Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/141



mean artifice  conceivable  was  resorted  to  for  extort- ing money ;  when  the  steamers  were  not  half  filled, full fare  would  be  exacted  for  an  empty  berth,  under threat of  separating  man  and  wife,  or  of  assigning  it to  some  unwelcome  companion. Ice was  the  greatest luxury on  board;  but  after  receiving  $300  or  $600 passage money,  it  was  sold  to  the  passenger  nominally at twenty-five  cents  a  pound,  but  the  pounds  were  in reality  but  a  half  or  quarter  of  a  pound,  and  many with parched  tongues  felt  they  could  not  afford  to pay  the  price. The voyage  was  looked  forward  to with  dread,  and  undertaken  with  abhorrence. No one, at  least  at  that  time,  selected  this  journey  as  a pleasure  trip. It was  the  one  dark  spot  in  many  a Californian's  experience,  remembered  to  this  day  as  a nightmare. If such  prayers  be  answered,— for  curses are but  left-handed  prayers — then  are  the  steamer potentates of  those  days  roasting  in  regions  hotter than any  through  which  their  ships  ever  sailed,  for never since  the  world  was  were  men  so  cursed. In justice to  carriers  and  caterers,  however >  it  must  be admitted  that  travellers  with  their  silly  questions  and frivolous complaints,  often  severely  tax  their  patience; but this  does  not  warrant  curt  replies  and  continued and systematic  insults,  such  as  were  heaped  upon helpless California  passengers. Such conduct  is  cow- ardly, and in  every  way  contemptible. Travellers will grumble  and  be  unreasonable ;  carriers  and  hotel- keepers must  expect  this. It must  be  admitted,  more- over, that as  a  rule  those  complain  most,  who,  as  a right,  should  expect  least. He who  has  the  fewest comforts at  home  finds  the  most  fault  with  the  discom- forts of travel. In such  cases  the  lowest  class  usually make the  loudest  noise  with  their  cries  of  hardship and imposition. To-day, quiet,  well-behaved  passen- gers are almost  always  treated  well,  no  matter  how ill-organized and  appointed  the  conveyance  may  be.. There are  standard  maxims  of  travel,  however^  which, it would   be  well  to   remember. Would you    have