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ters, firml}^  grasped,  crumble  in  the  hand,  it  wonders why it  wore  them  so  long. Who is  man's  master  ? Himself. The greatest  master  of  the  greatest  mechan- ism. Self-control, more  difficult  than  control  of lightning,  or  other  elemental  force. What are  the  con- ditions of this  self-subordination  or  self-slavery  ? As- sociation. If man  remained  alone,  he  would  have  no use  for  such  words  as  master,  slave,  as  there  would be no  other  subordination  than  to  nature.

Why then  should  man,  the  freest  thing  in  nature, the only  free  and  independent  lord  of  all,  why  should he hunt  so  far  and  wide  for  powers  under  which  to place  himself  in  subjection  ? Until he  has  served  a long  apprenticeship,  an  apprenticeship  of  ages  upon ages, ten  thousand  or  ten  millions  of  years,  it  will  do no  good  to  say  to  him,  fool ! devil-maker, god-maker, conscience-manufacturer, morality-molder,  why  go  you so far  along  the  lane  of  blind  stupidity,  with  eyes riveted on  the  ground,  witii  fetters  riveted  on  every natural and  artificial  element  of  your  nature,  refusing to see,  feel,  or  think? Before the  coming  hither  of the  men  of  'forty-nine,  they  were  bound,  tied  body and soul  by  laws,  traditions,  and  conventionalities. Here for  a  moment  they  were  free,  absolutely  freo, whereupon straightway  they  must  forge  for  them- selves new fetters.

The migration  of  the  gold-diggers  marks  an  epoch in history  ever  to  be  remembered,  and  many  times more to  be  commented  upon. Many of  them  travelled half way  round  the  world  to  reach  their  destination  ; many reached  the  spot  only  to  lay  down  their  lives. What a  mixture  of  matters ! Gold-hunger and  strain- ing self-denial ; ceaseless  gnawing  within,  and  sweet air and  sunshine  still  running  to  waste  Avithout;  and in the  midst  of  all  death,  cold,  relentless  death,  hor- rible termination to  happy  hopes !

The very  deep  did  rot:  O  Christ! That ever  this  shouhl  be! Yea, slimy  things  did  crawd  with  legs Upon the  slimy  sea.