Page:Dawn and the Dons.pdf/145

DAWN AND THE DONS 123 wine and a bottle of brandy; and the traveler was at no expense whatever. .. . “One who has become rich by his industry is neither admired nor envied by anyone. Theft is extremely rare. Murder is without example. They do not like work, but are all day in the saddle, looking after their herds and hunting. . . . Reverence and respect for father and mother were carried to the highest degree. This was universal, and deemed a matter of course.”

After saying that no one will question the courage of these early Californians, Bancroft makes the following general comment: “Absolutely unconfined socially and politically, or as nearly so as it were possible for poor, erring humanity to be, who cannot escape a master of some sort, or who make any pretentions to government, religion or social ethics; masters of all their eyes surveyed, the beautiful earth and its fruits as free as the sweet air and sunshine, lands unlimited, cattle on a thousand hills, with ready-made servants to tend them; born here, basking here, with none to molest or make

afraid; with woman

to love, and offspring to rear, and

priest to shrive; with heart full and stomach full; how could they be else than happy, than lovers of home and country ?” So lived and loved these happy people. Their mistake, if mistake it can be called, was in not knowing that the world moves, and that sooner or later, progress was

bound to overtake them. They took no thought of the historic tomorrow. They had an unusual opportunity