第9章

CHAPTERLII。

SinceIdesire，inthischapter，tosayaninstructivewordortwoaboutthesilvermines，thereadermaytakethisfairwarningandskip，ifhechooses。Theyear1863wasperhapstheverytopblossomandculminationofthe“flushtimes。”Virginiaswarmedwithmenandvehiclestothatdegreethattheplacelookedlikeaveryhive——thatiswhenone"svisioncouldpiercethroughthethickfogofalkalidustthatwasgenerallyblowinginsummer。Iwillsay，concerningthisdust，thatifyoudrovetenmilesthroughit，youandyourhorseswouldbecoatedwithitasixteenthofaninchthickandpresentanoutsideappearancethatwasauniformpaleyellowcolor，andyourbuggywouldhavethreeinchesofdustinit，throwntherebythewheels。Thedelicatescalesusedbytheassayerswereinclosedinglasscasesintendedtobeair-tight，andyetsomeofthisdustwassoimpalpableandsoinvisiblyfinethatitwouldgetin，somehow，andimpairtheaccuracyofthosescales。

Speculationranriot，andyettherewasaworldofsubstantialbusinessgoingon，too。AllfreightswerebroughtoverthemountainsfromCalifornia(150miles)bypack-trainpartly，andpartlyinhugewagonsdrawnbysuchlongmuleteamsthateachteamamountedtoaprocession，anditdidseem，sometimes，thatthegrandcombinedprocessionofanimalsstretchedunbrokenfromVirginiatoCalifornia。ItslongroutewastraceableclearacrossthedesertsfotheTerritorybythewrithingserpentofdustitliftedup。Bythesewagons，freightsoverthathundredandfiftymileswere$200atonforsmalllots(samepriceforallexpressmatterbroughtbystage)，and$100atonforfullloads。

OneVirginiafirmreceivedonehundredtonsoffreightamonth，andpaid$10，000amonthfreightage。Inthewinterthefreightsweremuchhigher。

AllthebullionwasshippedinbarsbystagetoSanFrancisco(abarwasusuallyabouttwicethesizeofapigofleadandcontainedfrom$1，500

to$3，000accordingtotheamountofgoldmixedwiththesilver)，andthefreightonit(whentheshipmentwaslarge)wasoneandaquarterpercent。ofitsintrinsicvalue。

So，thefreightonthesebarsprobablyaveragedsomethingmorethan$25

each。Smallshipperspaidtwopercent。Therewerethreestagesaday，eachway，andIhaveseentheout-goingstagescarryawayathirdofatonofbullioneach，andmorethanonceIsawthemdivideatwo-tonlotandtakeitoff。However，thesewereextraordinaryevents。

[Mr。Valentine，WellsFargo"sagent，hashandledallthebullionshippedthroughtheVirginiaofficeformanyamonth。Tohismemory——whichisexcellent——weareindebtedforthefollowingexhibitofthecompany"sbusinessintheVirginiaofficesincethefirstofJanuary，1862:FromJanuary1sttoApril1st，about$270，000worthofbullionpassedthroughthatoffice，duringthenextquarter，$570，000；nextquarter，$800，000；

nextquarter，$956，000；nextquarter，$1，275，000；andforthequarterendingonthe30thoflastJune，about$1，600，000。Thusinayearandahalf，theVirginiaofficeonlyshipped$5，330，000inbullion。Duringtheyear1862theyshipped$2，615，000，soweperceivetheaverageshipmentshavemorethandoubledinthelastsixmonths。ThisgivesusroomtopromisefortheVirginiaoffice$500，000amonthfortheyear1863

(thoughperhaps，judgingbythesteadyincreaseinthebusiness，weareunderestimating，somewhat)。Thisgivesus$6，000，000fortheyear。

GoldHillandSilverCitytogethercanbeatus——wewillgivethem$10，000，000。ToDayton，EmpireCity，OphirandCarsonCity，wewillallowanaggregateof$8，000，000，whichisnotoverthemark，perhaps，andmaypossiblybealittleunderit。ToEsmeraldawegive$4，000，000。

ToReeseRiverandHumboldt$2，000，000，whichisliberalnow，butmaynotbebeforetheyearisout。Soweprognosticatethattheyieldofbullionthisyearwillbeabout$30，000，000。PlacingthenumberofmillsintheTerritoryatonehundred，thisgivestoeachthelaborofproducing$300，000inbullionduringthetwelvemonths。Allowingthemtorunthreehundreddaysintheyear(whichnoneofthemmorethando)，thismakestheirworkaverage$1，000aday。Saythemillsaveragetwentytonsofrockadayandthisrockworth$50asageneralthing，andyouhavetheactualworkofouronehundredmillsfigureddown“toaspot“——$1，000adayeach，and$30，000，000ayearintheaggregate——Enterprise。

[Aconsiderableoverestimate——M。T。]]

Twotonsofsilverbullionwouldbeintheneighborhoodoffortybars，andthefreightonitover$1，000。Eachcoachalwayscarriedadealofordinaryexpressmatterbeside，andalsofromfifteentotwentypassengersatfrom$25to$30ahead。Withsixstagesgoingallthetime，Wells，FargoandCo。"sVirginiaCitybusinesswasimportantandlucrative。

AllalongunderthecentreofVirginiaandGoldHill，foracoupleofmiles，ranthegreatComstocksilverlode——aveinoforefromfiftytoeightyfeetthickbetweenitssolidwallsofrock——aveinaswideassomeofNewYork"sstreets。IwillremindthereaderthatinPennsylvaniaacoalveinonlyeightfeetwideisconsideredample。

Virginiawasabusycityofstreetsandhousesaboveground。Underitwasanotherbusycity，downinthebowelsoftheearth，whereagreatpopulationofmenthrongedinandoutamonganintricatemazeoftunnelsanddrifts，flittinghitherandthitherunderawinkingsparkleoflights，andovertheirheadstoweredavastwebofinterlockingtimbersthatheldthewallsoftheguttedComstockapart。Thesetimberswereaslargeasaman"sbody，andtheframeworkstretchedupwardsofarthatnoeyecouldpiercetoitstopthroughtheclosinggloom。Itwaslikepeeringupthroughtheclean-pickedribsandbonesofsomecolossalskeleton。Imaginesuchaframeworktwomileslong，sixtyfeetwide，andhigherthananychurchspireinAmerica。Imaginethisstatelylattice-

workstretchingdownBroadway，fromtheSt。NicholastoWallstreet，andaFourthofJulyprocession，reducedtopigmies，paradingontopofitandflauntingtheirflags，highabovethepinnacleofTrinitysteeple。

Onecanimaginethat，buthecannotwellimaginewhatthatforestoftimberscost，fromthetimetheywerefelledinthepineriesbeyondWashoeLake，hauledupandaroundMountDavidsonatatrociousratesoffreightage，thensquared，letdownintothedeepmawofthemineandbuiltupthere。Twentyamplefortuneswouldnottimberoneofthegreatestofthosesilvermines。TheSpanishproverbsaysitrequiresagoldmineto“run“asilverone，anditistrue。Abeggarwithasilvermineisapitiablepauperindeedifhecannotsell。

IspokeoftheundergroundVirginiaasacity。TheGouldandCurryisonlyonesinglemineunderthere，amongagreatmanyothers；yettheGouldandCurry"sstreetsofdismaldriftsandtunnelswerefivemilesinextent，altogether，anditspopulationfivehundredminers。Takenasawhole，theundergroundcityhadsomethirtymilesofstreetsandapopulationoffiveorsixthousand。InthispresentdaysomeofthosepopulationsareatworkfromtwelvetosixteenhundredfeetunderVirginiaandGoldHill，andthesignal-bellsthattellthemwhatthesuperintendentabovegrounddesiresthemtodoarestruckbytelegraphaswestrikeafirealarm。Sometimesmenfalldownashaft，there，athousandfeetdeep。Insuchcases，theusualplanistoholdaninquest。

Ifyouwishtovisitoneofthosemines，youmaywalkthroughatunnelabouthalfamilelongifyoupreferit，oryoumaytakethequickerplanofshootinglikeadartdownashaft，onasmallplatform。Itisliketumblingdownthroughanemptysteeple，feetfirst。Whenyoureachthebottom，youtakeacandleandtrampthroughdriftsandtunnelswherethrongsofmenarediggingandblasting；youwatchthemsenduptubsfullofgreatlumpsofstone——silverore；youselectchoicespecimensfromthemass，assouvenirs；youadmiretheworldofskeletontimbering；youreflectfrequentlythatyouareburiedunderamountain，athousandfeetbelowdaylight；beinginthebottomofthemineyouclimbfrom“gallery“

to“gallery，“upendlessladdersthatstandstraightupanddown；whenyourlegsfailyouatlast，youliedowninasmallbox-carinacramped“incline“likeahalf-up-endedsewerandaredraggeduptodaylightfeelingasifyouarecrawlingthroughacoffinthathasnoendtoit。

Arrivedatthetop，youfindabusycrowdofmenreceivingtheascendingcarsandtubsanddumpingtheorefromanelevationintolongrowsofbinscapableofholdinghalfadozentonseach；underthebinsarerowsofwagonsloadingfromchutesandtrap-doorsinthebins，anddownthelongstreetisaprocessionofthesewagonswendingtowardthesilvermillswiththeirrichfreight。Itisall“done，“now，andthereyouare。

Youneednevergodownagain，foryouhaveseenitall。Ifyouhaveforgottentheprocessofreducingtheoreinthemillandmakingthesilverbars，youcangobackandfinditagaininmyEsmeraldachaptersifsodisposed。

Ofcoursetheseminescavein，inplaces，occasionally，andthenitisworthone"swhiletotaketheriskofdescendingintothemandobservingthecrushingpowerexertedbythepressingweightofasettlingmountain。

IpublishedsuchanexperienceintheEnterprise，once，andfromitI

willtakeanextract:

ANHOURINTHECAVEDMINES——WejourneyeddownintotheOphirmine，yesterday，toseetheearthquake。Wecouldnotgodownthedeepincline，becauseitstillhasapropensitytocaveinplaces。

ThereforewetraveledthroughthelongtunnelwhichentersthehillabovetheOphiroffice，andthenbymeansofaseriesoflongladders，climbedawaydownfromthefirsttothefourthgallery。

Traversingadrift，wecametotheSpanishline，passedfivesetsoftimbersstilluninjured，andfoundtheearthquake。Herewasascompleteachaosaseverwasseen——vastmassesofearthandsplinteredandbrokentimberspiledconfusedlytogether，withscarcelyanapertureleftlargeenoughforacattocreepthrough。

Rubbishwasstillfallingatintervalsfromabove，andonetimberwhichhadbracedothersearlierintheday，wasnowcrusheddownoutofitsformerposition，showingthatthecavingandsettlingofthetremendousmasswasstillgoingon。WewereinthatportionoftheOphirknownasthe“northmines。”Returningtothesurface，weenteredatunnelleadingintotheCentral，forthepurposeofgettingintothemainOphir。Descendingalonginclineinthistunnel，wetraversedadriftorso，andthenwentdownadeepshaftfromwhenceweproceededintothefifthgalleryoftheOphir。Fromaside-driftwecrawledthroughasmallholeandgotintothemidstoftheearthquakeagain——earthandbrokentimbersmingledtogetherwithoutregardtograceorsymmetry。Alargeportionofthesecond，thirdandfourthgallerieshadcavedinandgonetodestruction——thetwolatteratseveno"clockonthepreviousevening。

