1

on the eve of her graduation from the high school of a small Eastern city, is not very interesting to begin with; indeed the first feeling is one of positive dislike for her shallowness, vanity and flippant disregard of her hard-working parents. But if the reader does not lay the book down in disgust at the petty flirtations of the early chapters, for all these high school maidens have their beaus and "engagements," he will first endure, then pity, and finally like pretty well, the young woman that gradually emerges from this "green apple stage." The energy that at first makes her restless and discontented finds its proper channels, and the lover at first badly treated, and hardly deserving much because of his faint-heartedness, - carries her off at last.

The solution of the problem is the old and perhaps only possible one, marriage, and her studies, except as they have tided her over a waiting time by enabling her to teach school, benefit her only in the enlargement of her horizons and development of character that gives her at last to her husband, a companion, and not a drudge, and to her children a guiding mother and not merely a nurse. And who shall say that these ends do not justify the means, the sacrifices of the parents, the discomfort of the transition period, and the strained family relations resulting from parents and children being on different social planes? For small as the high school amount of culture is, it does result, in families of the entirely unlettered class, in making a social gulf that requires wisdom and forbearance to bridge over.

The provincial life and thought of the small city is well pictured, and if at times uninteresting, that is just because of its truthfulness. The characters are in good relief, and several, Miss Graham, the sister Helen, and the engineer father, are worth knowing. The book as a whole shows careful work, and the reader echoes the thought of Miss Gra

ham, when she says of the heroine in conclusion that she liked her better than she at first thought she should.

Cressy1 has many passages, even whole chapters, that will be read with delight by the lovers of Bret Harte's early work; for nothing of his recently published approaches so nearly to the perfection of style and felicity of description that won his fame. But these chapters, it is sad to say, are confined to the earlier parts of the book. It is as though the master's hand grows weary, and the sure touch that plays on the heartstrings of his readers till they throb only as he wills loses its power, and but the mechanic necessity of completing a task begun holds him to his work. So when the "copy" has grown to suitable length for a book he drops his task in most undignified haste, and leaves the reader in a hopelessly bewildered state of mind, amid a whole maze of quandaries.

The old school-house, where wild nature and child nature, not so very different after all, mingle in blessed companionship, will be a permanent picture in many minds, and the Filgees, D'Aubigny (otherwise "Dabney "), the feud wager with his longing for "kam," and yes, Cressy herself will fit into congenial fellowship with the famous old friends. that Mr. Harte has created. But it will always be a mystery why Cressy did as she did in the final chapters; for, acknowledge the realism of it as we may, such total inconsistency and irrelevancy is not pleasing in fiction. It is impossible to believe that Mr. Harte had his plot worked out before he began to write, or that half way through the book he intended any such denouement as he chose at last. Rather it seems as though that event were adopted as an easy method of cutting a knot that was growing too complicated for the patience of the author.

1Cressy. By Bret Harte. Boston Houghton, Mifflin & Co.: 1889. For sale in San Francisco by Samue Carson & Co.

As compared with The Argonauts of North Liberty, Cressy is vastly better,more real, more artistic, more moral, more worthy of Bret Harte.

It is pleasant to have in permanent and enlarged form Mrs. Kate Douglas Wiggin's Story of Patsy'. This pathetic tale of the Silver Street Kindergarten is so well told and so full of the spirit of charity and true religion, and withal so bright and entertaining, that it deserves the pretty dress it has now received. To San Franciscans especially it will be dear for its local color, and to many of them for its author's sake.

A book hardly claiming notice in a purely fiction review, notwithstanding its

1 The Story of Patsy. By Kate Douglas Wiggin. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 1889. For sale in San Francisco by Samuel Carson & Co.

form, is Lang Syne; or, The Wards of Mt. Vernon. It is written by a lady descended from Washington's sister, and so steeped in tradition of her great kinsman that she writes of Revolutionary times with a simplicity and naturalness of one to the manner born. It is history rather than fiction, history of the kind not always given by graver historians, yet nevertheless pleasing and valuable. Washington and Franklin and many others of the fathers of the Republic figure on her canvas in the familiar aspect. An essay on The Women of the Revolution closes the book, and contains many facts and anecdotes that could not be incorporated in the narrative.

2 Lang Syne. By Mary Stuart Smith. New York! John B. Alden: 1889.

Of the surviving pioneers of California, according to Mr. William Davis, Mr. Alfred Robinson, now living in San Francisco, over eighty years old, is the first of all, the pioneer of pioneers, having come here in 1829; Jacob P. Leese second; J. J. Warner third; and Mr. Davis himself fourth.

