their immediate design, it is certain that they gained much profitable experience which they are utilizing for literary purposes. These productions are not the only coinage of note from the intellectual mint of California. The critiques on current literature are quite refreshing in their genuineness, and very effective pieces of writing. The conventionalities of literary cliques do not seem to hamper and emasculate the writers. Having opinions of their own to express, they couch them in plain and straightforward language, and they appear to write with a thorough knowledge of the subjects which they discuss. Many literary oracles of greater age and pretensions, give forth feebler and more uncertain sounds and do less towards maintaining a high standard in literature, than the Overland Monthly. In support of these opinions and in justification of this praise I ought to cite examples. If I could do so within moderate limits, I should have no difficulty in substantiating my case. The discerning readers whose curiosity is piqued, or whose scepticism is aroused, can easily ascertain how far I have written at random, and whether I have strewn flowers of eulogy in error. If they turn to the Overland Monthly and judge for themselves they will have their reward, for they are certain to discover therein much of which the originality will Υ afford them pleasure even should they be unable to admit the relative excellence and absolute superiority of the magazine as a whole. The Pacific Railway has been regarded as an instrument designed to advance the prosperity of San Francisco and to multiply the attractions of California. As regards the people themselves that means of intercommunication will prove fraught with results quite as important. Their comparative isolation has led to the growth of a local pride hardly justified by facts and not deserving of admiration. The young men who left their homes in the Eastern States twenty years ago, and are now wealthy citizens of California, have remained practically ignorant of the changes which, during that long interval, have been wrought in the cities of their birth. They have not known that progress has moved with giant strides in New York, St. Louis, and Chicago as well as in San Francisco and Sacramento. They compare what they see around them with what they imagine to exist elsewhere and they glory in their achievements. Now that facilities for travel enable them to draw just comparisons, their self-importance may possibly receive a shock and the Pioneers' may soon be deposed from the high pedestal which they have occupied in the estimation of themselves and their neighbours. In reality there is no more merit in having been a Californian Pioneer' than in drawing a prize in a lottery. The holders of prizes deserve congratulations, but no honour. Having made money these men may think that they have earned glory. The folly is not theirs so much as of the simpletons who accede to a ridiculous demand. Nature, which has already done much for California, will doubtless do as much to render the race which is being moulded here a splendid branch of the human family. The physical conditions under which human beings exist in this favoured region are well adapted for imparting to them the qualities which lead to greatness in all departments of exertion. A century hence it is probable that the Californians will be a power in the Union and will make their influence felt throughout the world. As their intrinsic merit becomes more tangible their shortcomings will afford less ground for comment. When they have stronger reasons for boasting, they will leave to others the task of trumpeting forth their praises. XXIII. THE GOLDEN GATE TO THE AMERICAN ATHENS. THE boldest figures of speech used by poets hardly outstrip the figurative names which have been conferred upon cities and places. It is difficult to fathom the reason for calling the harbour of Stamboul the Golden Horn and the entrance to the Bay of San Francisco the Golden Gate. There is nothing auriferous about either. With regard to the latter, however, there is an explanation which justifies the title. Along the Pacific coast a range of mountains rises to the height of five thousand feet. The bank of fog, which nearly always broods over this locality, seldom ascends above the summits of these mountains. The only break in the rockbound barrier forms the inlet to the quiet waters of San Francisco Bay. When the fog is dense and the sky obscured without, the sun shines brightly and the sky is clear within. The effect observed, upon the gap being reached, is that of a mellow golden haze. Hence the origin of the appellation. The sailors who came hither long before the discovery of the famous gold diggings or the advent of Californian Pioneers' rejoiced when they could distinguish the glittering yellow veil which indicated that the desired haven had been reached, and they were nearly as enchanted at the sight as they would have been if the rocks between which they sailed were in truth portals of solid gold. If the earlier mariners who approached this coast had, on landing, ascended the mountain known by the name of Tamalpais, or Table Rock, and beheld the detested fog rolling beneath their feet and gazed on the beautiful prospect around them, they might have entertained thoughts identical with those of the storm-tossed wanderers when arriving at the land of the Lotos Eaters. Indeed, the spot itself under circumstances such as these could not be described more fittingly and beautifully than in the choice lines which are among the most finished that Tennyson ever penned :-- 'We have had enough of action, and of motion we, Roll'd to starboard, roll'd to larboard, when the surge was seething free, Where the wallowing monster spouted his foam-fountains in the sea. 'Surely, surely, slumber is more sweet than toil, the shore Than labour in the deep mid-ocean, wind and wave and oar; Oh rest ye, brother mariners, we will not wander more.' |