heretofore people
have done it out of spitefulness; but Mr. ----, who is the
kindest-hearted of mortals, never dreams that his merciless frankness
can possibly wound one's self-love.

But _the_ great man--officially considered--of the entire river is the
"Squire," as he is jestingly called. It had been rumored for some time
that we were about to become a law-and-order-loving community, and when
I requested an explanation, I was informed that a man had gone all the
way to Hamilton, the county seat, to get himself made into a justice of
the peace. Many shook their wise heads, and doubted, even if suited to
the situation, which they say he is not, whether he would _take_ here;
and certain rebel spirits affirmed that he would be invited to _walk
over the hill_ before he had been in the community twenty-four hours,
which is a polite way these free-and-easy young people have of turning
out of town an obnoxious individual. Not that the Squire is
particularly objectionable _per se_, but in virtue of his office, and
his supposed ineligibility to fill the same. Besides, the people here
wish to have the fun of ruling themselves. Miners are as fond of
playing at law making and dispensing as French novelists are of
"playing at Providence." They say, also, that he was not elected by the
voice of the people, but that his personal friends nominated and voted
for him unknown to the rest of the community. This is perhaps true. At
least, I have heard some of the most respectable men here observe that
had they been aware of the Squire's name being up as candidate for an
office which, though insignificant elsewhere, is one of great
responsibility in a mining community, they should certainly have gone
against his election.

Last night I had the honor of an introduction to "_His_ Honor." Imagine
a middle-sized man, quite stout, with a head disproportionately large,
crowned with one of those immense foreheads eked out with a slight
baldness (wonder if, according to the flattering popular superstition,
he has _thought_ his hair off) which enchant phrenologists, but which
one _never_ sees brooding above the soulful orbs of the great ones of
the earth; a smooth, fat face, gray eyes, and prominent chin, the _tout
ensemble_ characterized by an expression of the utmost meekness and
gentleness, which expression contrasts rather funnily with a satanic
goatee,--and you have our good Squire.

You know, M., that it takes the same _kind_ of power--dif