William Heath Davis is the son of William Heath Davis, who was the nephew of General Heath of the Revolutionary war; and this elder Davis was a shipowner and captain in the days of Boston's East India and China trade, and traded between the Sandwich Islands and China, taking cargoes of sandal wood from the Islands, where it was cheap and abundant, to China where it was much in demand for religious, ceremonial, and

1 Sixty Years in California. By William Heath Davis.

San Francisco: A. H. Leary. 1889.

California, '46 to '88. By Jacob Wright Harlan.

The Bancroft Company. San Francisco: 1888.

other uses, and bringing back cargoes of silks, teas, and lacquered wares.

In 1816 he tried the experiment of disposing in California of such part of this return cargo as had not been taken in the Islands and in the Russian possessions. His ship, the Eagle, was perhaps the first Boston ship that had tried the California trade, and his success probably stimulated others. A record of the arrival of vessels from 1774 to 1848 mentions scarcely more than a dozen American vessels of any sort at California portsearlier than this. Captain Davis made several other visits to California, and in 1831 the younger William Heath Davis. first reached this coast, which has been his home almost continuously since, fifty-eight years, or in round numbers sixty. He married a wife from one of the native Californian families, the Estudillos of San Leandro,—and became thoroughly identified with the old Cal

ifornian life before the gold discovery; not as a ranchero, like Bidwell or Sutter, but as one of the small colony of American merchants in the sea-ports.

The larger part of Mr. Davis's book is taken up with this early life, into which the young supercargoes and other stray Americans seem to have settled with great friendliness and good will. Their intercourse with the native families was of the most delightful, and Mr. Davis cannot say enough of the hospitality, integrity, and fine courtesy of these now displaced and neglected proprietors of

the soil.

In trading through the country and traveling from point to point, it was customary for travelers to stop at the missions as frequently and as long as they desired. This was expected as a matter of course by the priests, and had the traveler neglected to avail himself of the privilege it would have been regarded as an offense by the good fathers. On approaching the mission the traveler would be met at the door or at the wide veranda by the padre, who would greet him warmly, embrace him, and invite him in, and he was furnished with the best the mission afforded at the table, given one of the best rooms to sleep in, attended by servants, and everything possible was done to make him at home and comfortable during his stay. On leaving he was furnished with a fresh horse, and a good vaquero was appointed to attend him to the next mission, where he was received and entertained with the same hospitality, and so on as far as the journey extended.

The supercargoes of the vessels that were trading on the coast, of course, had occasion to visit all the settlements in the interior or along the coast to conduct their business with the people, and to travel back and forth and up and down the country. In visiting down the coast they usually went on the vessels, which had a fair wind most of the time going south; but on coming there was usually a head wind which made the voyage tedious, and the supercargoes then took to land and came up on horseback, accompanied by a vaquero, stopping along from one mission to another, or at some rancho, where they were always welcome, and where they were supplied with fresh horses whenever they required them, free of charge, by the fathers or the rancheros. These horses were furnished as a matter of course with entire freedom and hospitality by the farmers and the padres. When the traveler reached another stopping place he was provided with a fresh horse, and such a thing as continuing the journey on the horse he rode the day before was not to be thought of, so polite

The women were exceedingly clean and neat in their houses and persons, and in all their domestic cellence and neatness of their beds and bedding, arrangements. One of their peculiarities was the exwhich were often elegant in appearance, highly and tastefully ornamented, the coverlids and pillow

cases being sometimes of satin, and trimmed with beautiful and costly lace. The women were plainly and becomingly attired, were not such devotees of fashion as at the present day, and did not indulge in jewelry to excess. Their tables were frugally furnished, the food clean and inviting, consisting mainly of good beef broiled on an iron rod, or steaks with onions; also mutton, chickens, eggs, each family keeping a good stock of fowls.

The people were sober, sometimes using California wine, but not to excess. They were not given to strong drink, and it was a rare occurrence to see an intoxicated Californian. The men were good husbands generally, the women good wives, both faithful in their domestic relations. The California women, married or unmarried, of all classes, were the most virtuous I have ever seen. There were exceptions, but they were exceedingly rare.

