the kind that came to Callfornia. For the enormous quantities of hquor consumed, the number of drunken men was few. It was later that multitudes were overcome of this evil. Then no one ret^arded drink in the light of an enemy to steal away his brains, but rather as a friend that promoted good fellowship, that cheated of their tediousness the slowly-passing dismal hours, that banished sorrow, that lifted care with instantaneous mao;ic hand from off the brain, and g:ave it sweet oblivion, that inspired bold thoughts, that enlarged the soul, that etherealized the tamest joys, and threw a halo over coarse surroundings. Hard work and hard drinking with many went hand in hand; but such men drunkenness seldom overtook, or if it did, it was occasional rather than common.
It has been said that there is something in the climate of California which superinduces delirium tremens with less provocation than elsewhere. I do not know what it is, unless it be the same that superinduces business and social delirium, auri sacra fames. These were the days of delirium, and he who was not delirious might thank his numbness and stupidity for it. California life was but a succession of alternate periods of delirium and apathy.
Drinking-saloons were a prominent feature in all the mining camps. Sometimes of logs, sometimes of white cloth nailed over a frame, but usually of boards, lined on the inside with cloth or paper, or both, not more than one or two stories in height, but spreading over considerable ground, they were conspicuous in appearance, and generally occupied a central position. Before the door, or if the weather was cold, inside around the stove, w^ere seats which any one, whether patrons or not, might occupy. On one side of the room was the bar, over which liquor was sold, and in various parts of it were green baize-covered card tables and chairs, where "poker," " seven-up," and " euchre" were played, both for money and for drinks. One or more large long tables, surrounded by benches