Attheturn-table，nearthenorthernextremityofthefifthgallery，twobigpilesofrubbishhadforcedtheirwaythroughfromthefifthgallery，andfromthelooksofthetimbers，morewasabouttocome。

Thesebeamsaresolid——eighteeninchessquare；first，agreatbeamislaidonthefloor，thenuprightones，fivefeethigh，standonit，supportinganotherhorizontalbeam，andsoon，squareabovesquare，liketheframeworkofawindow。Thesuperincumbentweightwassufficienttomashtheendsofthosegreatuprightbeamsfairlyintothesolidwoodofthehorizontalonesthreeinches，compressingandbendingtheuprightbeamtillitcurvedlikeabow。BeforetheSpanishcavedin，someoftheirtwelve-inchhorizontaltimberswerecompressedinthiswayuntiltheywereonlyfiveinchesthick！

Imaginethepoweritmusttaketosqueezeasolidlogtogetherinthatway。Here，also，wasarangeoftimbers，foradistanceoftwentyfeet，tiltedsixinchesoutoftheperpendicularbytheweightrestinguponthemfromthecavedgalleriesabove。Youcouldhearthingscrackingandgivingway，anditwasnotpleasanttoknowthattheworldoverheadwasslowlyandsilentlysinkingdownuponyou。Themendownintheminedonotmindit，however。

Returningalongthefifthgallery，westruckthesafepartoftheOphirincline，andwentdownittothesixth；butwefoundteninchesofwaterthere，andhadtocomeback。Inrepairingthedamagedonetotheincline，thepumphadtobestoppedfortwohours，andinthemeantimethewatergainedaboutafoot。However，thepumpwasatworkagain，andtheflood-waterwasdecreasing。

Weclimbeduptothefifthgalleryagainandsoughtadeepshaft，wherebywemightdescendtoanotherpartofthesixth，outofreachofthewater，butsuffereddisappointment，asthemenhadgonetodinner，andtherewasnoonetomanthewindlass。So，havingseentheearthquake，weclimbedoutattheUnioninclineandtunnel，andadjourned，alldrippingwithcandlegreaseandperspiration，tolunchattheOphiroffice。

Duringthegreatflushyearof1863，Nevada[claimstohave]

produced$25，000，000inbullion——almost，ifnotquite，aroundmilliontoeachthousandinhabitants，whichisverywell，consideringthatshewaswithoutagricultureandmanufactures。

Silverminingwashersoleproductiveindustry。[Sincetheabovewasintype，Ilearnfromanofficialsourcethattheabovefigureistoohigh，andthattheyieldfor1863didnotexceed$20，000，000。

However，thedayforlargefiguresisapproaching；theSutroTunnelistoplowthroughtheComstocklodefromendtoend，atadepthoftwothousandfeet，andthenminingwillbeeasyandcomparativelyinexpensive；andthemomentousmattersofdrainage，andhoistingandhaulingoforewillceasetobeburdensome。Thisvastworkwillabsorbmanyyears，andmillionsofdollars，initscompletion；butitwillearlyyieldmoney，forthatdesirableepochwillbeginassoonasitstrikesthefirstendofthevein。Thetunnelwillbesomeeightmileslong，andwilldevelopastonishingriches。Carswillcarrytheorethroughthetunnelanddumpitinthemillsandthusdoawaywiththepresentcostlysystemofdoublehandlingandtransportationbymuleteams。Thewaterfromthetunnelwillfurnishthemotivepowerforthemills。Mr。Sutro，theoriginatorofthisprodigiousenterprise，isoneofthefewmenintheworldwhoisgiftedwiththepluckandperseverancenecessarytofollowupandhoundsuchanundertakingtoitscompletion。HehasconvertedseveralobstinateCongressestoadeservedfriendlinesstowardhisimportantwork，andhasgoneupanddownandtoandfroinEuropeuntilhehasenlistedagreatmoneyedinterestinitthere。

CHAPTERLIII。

Everynowandthen，inthesedays，theboysusedtotellmeIoughttogetoneJimBlainetotellmethestirringstoryofhisgrandfather"soldram——buttheyalwaysaddedthatImustnotmentionthematterunlessJimwasdrunkatthetime——justcomfortablyandsociablydrunk。Theykeptthisupuntilmycuriositywasontheracktohearthestory。IgottohauntingBlaine；butitwasofnouse，theboysalwaysfoundfaultwithhiscondition；hewasoftenmoderatelybutneversatisfactorilydrunk。

Ineverwatchedaman"sconditionwithsuchabsorbinginterest，suchanxioussolicitude；Ineversopinedtoseeamanuncompromisinglydrunkbefore。Atlast，oneeveningIhurriedtohiscabin，forIlearnedthatthistimehissituationwassuchthateventhemostfastidiouscouldfindnofaultwithit——hewastranquilly，serenely，symmetricallydrunk——notahiccuptomarhisvoice，notaclouduponhisbrainthickenoughtoobscurehismemory。AsIentered，hewassittinguponanemptypowder-

keg，withaclaypipeinonehandandtheotherraisedtocommandsilence。Hisfacewasround，red，andveryserious；histhroatwasbareandhishairtumbled；ingeneralappearanceandcostumehewasastalwartmineroftheperiod。Onthepinetablestoodacandle，anditsdimlightrevealed“theboys“sittinghereandthereonbunks，candle-boxes，powder-kegs，etc。Theysaid:

“Sh——！Don"tspeak——he"sgoingtocommence。”

THESTORYOFTHEOLDRAM。

Ifoundaseatatonce，andBlainesaid:

"Idon"treckonthemtimeswillevercomeagain。Thereneverwasamorebullieroldramthanwhathewas。GrandfatherfetchedhimfromIllinois——gothimofamanbythenameofYates——BillYates——maybeyoumighthaveheardofhim；hisfatherwasadeacon——Baptist——andhewasarustler，too；amanhadtogetuprutherearlytogetthestartofoldThankfulYates；itwashimthatputtheGreensuptojiningteamswithmygrandfatherwhenhemovedwest。

SethGreenwasprob"lythepickoftheflock；hemarriedaWilkerson——

SarahWilkerson——goodcretur，shewas——oneofthelikeliestheifersthatwaseverraisedinoldStoddard，everybodysaidthatknowedher。Shecouldheftabar"lofflouraseasyasIcanflirtaflapjack。Andspin?

Don"tmentionit！Independent?Humph！WhenSileHawkinscomeabrowsingaroundher，shelethimknowthatforallhistinhecouldn"ttrotinharnessalongsideofher。Yousee，SileHawkinswas——no，itwarn"tSileHawkins，afterall——itwasagalootbythenameofFilkins——

Idisrememberhisfirstname；buthewasastump——comeintopra"rmeetingdrunk，onenight，hoorayingforNixon，becuzhethoughtitwasaprimary；

andolddeaconFergusonupandscootedhimthroughthewindowandhelitonoldMissJefferson"shead，pooroldfilly。Shewasagoodsoul——hadaglasseyeandusedtolendittooldMissWagner，thathadn"tany，toreceivecompanyin；itwarn"tbigenough，andwhenMissWagnerwarn"tnoticing，itwouldgettwistedaroundinthesocket，andlookup，maybe，orouttooneside，andeverywhichway，whilet"otheronewaslookingasstraightaheadasaspy-glass。

Grownpeopledidn"tmindit，butitmostalwaysmadethechildrencry，itwassosortofscary。Shetriedpackingitinrawcotton，butitwouldn"twork，somehow——thecottonwouldgetlooseandstickoutandlooksokindofawfulthatthechildrencouldn"tstanditnoway。Shewasalwaysdroppingitout，andturningupherolddead-lightonthecompanyempty，andmakingthemoncomfortable，becuzshenevercouldtellwhenithoppedout，beingblindonthatside，yousee。Sosomebodywouldhavetohunchherandsay，“Yourgameeyehasfetchedloose。MissWagnerdear“——

andthenallofthemwouldhavetositandwaittillshejammeditinagain——wrongsidebefore，asageneralthing，andgreenasabird"segg，beingabashfulcreturandeasysotbackbeforecompany。Butbeingwrongsidebeforewarn"tmuchdifference，anyway；becuzherowneyewassky-

blueandtheglassonewasyalleronthefrontside，sowhicheverwaysheturnedititdidn"tmatchnohow。

OldMissWagnerwasconsiderableontheborrow，shewas。Whenshehadaquilting，orDorcasS"ietyatherhouseshegen"allyborrowedMissHiggins"swoodenlegtostumparoundon；itwasconsiderableshorterthanherotherpin，butmuchshemindedthat。Shesaidshecouldn"tabidecrutcheswhenshehadcompany，becuztheyweresoslow；saidwhenshehadcompanyandthingshadtobedone，shewantedtogetupandhumpherself。

Shewasasbaldasajug，andsosheusedtoborrowMissJacops"swig——

MissJacopswasthecoffin-peddler"swife——arattyoldbuzzard，hewas，thatusedtogoroostingaroundwherepeoplewassick，waitingfor"em；

andtherethatoldripwouldsitallday，intheshade，onacoffinthathejudgedwouldfitthecan"idate；andifitwasaslowcustomerandkindofuncertain，he"dfetchhisrationsandablanketalongandsleepinthecoffinnights。Hewasanchoredoutthatway，infrostyweather，foraboutthreeweeks，once，beforeoldRobbins"splace，waitingforhim；andafterthat，forasmuchastwoyears，Jacopswasnotonspeakingtermswiththeoldman，onaccountofhisdisapp"intinghim。Hegotoneofhisfeetfroze，andlostmoney，too，becuzoldRobbinstookafavorableturnandgotwell。ThenexttimeRobbinsgotsick，Jacopstriedtomakeupwithhim，andvarnishedupthesameoldcoffinandfetcheditalong；butoldRobbinswastoomanyforhim；hehadhimin，and"pearedtobepowerfulweak；heboughtthecoffinfortendollarsandJacopswastopayitbackandtwenty-fivemorebesidesifRobbinsdidn"tlikethecoffinafterhe"dtriedit。AndthenRobbinsdied，andatthefuneralheburstedoffthelidandrizupinhisshroudandtoldtheparsontoletupontheperformances，becuzhecouldnotstandsuchacoffinasthat。

Youseehehadbeeninatranceoncebefore，whenhewasyoung，andhetookthechancesonanother，cal"latingthatifhemadethetripitwasmoneyinhispocket，andifhemissedfirehecouldn"tloseacent。AndbyGeorgehesuedJacopsfortherhinoandgotjedgment；andhesetupthecoffininhisbackparlorandsaidhe"lowedtotakehistime，now。

ItwasalwaysanaggravationtoJacops，thewaythatmiserableoldthingacted。HemovedbacktoIndianyprettysoon——wenttoWellsville——