During my long and intimate acquaintance with Californians, I have found the women as a class generally smarter than the men. much brighter, quicker in their perceptions, and Their husbands oftentimes looked to them for advice and direction in their general business affairs. The people had but limited opportunities for education. As a rule, they were not much educated; but they had abundant instinct and native talent, and the women were full of natural dignity and self-possession; they talked well and intelligently, and appeared to much better advantage than might have been supposed from their meager educational facilities.

The priests at the various missions were usually men of very pure character, particularly the Spanish priests. The first priests, who established the missions, were directly from Spain. They were superior men in point of talent, education, morals, and executive ability, as the success of the missions under their establishment and administration showed. They seemed to be entirely disinterested, their aim and ambition being to develop the country and civilize and Christianize the Indians, for which purpose the

missions were established. They worked zealously and untiringly in this behalf, and to them must be given the credit for what advancement of civilization, intelligence, industry, good habits, and good morals pertained to the country at that day, when they laid the foundation of the present advanced civilization and development of the country.

After the independence of Mexico and its separation from Spain, the missions of California passed under the control of Mexican priests, who were also men of culture and attainments, generally of excellent character, but as a class they were inferior to their predecessors.

The native Californians were about the happiest and most contented people I ever saw, as also were the early foreigners who settled among them and intermarried with them, adopted their habits and customs, and became, as it were, a part of themselves.

Among the Californians there was more or less caste, and the wealthier families were somewhat aristocratic, and did not associate freely with the humbler classes; in towns the wealthy families were decidedly proud and select, the wives and daughters especially. These people were naturally, whether rich or poor, of a proud nature, and although always exceedingly polite, courteous, and friendly, they

were possessed of a native dignity, an inborn aristocracy, which was apparent in their bearing, walk, and general demeanor. They were descended from the best families of Spain, and never seemed to forget their origin, even if their outward surroundings did not correspond to their inward feeling.

In my long intercourse with these people, extending over many years, I never knew an instance of incivility of any kind. They were always ready to reply to a question, and answered in the politest manner, even the humblest of them; and in passing along the road,

the poorest vaquero would salute you politely. If you wanted any little favor of him, like delivering a message to another rancho, or anything of that sort, he was ready to oblige, and did it with an air of courtesy and grace and freedom of manner that were very pleasing. They showed everywhere and always this spirit of accommodation, both men and women. The

latter, though reserved and dignified, always answered

politely and sweetly, and generally bestowed upon you a smile, which, coming from a handsome face, was charming in the extreme. This kindness of manner was no affectation, but genuine goodness, inward as well as outward, and commanding one's admiration and respect.

The native Californians are not naturally gamblers. I have seen some of the lower classes gamble for small sums with cards, but have never known the wealthy rancheros, or the higher class in towns, to

indulge in gambling, except on special occasions, like

feast days of the saints, or at a horse-race.

The merchants sold to the rancheros and other Californians whatever goods they wanted, to any reasonable amount, and gave them credit from one killing season to another. I have never known of a single instance in which a note or other written obligation was required of them. At the time of the purchasing they were furnished with bills of the goods, which were charged in the account books, and in all my intercourse and experience in trade with them, extending over many years, I never knew a case of dishonesty on their part. They always kept their business engagements, paid their bills promptly at the proper time iņ hides and tallow, which were the currency of the country, and sometimes, though seldom, in money. They regarded their verbal promise as binding and sacred, relied upon their honor, and were always faithful. This may be said of all their relations with others; they were faithful in their promises and engagements of every kind. They were too proud to do anything mean or disgraceful. This honesty and integrity were eminently characteristic of these early Californians. As much cannot be said of some of their descendants, who have become demoralized, and are not like their ancestors in this regard.

The material of Mr. Davis's book is

very little arranged, either by chronolOgy or topic; it is simply a great amount of interesting reminiscence and record, thrown together as it came to hand in the writer's own memory. The index is full, but not classified, and it is therefore difficult to follow out any particular topic. The chapters abound in accounts of primitive California customs, of rodeos, and bear hunts, and social gatherings. The style is everywhere simple and straightforward, the tone modest and prepossessing. When it comes to the stirring events of the American conquest and the gold period, no attempt is made to encroach on the field of the historian, and only Mr. Davis's own experiences

are recorded. The land troubles of the following years came especially near to him through his wife's family, and his account of them is important as being one of the few in which an American is thrown naturally into sympathy with the Californian side. Yet it is evident enough that however shrewd and eager in land projects, the leading business men of the period were not the oppressors and defrauders of the native proprietors: