf,  by  which  name  the  lower  end  of  Com- mercial street in  San  Francisco  was  known  in  the  early years, was  the  rendezvous  for  thieves  and  thimble- riggers as  well  as  for  all  sorts  of  peddlers,  criers  and "givers away"  of  merchandise. There Cheap  John flourished in  all  his  glory,  and  no  matter  how  hard  the times, drove,  what  appeared  on  the  surface,  a  lively business.

" That  feller  in  thar  talks  as  ef  he  had  his  tongue iled ;"  remarked  an  attentive  observer,  a  tall,  raw-boned, hatchet-faced individual,  one  evening.

" Talking  of  iles,"  immediately  broke  forth  the facetious auctioneer  who  overheard  the  remark,  "I  have something  here  which  I  rayther  think  will  kinder  take you,"  at  the  same  time  holding  up  as  many  bottles  of hair  oil,  brushes,  and  pieces  of  soap  as  both  hands could contain.

" Here's  a  lot  of  goods,  gentlemen,  worth