Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/135

 European

vessels were  more  homogeneous,  more  alike  one  an- other, each ship  carrying  a  fraternizing  cargo  what- ever the caste,  a  cargo  of  nearer  kinship  in  origin  and desthiation, while  on  the  Californian  steamers  all  was babel-tongued discordant  conglomeration. In scenery the California  trip,  as  compared  to  the  European,  is as  kaleidoscope  to  spy-glass;  there  are  seas  that  lash themselves into  angry  foam,  seas  that  race  their  blue billows alonof,  swirling^  and  shaking;  their  crests  in careless  wantonness,  and  seas  glassy  as  mountain  lakes, mirroring the  luxuriant  green  of  tropical  isles  and mainland. Within the  three  weeks  allotted  to  the trip the  voyager  passes  under  the  influence  of  the four seasons,  is  introduced  to  wonderful  lands,  and made acquainted  with  strange  peoples. Nature and human nature  assumes  phases  altogether  new ;  unique experiences and  wide  prospects  sharpen  the  faculties and enlarge  ideas. A sort  of  inspiration  follows ;  the windows of  the  mind  are  opened  and  immensity rushes in,  even  sea-sickness  is  an  inspiration,  or  is followed  by  keener  thoughts  and  an  inspiriting  frame of mhid.

The reasons  why  there  never  again  can  be  such  sea- voyagings are  obvious. This planet  lias  no  other  Cali- fornia left, no  other  Pacific  coast,  no  further  stretch of gold-besprinkled  unoccupied  temperate  zone. Gold discoveries there  may  be,  and  possible  uprisings  and rushes, but  the  earth  is  now  belted  by  railways  and telegraphs, and  all  parts  of  it  worth  rushing  to,  all parts of  it  possible  to  seize,  pleasant  to  live  in,  or profitable  to  subdue  are  now  occupied  and  guarded  by civilized  or  semi -civilized  nations. There never  will be another  crusade  for  the  recovery  of  the  holy  sep- ulchre, nor another  ten  centuries  of  religious  wars, nor another  Bartholomew  massacre,  nor  any  more old-fashioned voyages  of  discovery,  nor  any  more California gold-hunter's  voyages  of  adventure. His- tory may repeat  itself;  so  may  nature,  progressional phenomena, and   fundamental  social  laws,  but  mon-