California Pastoral, 1769-1848 (Classic Reprint)

That which constitutes history, properly so called, is in great part omitted from works on the subject. Herbert Spencer. BEFORE penetrating into the mysteries of our mod ern lotos-land, or entering upon a description of the golden age of California, if indeed any age characterized by ignorance and laziness can be called golden, let us glance at life and society elsewhere on this planet, particularly as it existed in Spain and Mexico, and within the charmed circles of the highest earthly intelligences, these places and conditions being more intimately than any others connected with the spiritual conquest and occupation of Alta California in the eighteenth century. Great as is the difference between men and races on the globe, we are apt sometimes to make it more than it is. Especially is this the case with regard to mental culture, and the progress of peoples in arts and indus tries. It is an interesting study to place, side by side, at the same points of time, widely separated societies, and note their outworking of the problem of progress, each independent of and without any knowledge of the existence of the other, and yet both apparently driven forward by the same forces, and building, like bees their cells, upon one model. And nowhere is there a more befitting field for such investigation CAL. PAST. VOL. I.
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

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Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.

Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the aged text.