him the atmosphere of the early mining days and never got out of it.  He never realized the transition from mining to agriculture and horticulture, as the leading industries of the State.  Thus his later stories which dealt with California, written long after the subsidence of the mining excitement, continued to convey to the Eastern or English reader an impression of the Californian as a bearded individual, his trousers tucked into long boots and the same old “red shirt” with the sleeves rolled back to the shoulders!  As lately — comparatively speaking — as the Chicago Columbian Exposition, a lady told me she met at the Fair a woman who said she wanted to visit California, and asked if it would be safe to do so “on account of the Indians!” While Indians do not appear in Bret Harte’s pages, it is a safe conjecture that, through association of ideas, this lady conjured up a vague vision of a “prairie schooner” crossing the plains, harassed by the Indian of the colored prints!

The following picture of the trying of a civil suit under difficulties, though in all probability causing little comment at the time, would undoubtedly do so at the present day, were the conditions possible.  In 1853 Mr. Maslin owned, with his brother, a one-fifth interest in ten gravel claims at Pike Flat near Grass Valley.  On the ground of alleged imperfection of location of a portion of these claims, they were “jumped,” and litigation followed.

The case was called before “Si” Brown, a justice of the peace, at Rough and Ready, in a building (of which I obtained a photograph) used as a hotel and for other purposes.  In the long room, now occupied as a store, Judge Brown held his court.  On the right was a door leading to the bar.  Extending the whole length of the room were four faro tables.  At the rear the judge, jury, attorneys and the principals in the lawsuit made the best of the accommodations.

After stating the case, Judge Brown thus addressed the gamblers at the faro tables:  “Boys, the court is now opened, call your games low!” In accordance with this request, though still audible, came in a monotonous undertone, the faro, dealers’ oft-repeated call:  “Gents, make your game - make your game!” The bets were put down and the cards called, in the same subdued voice.  At intervals, an attorney on one side or the other would arise and say:  “I move you, your Honor, that the court do now take a recess of ten minutes.”  The court:  “The motion is sustained; but go softly, gentlemen, go softly!” It is probably needless to add that judge, jury, principals, attorneys and witnesses filed out of the door leading to the right; returning in ten minutes to resume the trial to the not altogether inappropriate accompaniment from the faro dealers, “Make your game, gents, make your game!”

The spirit of rivalry between Grass Valley and Nevada City has been accentuated, of late, by the efforts of the former town to secure the honor of being the county seat, on the claim that it possesses nearly double the population of Nevada City.  Politics serve to intensify the feeling; Grass Valley, which contains many people of Southern birth, being largely Democratic in its affiliations, whilst Nevada City is as strongly, and, one may add, as conservatively, Republican.