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in their  several  vocations. This skill  and  experience, by means  of  which  society  is  influenced,  were  acquired under different  systems  of  education  and  discipline  ; and in  the  adaptation  of  these  experiences,  one  to  an- other, and all  to  a  general  whole,  theory  and  specula- tion were in  a  measure  thrown  aside,  and  men  became eminently practical. All must  discard  something of that  j  ust  pride  for  the  ancient  and  local  customs  of their  fathers  under  which  their  progress  had  been  at- tained thus far. This it  was  difiicult  at  once  to do. The way  in  which  we  are  accustomed  to  do  a thing  we  cannot  but  feel  to  be  the  best  way,  and  we see  no  reason  why  we  should  throw  it  aside  for  an- other which will  bring  about  results  less  easily. Nor need we,  except  in  some  instances,  when  we  must  per- force adapt ourselves  to  general  customs. And by this  discarding  of  habits  formed  on  a  framework  of technical  philosophy  alone,  and  seizing  upon  actuali- ties as they  exist,  irrespective  of  their  origin,  the grandest results  are  attained.

Until a  late  day  we  lacked  home  and  the  home  feel- ing in California. We began  by  staying  here  a  little while, and  we  have  remained  longer  than  we  intended. We lack  the  associations  running  back  for  generations, the old  homestead,  the  grandfather,  and  grandmother, and uncles,  and  aunts,  and  cousins. There is  nothing around us  hallowed  by  an  indistinct  past. There is nothing  older  than  ourselves ;  all  that  we  see  has grown up  under  our  eyes,  and  for  these  creatures  of our  own  creation  we  have  no  reverence. We are  not yet settled,  we  are  constantly  moving  to  and  fro  like restless spirits,  living  in  hotels  and  boarding  houses ; or if  we  have  a  home  we  want  to  sell  it  and  go  into the country,  or  to  Europe. It is  so  much  trouble keeping house,  with  these  Chinamen  for  chamber- maids !

The average  intelligence  of  any  nation  in  Christen- dom, not even  excepting  the  great  American  people, is greatly  overrated ;  particularly  when  it