From 1852 to 1866, the Harvey family lived in the Sp[ring and Summer at Spanish Ranch, a small mining community. located seven miles est of Quincy in Plumas County, California. Here the trail going to the tributaries of the Feather Rive separated and here Isaac and Benton owned and operated a hotel, store, post office, and several other building. The buildings are long gone but the memories are still with us. preserved when Josephine wrote wrote a description of life growing up at Spanish Ranch.
In oine, she wrote:
"One day when the stage stopped a rather tall, gentlemanly Chinaman – dressed in very fine broadcloth – got out at the hotel, followed by a manservant in ordinary Chinese clothes. The gentleman Chinese asked for two rooms and when would supper be ready. I didn’t see them (you see I always received the stage, but this was one of the times when we were living in the hotel) any more that night. But the next morning! As there were very few overnight guests traveling our way, the men’s restroom was seldom occupied that spring, although a fire was usually started in the morning and the airtight stove was then closed. I was in the habit of playing in the deep window seats and was there with my dolls when the door opened and the two Chinamen came in. I didn’t suppose they were going to stay because Chinamen didn’t sit there. But they did – and the valet proceeded to make the toilet – or whatever it should be called – of the other."
“First, his fine coat was removed and then he seated himself in a chair and the valet covered him with a big cloth. A folding bag of toilet articles appeared as if by magic and were spread on the toilet table that stood very near. Water that had been on the stove in a basin to heat was brought to the table. The valet first shaved the head and neck then proceeded to wash his face, neck, and ears, and also his hands – just as mother did me”!
“Then the valet brushed the gentleman’s teeth (he did rinse his mouth himself) and scraped his tongue with a little gold scraper, then dug out his ears with a little gold spoon. By this time I was too paralyzed with amazement to think of leaving the room and they didn’t seem to know I was there. Lastly, the valet took off the gentleman’s shoes and stocking and washed and dried his feet. Next, he stood up and his trousers were carefully dusted with a cloth produced with the valet’s sleeve and disappeared into it when no longer needed. The coat was resumed and the cap with its button on top securely placed. The toilet articles were rolled up and disappeared up a sleeve and a fresh silk handkerchief was drawn from the other sleeve, shook out, and ceremoniously handed to the other. Then they were ready for business”.
The transfer from the original manuscript into digital format was made possible, in part, by grant from the HARDEN FOUNDATION (Grant # 96-158). The original manuscript is found in the Bancroft Library BANC 73/122 x124). The scenic crayon lithograph on the cover can be found in the 1971 edition of Faruss and Smith’s History of Plumas, Lassen, & Sierra Counties, Howell-North Books. Berkeley, California, 1971
