Chapter 6 Summary

The settlers hire a photographer to capture an image of them after six months in California. The photographer is a fiercely independent young woman from Northern California who travels alone with her camera and supplies, protected only by a Colt pistol. The Old World ymigrys are shocked but delighted by this self-sufficient woman who drinks whiskey in the morning and barks orders to her subjects to get the picture she wants. Maryna finds her courageous and admirable; some of the others doubt her sincerity. They complete a library in the main house and Maryna imports a piano from San Francisco.

Piotr changes his name to Peter, the local German farmers call Bogdan "Bob-Dan", and Ryszard has become Richard. The Polish-Americans note that another idealistic community called Societas Edenica has moved into a 100-acre ranch north of Anaheim, where alcohol, tobacco, and meat are...