WellsvillewastheplacetheHogadornswasfrom。Mightyfinefamily。

OldMarylandstock。OldSquireHogadorncouldcarryaroundmoremixedlicker，andcussbetterthanmostanymanIeversee。HissecondwifewasthewidderBillings——shethatwasBeckyMartin；herdamwasdeaconDunlap"sfirstwife。Heroldestchild，Maria，marriedamissionaryanddiedingrace——etupbythesavages。Theyethim，too，poorfeller——

biledhim。Itwarn"tthecustom，sotheysay，buttheyexplainedtofriendsofhis"nthatwentdowntheretobringawayhisthings，thatthey"dtriedmissionarieseveryotherwayandnevercouldgetanygoodoutof"em——andsoitannoyedallhisrelationstofindoutthatthatman"slifewasfooledawayjustoutofadern"dexperiment，sotospeak。

Butmindyou，thereain"tanythingeverreelylost；everythingthatpeoplecan"tunderstandanddon"tseethereasonofdoesgoodifyouonlyholdonandgiveitafairshake；Prov"dencedon"tfirenoblankca"tridges，boys。Thattheremissionary"ssubstance，unbeknownstohimself，actu"lyconvertedeverylastoneofthemheathensthattookachanceatthebarbacue。Nothingeverfetchedthembutthat。Don"ttellmeitwasanaccidentthathewasbiled。Thereain"tnosuchathingasanaccident。

WhenmyuncleLemwasleaningupaginascaffoldingonce，sick，ordrunk，orsuthin，anIrishmanwithahodfullofbricksfellonhimoutofthethirdstoryandbroketheoldman"sbackintwoplaces。Peoplesaiditwasanaccident。Muchaccidenttherewasaboutthat。Hedidn"tknowwhathewastherefor，buthewasthereforagoodobject。Ifhehadn"tbeentheretheIrishmanwouldhavebeenkilled。Nobodycanevermakemebelieveanythingdifferentfromthat。UncleLem"sdogwasthere。Whydidn"ttheIrishmanfallonthedog?Becuzthedogwouldaseenhimacomingandstoodfromunder。That"sthereasonthedogwarn"tappinted。

Adogcan"tbedependedontocarryoutaspecialprovidence。Markmywordsitwasaput-upthing。Accidentsdon"thappen，boys。UncleLem"sdog——Iwishyoucouldaseenthatdog。Hewasareglarshepherd——orrutherhewaspartbullandpartshepherd——splendidanimal；belongedtoparsonHagarbeforeUncleLemgothim。ParsonHagarbelongedtotheWesternReserveHagars；primefamily；hismotherwasaWatson；oneofhissistersmarriedaWheeler；theysettledinMorgancounty，andhegotnippedbythemachineryinacarpetfactoryandwentthroughinlessthanaquarterofaminute；hiswidderboughtthepieceofcarpetthathadhisremainswovein，andpeoplecomeahundredmileto"tendthefuneral。

Therewasfourteenyardsinthepiece。

Shewouldn"tletthemrollhimup，butplantedhimjustso——fulllength。

Thechurchwasmiddlingsmallwheretheypreachedthefuneral，andtheyhadtoletoneendofthecoffinstickoutofthewindow。Theydidn"tburyhim——theyplantedoneend，andlethimstandup，sameasamonument。

Andtheynailedasignonitandput——puton——putonit——sacredto——them-e-m-o-r-y——offourteeny-a-r-d-s——ofthree-ply——car——pet——containingallthatwas——m-o-r-t-a-l——of——of——W-i-l-l-i-a-m——W-h-e——“

JimBlainehadbeengrowinggraduallydrowsyanddrowsier——hisheadnodded，once，twice，threetimes——droppedpeacefullyuponhisbreast，andhefelltranquillyasleep。Thetearswererunningdowntheboys"cheeks——theyweresuffocatingwithsuppressedlaughter——andhadbeenfromthestart，thoughIhadnevernoticedit。IperceivedthatIwas“sold。”

IlearnedthenthatJimBlaine"speculiaritywasthatwheneverhereachedacertainstageofintoxication，nohumanpowercouldkeephimfromsettingout，withimpressiveunction，totellaboutawonderfuladventurewhichhehadoncehadwithhisgrandfather"soldram——andthementionoftheraminthefirstsentencewasasfarasanymanhadeverheardhimget，concerningit。Healwaysmaunderedoff，interminably，fromonethingtoanother，tillhiswhiskygotthebestofhimandhefellasleep。

Whatthethingwasthathappenedtohimandhisgrandfather"soldramisadarkmysterytothisday，fornobodyhaseveryetfoundout。

CHAPTERLIV。

OfcoursetherewasalargeChinesepopulationinVirginia——itisthecasewitheverytownandcityonthePacificcoast。Theyareaharmlessracewhenwhitemeneitherletthemaloneortreatthemnoworsethandogs；infacttheyarealmostentirelyharmlessanyhow，fortheyseldomthinkofresentingthevilestinsultsorthecruelestinjuries。Theyarequiet，peaceable，tractable，freefromdrunkenness，andtheyareasindustriousasthedayislong。AdisorderlyChinamanisrare，andalazyonedoesnotexist。SolongasaChinamanhasstrengthtousehishandsheneedsnosupportfromanybody；whitemenoftencomplainofwantofwork，butaChinamanoffersnosuchcomplaint；healwaysmanagestofindsomethingtodo。Heisagreatconveniencetoeverybody——eventotheworstclassofwhitemen，forhebearsthemostoftheirsins，sufferingfinesfortheirpettythefts，imprisonmentfortheirrobberies，anddeathfortheirmurders。AnywhitemancanswearaChinaman"slifeawayinthecourts，butnoChinamancantestifyagainstawhiteman。

Oursisthe“landofthefree“——nobodydeniesthat——nobodychallengesit。

[Maybeitisbecausewewon"tletotherpeopletestify。]AsIwrite，newscomesthatinbroaddaylightinSanFrancisco，someboyshavestonedaninoffensiveChinamantodeath，andthatalthoughalargecrowdwitnessedtheshamefuldeed，nooneinterfered。

Thereareseventythousand(andpossiblyonehundredthousand)ChinamenonthePacificcoast。TherewereaboutathousandinVirginia。Theywerepennedintoa“Chinesequarter“——athingwhichtheydonotparticularlyobjectto，astheyarefondofherdingtogether。Theirbuildingswereofwood；usuallyonlyonestoryhigh，andsetthicklytogetheralongstreetsscarcelywideenoughforawagontopassthrough。

Theirquarterwasalittleremovedfromtherestofthetown。ThechiefemploymentofChinamenintownsistowashclothing。Theyalwayssendabill，likethisbelow，pinnedtotheclothes。Itismereceremony，foritdoesnotenlightenthecustomermuch。Theirpriceforwashingwas$2。50perdozen——rathercheaperthanwhitepeoplecouldaffordtowashforatthattime。AverycommonsignontheChinesehouseswas:“SeeYup，WasherandIroner“；“HongWo，Washer“；“SamSing&AhHop，Washing。”

Thehouseservants，cooks，etc。，inCaliforniaandNevada，werechieflyChinamen。TherewerefewwhiteservantsandnoChinawomensoemployed。

Chinamenmakegoodhouseservants，beingquick，obedient，patient，quicktolearnandtirelesslyindustrious。Theydonotneedtobetaughtathingtwice，asageneralthing。Theyareimitative。IfaChinamanweretoseehismasterbreakupacentretable，inapassion，andkindleafirewithit，thatChinamanwouldbelikelytoresorttothefurnitureforfuelforeverafterward。

AllChinamencanread，writeandcipherwitheasyfacility——pitybutallourpettedvoterscould。InCaliforniatheyrentlittlepatchesofgroundanddoadealofgardening。Theywillraisesurprisingcropsofvegetablesonasandpile。Theywastenothing。WhatisrubbishtoaChristian，aChinamancarefullypreservesandmakesusefulinonewayoranother。Hegathersupalltheoldoysterandsardinecansthatwhitepeoplethrowaway，andprocuresmarketabletinandsolderfromthembymelting。Hegathersupoldbonesandturnsthemintomanure。

InCaliforniahegetsalivingoutofoldminingclaimsthatwhitemenhaveabandonedasexhaustedandworthless——andthentheofficerscomedownonhimonceamonthwithanexorbitantswindletowhichthelegislaturehasgiventhebroad，generalnameof“foreign“miningtax，butitisusuallyinflictedonnoforeignersbutChinamen。Thisswindlehasinsomecasesbeenrepeatedonceortwiceonthesamevictiminthecourseofthesamemonth——butthepublictreasurywasnoadditionallyenrichedbyit，probably。

Chinamenholdtheirdeadingreatreverence——theyworshiptheirdepartedancestors，infact。Hence，inChina，aman"sfrontyard，backyard，oranyotherpartofhispremises，ismadehisfamilyburyingground，inorderthathemayvisitthegravesatanyandalltimes。Thereforethathugeempireisonemightycemetery；itisridgedandwringledfromitscentretoitscircumferencewithgraves——andinasmuchaseveryfootofgroundmustbemadetodoitsutmost，inChina，lesttheswarmingpopulationsufferforfood，theverygravesarecultivatedandyieldaharvest，customholdingthistobenodishonortothedead。Sincethedepartedareheldinsuchworshipfulreverence，aChinamancannotbearthatanyindignitybeofferedtheplaceswheretheysleep。

Mr。BurlingamesaidthathereinlayChina"sbitteroppositiontorailroads；aroadcouldnotbebuiltanywhereintheempirewithoutdisturbingthegravesoftheirancestorsorfriends。

AChinamanhardlybelieveshecouldenjoythehereafterexcepthisbodylayinhisbelovedChina；also，hedesirestoreceive，himself，afterdeath，thatworshipwithwhichhehashonoredhisdeadthatprecededhim。

Therefore，ifhevisitsaforeigncountry，hemakesarrangementstohavehisbonesreturnedtoChinaincasehedies；ifhehirestogotoaforeigncountryonalaborcontract，thereisalwaysastipulationthathisbodyshallbetakenbacktoChinaifhedies；ifthegovernmentsellsagangofCooliestoaforeignerfortheusualfive-yearterm，itisspecifiedinthecontractthattheirbodiesshallberestoredtoChinaincaseofdeath。OnthePacificcoasttheChinamenallbelongtooneoranotherofseveralgreatcompaniesororganizations，andthesecompanieskeeptrackoftheirmembers，registertheirnames，andshiptheirbodieshomewhentheydie。TheSeeYupCompanyisheldtobethelargestofthese。TheNingYeongCompanyisnext，andnumberseighteenthousandmembersonthecoast。ItsheadquartersareatSanFrancisco，whereithasacostlytemple，severalgreatofficers(oneofwhomkeepsregalstateinseclusionandcannotbeapproachedbycommonhumanity)，andanumerouspriesthood。InitIwasshownaregisterofitsmembers，withthedeadandthedateoftheirshipmenttoChinadulymarked。EveryshipthatsailsfromSanFranciscocarriesawayaheavyfreightofChinesecorpses——ordid，atleast，untilthelegislature，withaningeniousrefinementofChristiancruelty，forbadetheshipments，asaneatunderhandedwayofdeterringChineseimmigration。Thebillwasoffered，whetheritpassedornot。Itismyimpressionthatitpassed。Therewasanotherbill——itbecamealaw——compellingeveryincomingChinamantobevaccinatedonthewharfandpayadulyappointedquack(nodecentdoctorwoulddefilehimselfwithsuchlegalizedrobbery)tendollarsforit。

