Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/340



hands, for  to  this  end  towns  are  built  and  men  and women migrate  hither  and  thither.

An offer  of  money  as  a  gratuity  would  be  received as a  deadly  insult,  but  he  will  graciously  accept  a cigar  or  a  glass  of  liquor. Stage coaches  are  levelers of distinction,  and  the  judge  or  governor  on  the  box beside the  driver  is  his  equal,  if  not  indeed  his  in- ferior; for can  a  man  of  law  or  politics  drive  a  stage? He who  travels  by  steamer  or  stage  must  resign  his liberty, and  place  his  destiny  for  the  time  being  in the  hands  of  the  august  commander. Meeting: on the  road,  the  friendly  drivers  halt  and  hold  a  confer- ence, mingling with  their  classic  speech  the  most refined blasphemy. In places  of  danger  the  stage- driver manages  his  team  with  the  coolest  dexterity ; but he  will  not  go  one  inch  out  of  his  way  to  save his passengers  from  the  fear  of  perdition. Sometimes he sees  safety  in  speed,  and  performs  wonderful  feats in circumventing  obstacles ;  again  he  trims  his  boat or empties  out  the  cargo.

Two styles  of  vehicles  were  used,  the  Concord  coach, carrying nine  inside  and  two  or  five  beside  the  driver outside, and  the  mud-wagon,  of  larger  or  smaller  di- mensions according to  roads  and  trafiic. The best horses, four  or  six  in  number,  were  employed,  the  stage proprietor, like  all  others  of  quick  perception  and  ac- tive energy who  came  to  California,  soon  learning wherein lies  true  economy. Over a  good  road,  ten miles an  hour  were  readily  made.

Before the  hotel  and  stage  office  in  Sacramento,  at dawn  of  day,  were  drawn  up  side  by  side,  all  fronting one way,  twenty  or  thirty  coaches,  each  behind  four restive horses,  at  whose  heads  stood  grooms  holding them in  check. Men of  every  nation  and  degree,  each with a  roll  of  blankets,  and  many  carrying  a  rifle,  elbow their way  from  a  candle-light  breakfast  through  a  labyr- inth of horses  and  wheels,  with  lighted  pipes  and  bottles of rum,  seeking  their  respective  coaches. The driver mounts his  seat,  casts  a  critical  glance  over  the  rig-