DAWN AND THE DONS 106
market. Trees and cattle cost next to nothing, had no special value. Thus ran the days away in that land of springtime, when industry and romance walked together, and pastoral pursuits yielded to merry-making. How difficult it is with mere present a faithful likeness of that uniquely time in a far away land. Probably the most
and time perpetual dreamily frequent words to romantic profound
student of Spanish California, and of the lives, customs
and character of the Californians of that period was Hubert Howe Bancroft, who says, “The Californian ever
aspires to gallantry. Latin peoples are more demonstrative in their manners than Anglo-Saxons, more picturesque in their politeness; the common people more cordial,
and
the better
bred
men
more
gallant.
To
French politeness, Spaniards add chivalrous courtesy. . . They had received but little training, scarcely any education, yet they possessed virtues worthy of record. They were kind hearted and liberal; a person could travel from San Diego to Sonoma without a coin in his pocket, and never want for a roof to cover him,
a bed to sleep on, food to eat, and even tobacco to smoke. . Any stranger traveling through the country could stop at any one of the Missions as long as he pleased. When ready to leave, all he had to do was to tell the padres, and his horses would be ready, with a guide, and also provisions for the road; generally a chicken or two, a boiled tongue, a loaf of bread, boiled eggs, a bottle of