AsfewimportersofChinesewouldwanttogotoanexpenselikethat，thelaw-makersthoughtthiswouldbeanotherheavyblowtoChineseimmigration。

WhattheChinesequarterofVirginiawaslike——or，indeed，whattheChinesequarterofanyPacificcoasttownwasandislike——maybegatheredfromthisitemwhichIprintedintheEnterprisewhilereportingforthatpaper:

CHINATOWN——Accompaniedbyafellowreporter，wemadeatripthroughourChinesequartertheothernight。TheChinesehavebuilttheirportionofthecitytosuitthemselves；andastheykeepneithercarriagesnorwagons，theirstreetsarenotwideenough，asageneralthing，toadmitofthepassageofvehicles。Atteno"clockatnighttheChinamanmaybeseeninallhisglory。Ineverylittlecooped-up，dingycavernofahut，faintwiththeodorofburningJosh-lightsandwithnothingtoseethegloombysavethesickly，gutteringtallowcandle，weretwoorthreeyellow，long-tailedvagabonds，coileduponasortofshorttruckle-bed，smokingopium，motionlessandwiththeirlustrelesseyesturnedinwardfromexcessofsatisfaction——orrathertherecentsmokerlooksthus，immediatelyafterhavingpassedthepipetohisneighbor——foropium-smokingisacomfortlessoperation，andrequiresconstantattention。Alampsitsonthebed，thelengthofthelongpipe-stemfromthesmoker"smouth；heputsapelletofopiumontheendofawire，setsitonfire，andplastersitintothepipemuchasaChristianwouldfillaholewithputty；thenheappliesthebowltothelampandproceedstosmoke——andthestewingandfryingofthedrugandthegurglingofthejuicesinthestemwouldwell-nighturnthestomachofastatue。

Johnlikesit，though；itsootheshim，hetakesabouttwodozenwhiffs，andthenrollsovertodream，Heavenonlyknowswhat，forwecouldnotimaginebylookingatthesoggycreature。Possiblyinhisvisionshetravelsfarawayfromthegrossworldandhisregularwashing，andfeastonsucculentratsandbirds"-nestsinParadise。

Mr。AhSingkeepsageneralgroceryandprovisionstoreatNo。13Wangstreet。Helavishedhishospitalityuponourpartyinthefriendliestway。Hehadvariouskindsofcoloredandcolorlesswinesandbrandies，withunpronouncablenames，importedfromChinainlittlecrockeryjugs，andwhichheofferedtousindaintylittleminiaturewash-basinsofporcelain。Heofferedusamessofbirds"-nests；also，small，neatsausages，ofwhichwecouldhaveswallowedseveralyardsifwehadchosentotry，butwesuspectedthateachlinkcontainedthecorpseofamouse，andthereforerefrained。Mr。Singhadinhisstoreathousandarticlesofmerchandise，curioustobehold，impossibletoimaginetheusesof，andbeyondourabilitytodescribe。

Hisducks，however，andhiseggs，wecouldunderstand；theformerweresplitopenandflattenedoutlikecodfish，andcamefromChinainthatshape，andthelatterwereplasteredoverwithsomekindofpastewhichkeptthemfreshandpalatablethroughthelongvoyage。

WefoundMr。HongWo，No。37Chow-chowstreet，makingupalotteryscheme——infactwefoundadozenothersoccupiedinthesamewayinvariouspartsofthequarter，forabouteverythirdChinamanrunsalottery，andthebalanceofthetribe“buck“atit。“Tom，“whospeaksfaultlessEnglish，andusedtobechiefandonlycooktotheTerritorialEnterprise，whentheestablishmentkeptbachelor"shalltwoyearsago，saidthat“SometimeChinamanbuyticketonedollarhap，ketchumtwotreehundred，sometimenoketchumanything；lotterylikeonemanfightumseventy——may-behewhip，may-behegetwhipheself，wellygood。”

However，thepercentagebeingsixty-nineagainsthim，thechancesare，asageneralthing，that“hegetwhipheself。”Wecouldnotseethattheselotteriesdifferedinanyrespectfromourown，savethatthefiguresbeingChinese，noignorantwhitemanmighteverhopetosucceedintelling“t"otherfromwhich；“themannerofdrawingissimilartoours。

Mr。SeeYupkeepsafancystoreonLiveFoxstreet。Hesoldusfansofwhitefeathers，gorgeouslyornamented；perfumerythatsmelledlikeLimburgercheese，Chinesepens，andwatch-charmsmadeofastoneunscratchablewithsteelinstruments，yetpolishedandtintedliketheinnercoatofasea-shell。Astokensofhisesteem，SeeYuppresentedthepartywithgaudyplumesmadeofgoldtinselandtrimmedwithpeacocks"feathers。

Weatechow-chowwithchop-sticksinthecelestialrestaurants；ourcomradechidedthemoon-eyeddamselsinfrontofthehousesfortheirwantoffemininereserve；wereceivedprotectingJosh-lightsfromourhostsand“dickered“forapaganGodortwo。Finally，wewereimpressedwiththegeniusofaChinesebook-keeper；hefigureduphisaccountsonamachinelikeagridironwithbuttonsstrungonitsbars；thedifferentrowsrepresentedunits，tens，hundredsandthousands。Hefingeredthemwithincrediblerapidity——infact，hepushedthemfromplacetoplaceasfastasamusicalprofessor"sfingerstraveloverthekeysofapiano。

Theyareakindlydisposed，well-meaningrace，andarerespectedandwelltreatedbytheupperclasses，alloverthePacificcoast。NoCaliforniangentlemanorladyeverabusesoroppressesaChinaman，underanycircumstances，anexplanationthatseemstobemuchneededintheEast。

Onlythescumofthepopulationdoit——theyandtheirchildren；they，and，naturallyandconsistently，thepolicemenandpoliticians，likewise，forthesearethedust-lickingpimpsandslavesofthescum，thereaswellaselsewhereinAmerica。

CHAPTERLV。

Ibegantogettiredofstayinginoneplacesolong。

TherewasnolongersatisfyingvarietyingoingdowntoCarsontoreporttheproceedingsofthelegislatureonceayear，andhorse-racesandpumpkin-showsonceinthreemonths；(theyhadgottoraisingpumpkinsandpotatoesinWashoeValley，andofcourseoneofthefirstachievementsofthelegislaturewastoinstituteaten-thousand-dollarAgriculturalFairtoshowofffortydollars"worthofthosepumpkinsin——however，theterritoriallegislaturewasusuallyspokenofasthe“asylum“)。IwantedtoseeSanFrancisco。Iwantedtogosomewhere。Iwanted——IdidnotknowwhatIwanted。Ihadthe“springfever“andwantedachange，principally，nodoubt。Besides，aconventionhadframedaStateConstitution；ninemenoutofeverytenwantedanoffice；Ibelievedthatthesegentlemenwould“treat“themoneylessandtheirresponsibleamongthepopulationintoadoptingtheconstitutionandthuswell-nighkillingthecountry(itcouldnotwellcarrysuchaloadasaStategovernment，sinceithadnothingtotaxthatcouldstandatax，forundevelopedminescouldnot，andtherewerenotfiftydevelopedonesintheland，therewasbutlittlerealtytotax，anditdidseemasifnobodywasevergoingtothinkofthesimplesalvationofinflictingamoneypenaltyonmurder)。

IbelievedthataStategovernmentwoulddestroythe“flushtimes，“andI

wantedtogetaway。IbelievedthattheminingstocksIhadonhandwouldsoonbeworth$100，000，andthoughtiftheyreachedthatbeforetheConstitutionwasadopted，Iwouldselloutandmakemyselfsecurefromthecrashthechangeofgovernmentwasgoingtobring。Iconsidered$100，000sufficienttogohomewithdecently，thoughitwasbutasmallamountcomparedtowhatIhadbeenexpectingtoreturnwith。Ifeltratherdown-heartedaboutit，butItriedtocomfortmyselfwiththereflectionthatwithsuchasumIcouldnotfallintowant。AboutthistimeaschoolmateofminewhomIhadnotseensinceboyhood，cametrampinginonfootfromReeseRiver，averyallegoryofPoverty。

Thesonofwealthyparents，herehewas，inastrangeland，hungry，bootless，mantledinanancienthorse-blanket，roofedwithabrimlesshat，andsogenerallyandsoextravagantlydilapidatedthathecouldhave“takentheshineoutoftheProdigalSonhimself，“ashepleasantlyremarked。

Hewantedtoborrowforty-sixdollars——twenty-sixtotakehimtoSanFrancisco，andtwentyforsomethingelse；tobuysomesoapwith，maybe，forheneededit。IfoundIhadbutlittlemorethantheamountwanted，inmypocket；soIsteppedinandborrowedforty-sixdollarsofabanker(ontwentydays"time，withouttheformalityofanote)，andgaveithim，ratherthanwalkhalfablocktotheoffice，whereIhadsomespecielaidup。Ifanybodyhadtoldmethatitwouldtakemetwoyearstopaybackthatforty-sixdollarstothebanker(forIdidnotexpectitoftheProdigal，andwasnotdisappointed)，Iwouldhavefeltinjured。Andsowouldthebanker。

Iwantedachange。Iwantedvarietyofsomekind。Itcame。Mr。Goodmanwentawayforaweekandleftmethepostofchiefeditor。Itdestroyedme。Thefirstday，Iwrotemy“leader“intheforenoon。Thesecondday，Ihadnosubjectandputitofftilltheafternoon。ThethirddayIputitofftillevening，andthencopiedanelaborateeditorialoutofthe“AmericanCyclopedia，“thatsteadfastfriendoftheeditor，alloverthisland。ThefourthdayI“fooledaround“tillmidnight，andthenfellbackontheCyclopediaagain。ThefifthdayIcudgeledmybraintillmidnight，andthenkeptthepresswaitingwhileIpennedsomebitterpersonalitiesonsixdifferentpeople。ThesixthdayIlaboredinanguishtillfarintothenightandbroughtforth——nothing。Thepaperwenttopresswithoutaneditorial。TheseventhdayIresigned。Ontheeighth，Mr。Goodmanreturnedandfoundsixduelsonhishands——mypersonalitieshadbornefruit。

Nobody，excepthehastriedit，knowswhatitistobeaneditor。Itiseasytoscribblelocalrubbish，withthefactsallbeforeyou；itiseasytoclipselectionsfromotherpapers；itiseasytostringoutacorrespondencefromanylocality；butitisunspeakablehardshiptowriteeditorials。Subjectsarethetrouble——thedrearylackofthem，Imean。

Everyday，itisdrag，drag，drag——think，andworryandsuffer——alltheworldisadullblank，andyettheeditorialcolumnsmustbefilled。

Onlygivetheeditorasubject，andhisworkisdone——itisnotroubletowriteitup；butfancyhowyouwouldfeelifyouhadtopumpyourbrainsdryeverydayintheweek，fifty-twoweeksintheyear。Itmakesonelowspiritedsimplytothinkofit。ThematterthateacheditorofadailypaperinAmericawritesinthecourseofayearwouldfillfromfourtoeightbulkyvolumeslikethisbook！Fancywhatalibraryaneditor"sworkwouldmake，aftertwentyorthirtyyears"service。YetpeopleoftenmarvelthatDickens，Scott，Bulwer，Dumas，etc。，havebeenabletoproducesomanybooks。Iftheseauthorshadwroughtasvoluminouslyasnewspapereditorsdo，theresultwouldbesomethingtomarvelat，indeed。

Howeditorscancontinuethistremendouslabor，thisexhaustingconsumptionofbrainfibre(fortheirworkiscreative，andnotameremechanicallaying-upoffacts，likereporting)，dayafterdayandyearafteryear，isincomprehensible。Preacherstaketwomonths"holidayinmidsummer，fortheyfindthattoproducetwosermonsaweekiswearing，inthelongrun。Intruthitmustbeso，andisso；andtherefore，howaneditorcantakefromtentotwentytextsandbuilduponthemfromtentotwentypainstakingeditorialsaweekandkeepitupalltheyearround，isfartherbeyondcomprehensionthanever。EversinceIsurvivedmyweekaseditor，Ihavefoundatleastonepleasureinanynewspaperthatcomestomyhand；itisinadmiringthelongcolumnsofeditorial，andwonderingtomyselfhowinthemischiefhedidit！

Mr。Goodman"sreturnrelievedmeofemployment，unlessIchosetobecomeareporteragain。Icouldnotdothat；IcouldnotserveintheranksafterbeingGeneralofthearmy。SoIthoughtIwoulddepartandgoabroadintotheworldsomewhere。Justatthisjuncture，Dan，myassociateinthereportorialdepartment，toldme，casually，thattwocitizenshadbeentryingtopersuadehimtogowiththemtoNewYorkandaidinsellingarichsilverminewhichtheyhaddiscoveredandsecuredinanewminingdistrictinourneighborhood。Hesaidtheyofferedtopayhisexpensesandgivehimonethirdoftheproceedsofthesale。

Hehadrefusedtogo。ItwastheveryopportunityIwanted。Iabusedhimforkeepingsoquietaboutit，andnotmentioningitsooner。HesaidithadnotoccurredtohimthatIwouldliketogo，andsohehadrecommendedthemtoapplytoMarshall，thereporteroftheotherpaper。

IaskedDanifitwasagood，honestmine，andnoswindle。Hesaidthemenhadshownhimninetonsoftherock，whichtheyhadgotouttotaketoNewYork，andhecouldcheerfullysaythathehadseenbutlittlerockinNevadathatwasricher；andmoreover，hesaidthattheyhadsecuredatractofvaluabletimberandamill-site，nearthemine。MyfirstideawastokillDan。ButIchangedmymind，notwithstandingIwassoangry，forIthoughtmaybethechancewasnotyetlost。Dansaiditwasbynomeanslost；thatthemenwereabsentatthemineagain，andwouldnotbeinVirginiatoleavefortheEastforsometendays；thattheyhadrequestedhimtodothetalkingtoMarshall，andhehadpromisedthathewouldeithersecureMarshallorsomebodyelseforthembythetimetheygotback；hewouldnowsaynothingtoanybodytilltheyreturned，andthenfulfilhispromisebyfurnishingmetothem。

Itwassplendid。Iwenttobedallonfirewithexcitement；fornobodyhadyetgoneEasttosellaNevadasilvermine，andthefieldwaswhiteforthesickle。IfeltthatsuchamineastheonedescribedbyDanwouldbringaprincelysuminNewYork，andsellwithoutdelayordifficulty。Icouldnotsleep，myfancysoriotedthroughitscastlesintheair。Itwasthe“blindlead“comeagain。

NextdayIgotaway，onthecoach，withtheusualeclatattendingdeparturesofoldcitizens，——forifyouhaveonlyhalfadozenfriendsouttheretheywillmakenoiseforahundredratherthanletyouseemtogoawayneglectedandunregretted——andDanpromisedtokeepstrictwatchforthementhathadtheminetosell。

Thetripwassignalizedbutbyonelittleincident，andthatoccurredjustaswewereabouttostart。Averyseedylookingvagabondpassengergotoutofthestageamomenttowaittilltheusualballastofsilverbrickswasthrownin。Hewasstandingonthepavement，whenanawkwardexpressemployee，carryingabrickweighingahundredpounds，stumbledandletitfallonthebummer"sfoot。Heinstantlydroppedonthegroundandbegantohowlinthemostheart-breakingway。Asympathizingcrowdgatheredaroundandweregoingtopullhisbootoff；buthescreamedlouderthaneverandtheydesisted；thenhefelltogasping，andbetweenthegaspsejaculated“Brandy！forHeaven"ssake，brandy！“Theypouredhalfapintdownhim，anditwonderfullyrestoredandcomfortedhim。

Thenhebeggedthepeopletoassisthimtothestage，whichwasdone。

Theexpresspeopleurgedhimtohaveadoctorattheirexpense，buthedeclined，andsaidthatifheonlyhadalittlebrandytotakealongwithhim，tosoothehisparoxymsofpainwhentheycameon，hewouldbegratefulandcontent。Hewasquicklysuppliedwithtwobottles，andwedroveoff。Hewassosmilingandhappyafterthat，thatIcouldnotrefrainfromaskinghimhowhecouldpossiblybesocomfortablewithacrushedfoot。

“Well，“saidhe，“Ihadn"thadadrinkfortwelvehours，andhadn"tacenttomyname。Iwasmostperishing——andso，whenthatdufferdroppedthathundred-pounderonmyfoot，Iseemychance。Gotacorkleg，youknow！“andhepulleduphispantaloonsandprovedit。

Hewasasdrunkasalordalldaylong，andfullofchucklingsoverhistimelyingenuity。

Onedrunkenmannecessarilyremindsoneofanother。IonceheardagentlemantellaboutanincidentwhichhewitnessedinaCalifornianbar-

room。Heentitledit“YeModestManTakethaDrink。”Itwasnothingbutabitofacting，butitseemedtomeaperfectrendering，andworthyofToodleshimself。Themodestman，tolerablyfargonewithbeerandothermatters，entersasaloon(twenty-fivecentsisthepriceforanythingandeverything，andspecietheonlymoneyused)andlaysdownahalfdollar；

callsforwhiskeyanddrinksit；thebar-keepermakeschangeandlaysthequarterinawetplaceonthecounter；themodestmanfumblesatitwithnervelessfingers，butitslipsandthewaterholdsit；hecontemplatesit，andtriesagain；sameresult；observesthatpeopleareinterestedinwhatheisat，blushes；fumblesatthequarteragain——blushes——putshisforefingercarefully，slowlydown，tomakesureofhisaim——pushesthecointowardthebar-keeper，andsayswithasigh:

“Gimmeacigar！“

Naturally，anothergentlemanpresenttoldaboutanotherdrunkenman。Hesaidhereeledtowardhomelateatnight；madeamistakeandenteredthewronggate；thoughthesawadogonthestoop；anditwas——anironone。

Hestoppedandconsidered；wonderedifitwasadangerousdog；venturedtosay“Be(hic)begone！“Noeffect。Thenheapproachedwarily，andadoptedconciliation；purseduphislipsandtriedtowhistle，butfailed；stillapproached，saying，“Poordog！——doggy，doggy，doggy！——poordoggy-dog！“Gotuponthestoop，stillpettingwithfondnames；tillmasteroftheadvantages；thenexclaimed，“Leave，youthief！“——plantedavindictivekickinhisribs，andwenthead-over-heelsoverboard，ofcourse。Apause；asighortwoofpain，andthenaremarkinareflectivevoice:

“Awfulsoliddog。Whatcouldhebeneating?("ic！)Rocks，p"raps。

Suchanimalsisdangerous——"At"swhatIsay——they"redangerous。Ifaman——("ic！)——ifamanwantstofeedadogonrocks，lethimfeedhimonrocks；"at"sallright；butlethimkeephimathome——nothavehimlayin"

roundpromiscuous，where("ic！)wherepeople"sliabletostumbleoverhimwhentheyain"tnoticin"！“

ItwasnotwithoutregretthatItookalastlookatthetinyflag(itwasthirty-fivefeetlongandtenfeetwide)flutteringlikealady"shandkerchieffromthetopmostpeakofMountDavidson，twothousandfeetaboveVirginia"sroofs，andfeltthatdoubtlessIwasbiddingapermanentfarewelltoacitywhichhadaffordedmethemostvigorousenjoymentoflifeIhadeverexperienced。AndthisremindsmeofanincidentwhichthedullestmemoryVirginiacouldboastatthetimeithappenedmustvividlyrecall，attimes，tillitspossessordies。Lateonesummerafternoonwehadarainshower。

Thatwasastonishingenough，initself，tosetthewholetownbuzzing，foritonlyrains(duringaweekortwoweeks)inthewinterinNevada，andeventhennotenoughatatimetomakeitworthwhileforanymerchanttokeepumbrellasforsale。Buttherainwasnotthechiefwonder。Itonlylastedfiveortenminutes；whilethepeoplewerestilltalkingaboutitalltheheavensgatheredtothemselvesadenseblacknessasofmidnight。AllthevasteasternfrontofMountDavidson，over-

lookingthecity，putonsuchafunerealgloomthatonlythenearnessandsolidityofthemountainmadeitsoutlinesevenfaintlydistinguishablefromthedeadblacknessoftheheavenstheyrestedagainst。Thisunaccustomedsightturnedalleyestowardthemountain；andastheylooked，alittletongueofrichgoldenflamewasseenwavingandquiveringintheheartofthemidnight，awayupontheextremesummit！

Inafewminutesthestreetswerepackedwithpeople，gazingwithhardlyanutteredword，attheonebrilliantmoteinthebroodingworldofdarkness。Itflickedlikeacandle-flame，andlookednolarger；butwithsuchabackgrounditwaswonderfullybright，smallasitwas。Itwastheflag！——thoughnoonesuspecteditatfirst，itseemedsolikeasupernaturalvisitorofsomekind——amysteriousmessengerofgoodtidings，somewerefaintobelieve。Itwasthenation"semblemtransfiguredbythedepartingraysofasunthatwasentirelypalledfromview；andonnootherobjectdidthegloryfall，inallthebroadpanoramaofmountainrangesanddeserts。Notevenuponthestaffoftheflag——forthat，aneedleinthedistanceatanytime，wasnowuntouchedbythelightandundistinguishableinthegloom。Forawholehourtheweirdvisitorwinkedandburnedinitsloftysolitude，andstillthethousandsofupliftedeyeswatcheditwithfascinatedinterest。Howthepeoplewerewroughtup！Thesuperstitiongrewapacethatthiswasamysticcouriercomewithgreatnewsfromthewar——thepoetryoftheideaexcusingandcommendingit——andonitspread，fromhearttoheart，fromliptolipandfromstreettostreet，tilltherewasageneralimpulsetohaveoutthemilitaryandwelcomethebrightwaifwithasalvoofartillery！

Andallthattimeonesorelytriedman，thetelegraphoperatorsworntoofficialsecrecy，hadtolockhislipsandchainhistonguewithasilencethatwasliketorendthem；forhe，andheonly，ofallthespeculatingmultitude，knewthegreatthingsthissinkingsunhadseenthatdayintheeast——Vicksburgfallen，andtheUnionarmsvictoriousatGettysburg！

ButforthejournalisticmonopolythatforbadetheslightestrevealmentofeasternnewstilladayafteritspublicationintheCaliforniapapers，theglorifiedflagonMountDavidsonwouldhavebeensalutedandre-saluted，thatmemorableevening，aslongastherewasachargeofpowdertothunderwith；thecitywouldhavebeenilluminated，andeverymanthathadanyrespectforhimselfwouldhavegotdrunk，——aswasthecustomofthecountryonalloccasionsofpublicmoment。EvenatthisdistantdayIcannotthinkofthisneedlesslymarredsupremeopportunitywithoutregret。Whatatimewemighthavehad！

CHAPTERLVI。

Werumbledovertheplainsandvalleys，climbedtheSierrastotheclouds，andlookeddownuponsummer-cladCalifornia。AndIwillremarkhere，inpassing，thatallsceneryinCaliforniarequiresdistancetogiveititshighestcharm。Themountainsareimposingintheirsublimityandtheirmajestyofformandaltitude，fromanypointofview——butonemusthavedistancetosoftentheirruggednessandenrichtheirtintings；

aCalifornianforestisbestatalittledistance，forthereisasadpovertyofvarietyinspecies，thetreesbeingchieflyofonemonotonousfamily——redwood，pine，spruce，fir——andso，atanearviewthereisawearisomesamenessofattitudeintheirrigidarms，stretcheddownwardandoutwardinonecontinuedandreiteratedappealtoallmento“Sh！——

don"tsayaword！——youmightdisturbsomebody！“Closeathand，too，thereisarelieflessandrelentlesssmellofpitchandturpentine；thereisaceaselessmelancholyintheirsighingandcomplainingfoliage；onewalksoverasoundlesscarpetofbeatenyellowbarkanddeadspinesofthefoliagetillhefeelslikeawanderingspiritbereftofafootfall；

hetiresoftheendlesstuftsofneedlesandyearnsforsubstantial，shapelyleaves；helooksformossandgrasstolollupon，andfindsnone，forwherethereisnobarkthereisnakedclayanddirt，enemiestopensivemusingandcleanapparel。OftenagrassyplaininCalifornia，iswhatitshouldbe，butoften，too，itisbestcontemplatedatadistance，becausealthoughitsgrassbladesaretall，theystandupvindictivelystraightandself-sufficient，andareunsociablywideapart，withuncomelyspotsofbarrensandbetween。

OneofthequeerestthingsIknowof，istoheartouristsfrom“theStates“gointoecstasiesoverthelovelinessof“ever-bloomingCalifornia。”Andtheyalwaysdogointothatsortofecstasies。ButperhapstheywouldmodifythemiftheyknewhowoldCalifornians，withthememoryfulluponthemofthedust-coveredandquestionablesummergreensofCalifornian“verdure，“standastonished，andfilledwithworshippingadmiration，inthepresenceofthelavishrichness，thebrilliantgreen，theinfinitefreshness，thespend-thriftvarietyofformandspeciesandfoliagethatmakeanEasternlandscapeavisionofParadiseitself。TheideaofamanfallingintorapturesovergraveandsombreCalifornia，whenthatmanhasseenNewEngland"smeadow-expansesandhermaples，oaksandcathedral-windowedelmsdeckedinsummerattire，ortheopalinesplendorsofautumndescendinguponherforests，comesverynearbeingfunny——wouldbe，infact，butthatitissopathetic。

Nolandwithanunvaryingclimatecanbeverybeautiful。Thetropicsarenot，forallthesentimentthatiswastedonthem。Theyseembeautifulatfirst，butsamenessimpairsthecharmbyandby。ChangeisthehandmaidenNaturerequirestodohermiracleswith。Thelandthathasfourwell-definedseasons，cannotlackbeauty，orpallwithmonotony。

Eachseasonbringsaworldofenjoymentandinterestinthewatchingofitsunfolding，itsgradual，harmoniousdevelopment，itsculminatinggraces——andjustasonebeginstotireofit，itpassesawayandaradicalchangecomes，withnewwitcheriesandnewgloriesinitstrain。

AndIthinkthattooneinsympathywithnature，eachseason，initsturn，seemstheloveliest。

SanFrancisco，atrulyfascinatingcitytolivein，isstatelyandhandsomeatafairdistance，butcloseathandonenotesthatthearchitectureismostlyold-fashioned，manystreetsaremadeupofdecaying，smoke-grimed，woodenhouses，andthebarrensand-hillstowardtheoutskirtsobtrudethemselvestooprominently。Eventhekindlyclimateissometimespleasanterwhenreadaboutthanpersonallyexperienced，foralovely，cloudlessskywearsoutitswelcomebyandby，andthenwhenthelongedforraindoescomeitstays。Eventheplayfulearthquakeisbettercontemplatedatadis——

Howevertherearevaryingopinionsaboutthat。

TheclimateofSanFranciscoismildandsingularlyequable。Thethermometerstandsataboutseventydegreestheyearround。Ithardlychangesatall。YousleepunderoneortwolightblanketsSummerandWinter，andneveruseamosquitobar。NobodyeverwearsSummerclothing。

Youwearblackbroadcloth——ifyouhaveit——inAugustandJanuary，justthesame。Itisnocolder，andnowarmer，intheonemonththantheother。Youdonotuseovercoatsandyoudonotusefans。Itisaspleasantaclimateascouldwellbecontrived，takeitallaround，andisdoubtlessthemostunvaryinginthewholeworld。Thewindblowsthereagooddealinthesummermonths，butthenyoucangoovertoOakland，ifyouchoose——threeorfourmilesaway——itdoesnotblowthere。IthasonlysnowedtwiceinSanFranciscoinnineteenyears，andthenitonlyremainedonthegroundlongenoughtoastonishthechildren，andsetthemtowonderingwhatthefeatherystuffwas。

Duringeightmonthsoftheyear，straightalong，theskiesarebrightandcloudless，andneveradropofrainfalls。Butwhentheotherfourmonthscomealong，youwillneedtogoandstealanumbrella。Becauseyouwillrequireit。Notjustoneday，butonehundredandtwentydaysinhardlyvaryingsuccession。Whenyouwanttogovisiting，orattendchurch，orthetheatre，youneverlookupatthecloudstoseewhetheritislikelytorainornot——youlookatthealmanac。IfitisWinter，itwillrain——andifitisSummer，itwon"train，andyoucannothelpit。

Youneverneedalightning-rod，becauseitneverthundersanditneverlightens。Andafteryouhavelistenedforsixoreightweeks，everynight，tothedismalmonotonyofthosequietrains，youwillwishinyourheartthethunderwouldleapandcrashandroaralongthosedrowsyskiesonce，andmakeeverythingalive——youwillwishtheprisonedlightningswouldcleavethedullfirmamentasunderandlightitwithablindingglareforonelittleinstant。Youwouldgiveanythingtoheartheoldfamiliarthunderagainandseethelightningstrikesomebody。AndalongintheSummer，whenyouhavesufferedaboutfourmonthsoflustrous，pitilesssunshine，youarereadytogodownonyourkneesandpleadforrain——hail——snow——thunderandlightning——anythingtobreakthemonotony——

youwilltakeanearthquake，ifyoucannotdoanybetter。Andthechancesarethatyou"llgetit，too。

SanFranciscoisbuiltonsandhills，buttheyareprolificsandhills。

Theyyieldagenerousvegetation。Alltherareflowerswhichpeoplein“theStates“rearwithsuchpatientcareinparlorflower-potsandgreen-

houses，flourishluxuriantlyintheopenairtherealltheyearround。

Callalilies，allsortsofgeraniums，passionflowers，mossroses——Idonotknowthenamesofatenthpartofthem。IonlyknowthatwhileNewYorkersareburdenedwithbanksanddriftsofsnow，Californiansareburdenedwithbanksanddriftsofflowers，iftheyonlykeeptheirhandsoffandletthemgrow。AndIhaveheardthattheyhavealsothatrarestandmostcuriousofalltheflowers，thebeautifulEspirituSanto，astheSpaniardscallit——orfloweroftheHolySpirit——thoughIthoughtitgrewonlyinCentralAmerica——downontheIsthmus。Initscupisthedaintiestlittlefacsimileofadove，aspureassnow。TheSpaniardshaveasuperstitiousreverenceforit。TheblossomhasbeenconveyedtotheStates，submergedinether；andthebulbhasbeentakenthitheralso，buteveryattempttomakeitbloomafteritarrived，hasfailed。

IhaveelsewherespokenoftheendlessWinterofMono，California，andbutthismomentoftheeternalSpringofSanFrancisco。Nowifwetravelahundredmilesinastraightline，wecometotheeternalSummerofSacramento。OneneverseesSummer-clothingormosquitoesinSanFrancisco——buttheycanbefoundinSacramento。Notalwaysandunvaryingly，butaboutonehundredandforty-threemonthsoutoftwelveyears，perhaps。Flowersbloomthere，always，thereadercaneasilybelieve——peoplesufferandsweat，andswear，morning，noonandnight，andwearouttheirstanchestenergiesfanningthemselves。Itgetshotthere，butifyougodowntoFortYumayouwillfindithotter。FortYumaisprobablythehottestplaceonearth。Thethermometerstaysatonehundredandtwentyintheshadethereallthetime——exceptwhenitvariesandgoeshigher。ItisaU。S。militarypost，anditsoccupantsgetsousedtotheterrificheatthattheysufferwithoutit。Thereisatradition(attributedtoJohnPhenix[Ithasbeenpurloinedbyfiftydifferentscribblerswhoweretoopoortoinventafancybutnotashamedtostealone——M。T。])thatavery，verywickedsoldierdiedthere，once，andofcourse，wentstraighttothehottestcornerofperdition，——

andthenextdayhetelegraphedbackforhisblankets。Thereisnodoubtaboutthetruthofthisstatement——therecanbenodoubtaboutit。I

haveseentheplacewherethatsoldierusedtoboard。InSacramentoitisfierySummeralways，andyoucangatherroses，andeatstrawberriesandice-cream，andwearwhitelinenclothes，andpantandperspire，ateightornineo"clockinthemorning，andthentakethecars，andatnoonputonyourfursandyourskates，andgoskimmingoverfrozenDonnerLake，seventhousandfeetabovethevalley，amongsnowbanksfifteenfeetdeep，andintheshadowofgrandmountainpeaksthatlifttheirfrostycragstenthousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea。

