dy politic of
California developed slowly. Digestion was good but the muscles were soft, the bones cartilaginous, and the brain inept and watery. The structure of the in- fant state could not in a moment take on the strength of the mature man. While ready to profit by the experiences of older communities, the people would not hamper themselves with ancient restrictions.
To the Californian, California only was life ; all the time comlno- hither, and after biddino; her adieu, was like the fly-leaves at the beginning and end of books — blanks. Escaped from the tyranny of tradition, he must needs purge himself of his piety, as Roman ho7i vivants, to avoid indigestion, took an emetic before sit- ting down to dinner; then he might safely launch his hopes on the limitless ocean of free thought and un- constrained affection.
How much of all man's infelicities is the result of inheritance and environment, which like Harmonia's robe, dyed by Vulcan in many crimes, infuse wicked- ness and misfortune into the wearer ! More than in her successes, there are lessons to be learned from California's failures.
They are free and easy, and the best natured people in the world. But it is not the o;ood nature of ino;en- uousness or simplicity. Steamer travel and commer- cial intercourse have taught them that good nature will carry a man farther and better than bad nature ; that while bad nature involves one in difficulties, good nature extricates one from them. Their acute per- ceptions would prevent their becoming victims of im- position, except that this very quality of shrewdness lulls suspicion. Their very strength is their weak- ness. Frank and free in disposition and dealings, they cannot impute mean motives to all with whom they come in contact. When cheated they say little, but the cheat, his shop, his house, are avoided as those of a leper.
As in Rome in the days of Rutilius, who was im- peached and banished because of his obnoxious hon-
