Page:History of California (Bancroft) volume 6.djvu/43

 ., 62-81.

currents, sun  and  configuration,  the  warm  stream from ancient  Cathay,  and  the  dominating  mountains, all aid. in the  equalization  of  differences.

Thus lay  the  valley  of  California  a-dreaming,  with visions of  empire  far  down  the  vistas  of  time,  when behold, the  great  awakening  is  already  at  hand  t  Even now noiseless  bells  are  ringing  the  ingathering  of  the nations; for  here  is  presently  to  be  found  that  cold, impassive element  which  civilization  accepts  as  its symbol of  the  Most  Desirable,  and  for  which  accord- ingly all men  perform  pilgrimage  and  crusade,  to  toil and fight  and  die.

V