Thereisatransitionforyou！WherewillyoufindanotherlikeitintheWesternhemisphere?Andsomeofushavesweptaroundsnow-walledcurvesofthePacificRailroadinthatvicinity，sixthousandfeetabovethesea，andlookeddownasthebirdsdo，uponthedeathlessSummeroftheSacramentoValley，withitsfruitfulfields，itsfeatheryfoliage，itssilverstreams，allslumberinginthemellowhazeofitsenchantedatmosphere，andallinfinitelysoftenedandspiritualizedbydistance——adreamy，exquisiteglimpseoffairyland，madeallthemorecharmingandstrikingthatitwascaughtthroughaforbiddengatewayoficeandsnow，andsavagecragsandprecipices。

CHAPTERLVII。

ItwasinthisSacramentoValley，justreferredto，thatadealofthemostlucrativeoftheearlygoldminingwasdone，andyoumaystillsee，inplaces，itsgrassyslopesandlevelstornandgutteredanddisfiguredbytheavariciousspoilersoffifteenandtwentyyearsago。YoumayseesuchdisfigurementsfarandwideoverCalifornia——andinsomesuchplaces，whereonlymeadowsandforestsarevisible——notalivingcreature，notahouse，nostickorstoneorremnantofaruin，andnotasound，notevenawhispertodisturbtheSabbathstillness——youwillfindithardtobelievethattherestoodatonetimeafiercely-flourishinglittlecity，oftwothousandorthreethousandsouls，withitsnewspaper，firecompany，brassband，volunteermilitia，bank，hotels，noisyFourthofJulyprocessionsandspeeches，gamblinghellscrammedwithtobaccosmoke，profanity，andrough-beardedmenofallnationsandcolors，withtablesheapedwithgolddustsufficientfortherevenuesofaGermanprincipality——streetscrowdedandrifewithbusiness——townlotsworthfourhundreddollarsafrontfoot——labor，laughter，music，dancing，swearing，fighting，shooting，stabbing——abloodyinquestandamanforbreakfasteverymorning——everythingthatdelightsandadornsexistence——

alltheappointmentsandappurtenancesofathrivingandprosperousandpromisingyoungcity，——andnownothingisleftofitallbutalifeless，homelesssolitude。Themenaregone，thehouseshavevanished，eventhenameoftheplaceisforgotten。Innootherland，inmoderntimes，havetownssoabsolutelydiedanddisappeared，asintheoldminingregionsofCalifornia。

Itwasadriving，vigorous，restlesspopulationinthosedays。Itwasacuriouspopulation。Itwastheonlypopulationofthekindthattheworldhaseverseengatheredtogether，anditisnotlikelythattheworldwilleverseeitslikeagain。Forobserve，itwasanassemblageoftwohundredthousandyoungmen——notsimpering，dainty，kid-glovedweaklings，butstalwart，muscular，dauntlessyoungbraves，brimfulofpushandenergy，androyallyendowedwitheveryattributethatgoestomakeupapeerlessandmagnificentmanhood——theverypickandchoiceoftheworld"sgloriousones。Nowomen，nochildren，nograyandstoopingveterans，——nonebuterect，bright-eyed，quick-moving，strong-handedyounggiants——thestrangestpopulation，thefinestpopulation，themostgallanthostthatevertroopeddownthestartledsolitudesofanunpeopledland。

Andwherearetheynow?Scatteredtotheendsoftheearth——orprematurelyagedanddecrepit——orshotorstabbedinstreetaffrays——ordeadofdisappointedhopesandbrokenhearts——allgone，ornearlyall——

victimsdevoteduponthealtarofthegoldencalf——thenoblestholocaustthateverwafteditssacrificialincenseheavenward。Itispitifultothinkupon。

Itwasasplendidpopulation——foralltheslow，sleepy，sluggish-brainedslothsstaidathome——youneverfindthatsortofpeopleamongpioneers——

youcannotbuildpioneersoutofthatsortofmaterial。ItwasthatpopulationthatgavetoCaliforniaanameforgettingupastoundingenterprisesandrushingthemthroughwithamagnificentdashanddaringandarecklessnessofcostorconsequences，whichshebearsuntothisday——andwhensheprojectsanewsurprise，thegraveworldsmilesasusual，andsays“Well，thatisCaliforniaallover。”

Buttheywereroughinthosetimes！Theyfairlyreveledingold，whisky，fights，andfandangoes，andwereunspeakablyhappy。Thehonestminerrakedfromahundredtoathousanddollarsoutofhisclaimaday，andwhatwiththegamblingdensandtheotherentertainments，hehadn"tacentthenextmorning，ifhehadanysortofluck。Theycookedtheirownbaconandbeans，sewedontheirownbuttons，washedtheirownshirts——

bluewoollenones；andifamanwantedafightonhishandswithoutanyannoyingdelay，allhehadtodowastoappearinpublicinawhiteshirtorastove-pipehat，andhewouldbeaccommodated。Forthosepeoplehatedaristocrats。Theyhadaparticularandmalignantanimositytowardwhattheycalleda“biledshirt。”

Itwasawild，free，disorderly，grotesquesociety！Men——onlyswarminghostsofstalwartmen——nothingjuvenile，nothingfeminine，visibleanywhere！

Inthosedaysminerswouldflockincrowdstocatchaglimpseofthatrareandblessedspectacle，awoman！Oldinhabitantstellhow，inacertaincamp，thenewswentabroadearlyinthemorningthatawomanwascome！Theyhadseenacalicodresshangingoutofawagondownatthecamping-ground——signofemigrantsfromoverthegreatplains。Everybodywentdownthere，andashoutwentupwhenanactual，bonafidedresswasdiscoveredflutteringinthewind！Themaleemigrantwasvisible。Theminerssaid:

“Fetchherout！“

Hesaid:“Itismywife，gentlemen——sheissick——wehavebeenrobbedofmoney，provisions，everything，bytheIndians——wewanttorest。”

“Fetchherout！We"vegottoseeher！“

“But，gentlemen，thepoorthing，she——“

“FETCHHEROUT！“

He“fetchedherout，“andtheyswungtheirhatsandsentupthreerousingcheersandatiger；andtheycrowdedaroundandgazedather，andtouchedherdress，andlistenedtohervoicewiththelookofmenwholistenedtoamemoryratherthanapresentreality——andthentheycollectedtwenty-

fivehundreddollarsingoldandgaveittotheman，andswungtheirhatsagainandgavethreemorecheers，andwenthomesatisfied。

OnceIdinedinSanFranciscowiththefamilyofapioneer，andtalkedwithhisdaughter，ayoungladywhosefirstexperienceinSanFranciscowasanadventure，thoughsheherselfdidnotrememberit，asshewasonlytwoorthreeyearsoldatthetime。Herfathersaidthat，afterlandingfromtheship，theywerewalkingupthestreet，aservantleadingthepartywiththelittlegirlinherarms。Andpresentlyahugeminer，bearded，belted，spurred，andbristlingwithdeadlyweapons——justdownfromalongcampaigninthemountains，evidently-barredtheway，stoppedtheservant，andstoodgazing，withafaceallalivewithgratificationandastonishment。Thenhesaid，reverently:

“Well，ifitain"tachild！“Andthenhesnatchedalittleleathersackoutofhispocketandsaidtotheservant:

“There"sahundredandfiftydollarsindust，there，andI"llgiveittoyoutoletmekissthechild！“

Thatanecdoteistrue。

Butseehowthingschange。Sittingatthatdinner-table，listeningtothatanecdote，ifIhadoffereddoublethemoneyfortheprivilegeofkissingthesamechild，Iwouldhavebeenrefused。Seventeenaddedyearshavefarmorethandoubledtheprice。

AndwhileuponthissubjectIwillremarkthatonceinStarCity，intheHumboldtMountains，Itookmyplaceinasortoflong，post-officesinglefileofminers，topatientlyawaitmychancetopeepthroughacrackinthecabinandgetasightofthesplendidnewsensation——agenuine，liveWoman！Andattheendofhalfofanhourmyturncame，andIputmyeyetothecrack，andthereshewas，withonearmakimbo，andtossingflap-

jacksinafrying-panwiththeother。

Andshewasonehundredandsixty-five[Beingincalmermood，now，I

voluntarilyknockoffahundredfromthat——M。T。]yearsold，andhadn"tatoothinherhead。

CHAPTERLVIII。

ForafewmonthsIenjoyedwhattomewasanentirelynewphaseofexistence——abutterflyidleness；nothingtodo，nobodytoberesponsibleto，anduntroubledwithfinancialuneasiness。IfellinlovewiththemostcordialandsociablecityintheUnion。Afterthesage-brushandalkalidesertsofWashoe，SanFranciscowasParadisetome。Ilivedatthebesthotel，exhibitedmyclothesinthemostconspicuousplaces，infestedtheopera，andlearnedtoseemenrapturedwithmusicwhichoftenerafflictedmyignorantearthanenchantedit，ifIhadhadthevulgarhonestytoconfessit。However，IsupposeIwasnotgreatlyworsethanthemostofmycountrymeninthat。Ihadlongedtobeabutterfly，andIwasoneatlast。Iattendedprivatepartiesinsumptuouseveningdress，simperedandairedmygraceslikeabornbeau，andpolkadandschottischedwithasteppeculiartomyself——andthekangaroo。Inaword，Ikepttheduestateofamanworthahundredthousanddollars(prospectively，)andlikelytoreachabsoluteaffluencewhenthatsilver-

minesaleshouldbeultimatelyachievedintheEast。Ispentmoneywithafreehand，andmeantimewatchedthestocksaleswithaninterestedeyeandlookedtoseewhatmighthappeninNevada。

Somethingveryimportanthappened。ThepropertyholdersofNevadavotedagainsttheStateConstitution；butthefolkswhohadnothingtolosewereinthemajority，andcarriedthemeasureovertheirheads。Butafterallitdidnotimmediatelylooklikeadisaster，thoughunquestionablyitwasoneIhesitated，calculatedthechances，andthenconcludednottosell。Stockswentonrising；speculationwentmad；

bankers，merchants，lawyers，doctors，mechanics，laborers，eventheverywasherwomenandservantgirls，wereputtinguptheirearningsonsilverstocks，andeverysunthatroseinthemorningwentdownonpaupersenrichedandrichmenbeggared。Whatagamblingcarnivalitwas！GouldandCurrysoaredtosixthousandthreehundreddollarsafoot！Andthen——allofasudden，outwentthebottomandeverythingandeverybodywenttoruinanddestruction！Thewreckwascomplete。

Thebubblescarcelyleftamicroscopicmoisturebehindit。Iwasanearlybeggarandathoroughone。Myhoardedstockswerenotworththepapertheywereprintedon。Ithrewthemallaway。I，thecheerfulidiotthathadbeensquanderingmoneylikewater，andthoughtmyselfbeyondthereachofmisfortune，hadnotnowasmuchasfiftydollarswhenIgatheredtogethermyvariousdebtsandpaidthem。Iremovedfromthehoteltoaveryprivateboardinghouse。Itookareporter"sberthandwenttowork。Iwasnotentirelybrokeninspirit，forIwasbuildingconfidentlyonthesaleofthesilvermineintheeast。ButIcouldnothearfromDan。Mylettersmiscarriedorwerenotanswered。

