WESTERN CATTLE LANDS. 343 



thinned out ; the galloping cowboy more seldom requires the 

 attention of the sheriff; and revelry and pistol practice scarcely 

 ever break in upon the stillness of night. But the higher-class 

 citizens stand manfully by their ship, put a good face on the 

 passing depression, deck their stores no less temptingly, and 

 dress themselves more sprucely than ever. There is a good 

 time coming ; and they mean to hold on for it. 



Very law-abiding and quiet are these narrowed communities. 

 They bring their little differences peacefully into well-consti- 

 tuted courts with apparent relish gratified no doubt by the 

 knowledge that for the benefit of society they are breaking the 

 terrible monotony of eventless existence, pleased possibly that 

 they can still do something to keep their lawyers alive, and 

 secure in the fact that in a colony so closely woven and so 

 limited it is impossible that any enlightened jury shall be con- 

 stituted so as to contain not one staunch friend reliable to the 

 end. And as in case of litigation the county has to dip her 

 hand into her impoverished pocket for the bulk of the costs 

 incurred, it follows that legal proceedings are a favourite and 

 not necessarily too-expensive a luxury for individuals indulging. 



Thus litigation generally ends in smoke and is consumed in 

 argument, that, however logical and convincing to the un- 

 biassed listener, is, to say the least, a waste of energy as far as 

 the twelve are concerned these being quite capable of making 

 up their minds on the case at issue without such extraneous 

 assistance as may be offered by mere evidence and argument. 

 Rely upon it, the scales of justice in a small community were 

 never meant to be handled by twelve men at one time at all 

 events in Western America. Is not Justice invariably portrayed 

 as single-handed, and moreover blindfolded among her neigh- 

 bours ? Even in criminal cases, a verdict is very rare. Judge 

 Lynch would hang ten villains where one is now passed to the 

 penitentiary at the bidding of constitutional procedure. But 

 Judge Lynch seldom goes into court for nothing. He is at 

 least prompt, and in all probability no more inaccurate than th 

 machinery that has taken his place. For a long time he was 



