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 dy politic  of

California developed  slowly. Digestion was  good  but the muscles  were  soft,  the  bones  cartilaginous,  and the brain  inept  and  watery. The structure  of  the  in- fant state could  not  in  a  moment  take  on  the  strength of the  mature  man. While ready  to  profit  by  the experiences of  older  communities,  the  people  would not hamper  themselves  with  ancient  restrictions.

To the  Californian,  California  only  was  life ;  all  the time comlno-  hither,  and  after  biddino;  her  adieu,  was like the  fly-leaves  at  the  beginning  and  end  of  books — blanks. Escaped from  the  tyranny  of  tradition,  he must  needs  purge  himself  of  his  piety,  as  Roman  ho7i vivants, to  avoid  indigestion,  took  an  emetic  before  sit- ting down to  dinner;  then  he  might  safely  launch  his hopes on  the  limitless  ocean  of  free  thought  and  un- constrained affection.

How much  of  all  man's  infelicities  is  the  result  of inheritance  and  environment,  which  like  Harmonia's robe,  dyed  by  Vulcan  in  many  crimes,  infuse  wicked- ness and misfortune  into  the  wearer ! More than  in her  successes,  there  are  lessons  to  be  learned  from California's failures.

They are  free  and  easy,  and  the  best  natured  people in the  world. But it  is  not  the  o;ood  nature  of  ino;en- uousness or  simplicity. Steamer travel  and  commer- cial intercourse have  taught  them  that  good  nature will carry  a  man  farther  and  better  than  bad  nature ; that while  bad  nature  involves  one  in  difficulties,  good nature extricates  one  from  them. Their acute  per- ceptions would prevent  their  becoming  victims  of  im- position, except that  this  very  quality  of  shrewdness lulls suspicion. Their very  strength  is  their  weak- ness. Frank and  free  in  disposition  and  dealings,  they cannot impute  mean  motives  to  all  with  whom  they come in  contact. When cheated  they  say  little,  but the cheat,  his  shop,  his  house,  are  avoided  as  those  of a  leper.

As in  Rome  in  the  days  of  Rutilius,  who  was  im- peached and banished  because  of  his  obnoxious  hon-