OnedayIdidnotfeelvigorousandremainedawayfromtheoffice。ThenextdayIwentdowntowardnoonasusual，andfoundanoteonmydeskwhichhadbeentheretwenty-fourhours。Itwassigned“Marshall“——theVirginiareporter——andcontainedarequestthatIshouldcallatthehotelandseehimandafriendortwothatnight，astheywouldsailfortheeastinthemorning。Apostscriptaddedthattheirerrandwasabigminingspeculation！Iwashardlyeversosickinmylife。IabusedmyselfforleavingVirginiaandentrustingtoanothermanamatterI

oughttohaveattendedtomyself；IabusedmyselfforremainingawayfromtheofficeontheonedayofalltheyearthatIshouldhavebeenthere。

AndthusberatingmyselfItrottedamiletothesteamerwharfandarrivedjustintimetobetoolate。Theshipwasinthestreamandunderway。

Icomfortedmyselfwiththethoughtthatmaybethespeculationwouldamounttonothing——poorcomfortatbest——andthenwentbacktomyslavery，resolvedtoputupwithmythirty-fivedollarsaweekandforgetallaboutit。

AmonthafterwardIenjoyedmyfirstearthquake。Itwasonewhichwaslongcalledthe“great“earthquake，andisdoubtlesssodistinguishedtillthisday。Itwasjustafternoon，onabrightOctoberday。IwascomingdownThirdstreet。Theonlyobjectsinmotionanywhereinsightinthatthicklybuiltandpopulousquarter，wereamaninabuggybehindme，andastreetcarwendingslowlyupthecrossstreet。Otherwise，allwassolitudeandaSabbathstillness。AsIturnedthecorner，aroundaframehouse，therewasagreatrattleandjar，anditoccurredtomethatherewasanitem！——nodoubtafightinthathouse。BeforeIcouldturnandseekthedoor，therecameareallyterrificshock；thegroundseemedtorollundermeinwaves，interruptedbyaviolentjogglingupanddown，andtherewasaheavygrindingnoiseasofbrickhousesrubbingtogether。

Ifellupagainsttheframehouseandhurtmyelbow。Iknewwhatitwas，now，andfrommerereportorialinstinct，nothingelse，tookoutmywatchandnotedthetimeofday；atthatmomentathirdandstillseverershockcame，andasIreeledaboutonthepavementtryingtokeepmyfooting，Isawasight！Theentirefrontofatallfour-storybrickbuildinginThirdstreetsprungoutwardlikeadoorandfellsprawlingacrossthestreet，raisingadustlikeagreatvolumeofsmoke！Andherecamethebuggy——overboardwenttheman，andinlesstimethanIcantellitthevehiclewasdistributedinsmallfragmentsalongthreehundredyardsofstreet。

Onecouldhavefanciedthatsomebodyhadfiredachargeofchair-roundsandragsdownthethoroughfare。Thestreetcarhadstopped，thehorseswererearingandplunging，thepassengerswerepouringoutatbothends，andonefatmanhadcrashedhalfwaythroughaglasswindowononesideofthecar，gotwedgedfastandwassquirmingandscreaminglikeanimpaledmadman。Everydoor，ofeveryhouse，asfarastheeyecouldreach，wasvomitingastreamofhumanbeings；andalmostbeforeonecouldexecuteawinkandbeginanother，therewasamassedmultitudeofpeoplestretchinginendlessprocessiondowneverystreetmypositioncommanded。

Neverwassolemnsolitudeturnedintoteeminglifequicker。

Ofthewonderswroughtby“thegreatearthquake，“thesewereallthatcameundermyeye；butthetricksitdid，elsewhere，andfarandwideoverthetown，madetoothsomegossipforninedays。

Thedestructionofpropertywastrifling——theinjurytoitwaswide-

spreadandsomewhatserious。

The“curiosities“oftheearthquakeweresimplyendless。Gentlemenandladieswhoweresick，orweretakingasiesta，orhaddissipatedtillalatehourandweremakinguplostsleep，throngedintothepublicstreetsinallsortsofqueerapparel，andsomewithoutanyatall。Onewomanwhohadbeenwashinganakedchild，randownthestreetholdingitbytheanklesasifitwereadressedturkey。ProminentcitizenswhoweresupposedtokeeptheSabbathstrictly，rushedoutofsaloonsintheirshirt-sleeves，withbilliardcuesintheirhands。Dozensofmenwithnecksswathedinnapkins，rushedfrombarber-shops，latheredtotheeyesorwithonecheekcleanshavedandtheotherstillbearingahairystubble。Horsesbrokefromstables，andafrighteneddogrushedupashortatticladderandoutontoaroof，andwhenhisscarewasoverhadnotthenervetogodownagainthesamewayhehadgoneup。

Aprominenteditorflewdownstairs，intheprincipalhotel，withnothingonbutonebriefundergarment——metachambermaid，andexclaimed:

“Oh，whatshallIdo！WhereshallIgo！“

Sherespondedwithnaiveserenity:

“Ifyouhavenochoice，youmighttryaclothing-store！“

Acertainforeignconsul"sladywastheacknowledgedleaderoffashion，andeverytimesheappearedinanythingneworextraordinary，theladiesinthevicinitymadearaidontheirhusbands"pursesandarrayedthemselvessimilarly。Onemanwhohadsufferedconsiderablyandgrowledaccordingly，wasstandingatthewindowwhentheshockscame，andthenextinstanttheconsul"swife，justoutofthebath，fledbywithnootherapologyforclothingthan——abath-towel！Thesuffererrosesuperiortotheterrorsoftheearthquake，andsaidtohiswife:

“Nowthatissomethinglike！Getoutyourtowelmydear！“

TheplasteringthatfellfromceilingsinSanFranciscothatday，wouldhavecoveredseveralacresofground。Forsomedaysafterward，groupsofeyeingandpointingmenstoodaboutmanyabuilding，lookingatlongzig-

zagcracksthatextendedfromtheeavestotheground。Fourfeetofthetopsofthreechimneysononehousewerebrokensquareoffandturnedaroundinsuchawayastocompletelystopthedraft。

Acrackahundredfeetlonggapedopensixincheswideinthemiddleofonestreetandthenshuttogetheragainwithsuchforce，astoridgeupthemeetingearthlikeaslendergrave。Aladysittinginherrockingandquakingparlor，sawthewallpartattheceiling，openandshuttwice，likeamouth，andthen-droptheendofabrickonthefloorlikeatooth。Shewasawomaneasilydisgustedwithfoolishness，andshearoseandwentoutofthere。OneladywhowascomingdownstairswasastonishedtoseeabronzeHerculesleanforwardonitspedestalasiftostrikeherwithitsclub。Theybothreachedthebottomoftheflightatthesametime，——thewomaninsensiblefromthefright。Herchild，bornsomelittletimeafterward，wasclub-footed。However——onsecondthought，——ifthereaderseesanycoincidenceinthis，hemustdoitathisownrisk。

Thefirstshockbroughtdowntwoorthreehugeorgan-pipesinoneofthechurches。Theminister，withupliftedhands，wasjustclosingtheservices。Heglancedup，hesitated，andsaid:

“However，wewillomitthebenediction！“——andthenextinstanttherewasavacancyintheatmospherewherehehadstood。

Afterthefirstshock，anOaklandministersaid:

“Keepyourseats！Thereisnobetterplacetodiethanthis“——

Andadded，afterthethird:

“Butoutsideisgoodenough！“Hethenskippedoutatthebackdoor。

Suchanotherdestructionofmantelornamentsandtoiletbottlesastheearthquakecreated，SanFrancisconeversawbefore。Therewashardlyagirloramatroninthecitybutsufferedlossesofthiskind。Suspendedpictureswerethrowndown，butoftenerstill，byacuriousfreakoftheearthquake"shumor，theywerewhirledcompletelyaroundwiththeirfacestothewall！Therewasgreatdifferenceofopinion，atfirst，astothecourseordirectiontheearthquaketraveled，butwaterthatsplashedoutofvarioustanksandbucketssettledthat。Thousandsofpeopleweremadesosea-sickbytherollingandpitchingoffloorsandstreetsthattheywereweakandbed-riddenforhours，andsomefewforevendaysafterward——Hardlyanindividualescapednauseaentirely。

Thequeerearthquake——episodesthatformedthestapleofSanFranciscogossipforthenextweekwouldfillamuchlargerbookthanthis，andsoIwilldivergefromthesubject。

Byandby，intheduecourseofthings，IpickedupacopyoftheEnterpriseoneday，andfellunderthiscruelblow:

NEVADAMINESINNEWYORK——G。M。Marshall，ShebaHursandAmosH。

Rose，wholeftSanFranciscolastJulyforNewYorkCity，withoresfromminesinPineWoodDistrict，HumboldtCounty，andontheReeseRiverrange，havedisposedofaminecontainingsixthousandfeetandcalledthePineMountainsConsolidated，forthesumof$3，000，000。Thestampsonthedeed，whichisnowonitswaytoHumboldtCounty，fromNewYork，forrecord，amountedto$3，000，whichissaidtobethelargestamountofstampseverplacedononedocument。Aworkingcapitalof$1，000，000hasbeenpaidintothetreasury，andmachineryhasalreadybeenpurchasedforalargequartzmill，whichwillbeputupassoonaspossible。Thestockinthiscompanyisallfullpaidandentirelyunassessable。TheoresoftheminesinthisdistrictsomewhatresemblethoseoftheShebamineinHumboldt。ShebaHurst，thediscovererofthemines，withhisfriendscorralledallthebestleadsandallthelandandtimbertheydesiredbeforemakingpublictheirwhereabouts。Oresfromthere，assayedinthiscity，showedthemtobeexceedinglyrichinsilverandgold——silverpredominating。ThereisanabundanceofwoodandwaterintheDistrict。WearegladtoknowthatNewYorkcapitalhasbeenenlistedinthedevelopmentoftheminesofthisregion。Havingseentheoresandassays，wearesatisfiedthattheminesoftheDistrictareveryvaluable——anythingbutwild-cat。

Oncemorenativeimbecilityhadcarriedtheday，andIhadlostamillion！Itwasthe“blindlead“overagain。

Letusnotdwellonthismiserablematter。IfIwereinventingthesethings，Icouldbewonderfullyhumorousoverthem；buttheyaretootruetobetalkedofwithheartylevity，evenatthisdistantday。[True，andyetnotexactlyasgivenintheabovefigures，possibly。IsawMarshall，monthsafterward，andalthoughhehadplentyofmoneyhedidnotclaimtohavecapturedanentiremillion。InfactIgatheredthathehadnotthenreceived$50，000。Beyondthatfigurehisfortuneappearedtoconsistofuncertainvastexpectationsratherthanprodigiouscertainties。However，whentheaboveitemappearedinprintIputfullfaithinit，andincontinentlywiltedandwenttoseedunderit。]SufficeitthatIsolostheart，andsoyieldedmyselfuptorepiningsandsighingsandfoolishregrets，thatIneglectedmydutiesandbecameaboutworthless，asareporterforabrisknewspaper。Andatlastoneoftheproprietorstookmeaside，withacharityIstillrememberwithconsiderablerespect，andgavemeanopportunitytoresignmyberthandsosavemyselfthedisgraceofadismissal。