8o OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



water-rights system. Small-beer politics, the 

 curse of this fair land, set the mark of the 

 Beast on all 'rights.' Tom pays honest money 

 in fair taxes ; but Manuel, the mayordomo, 

 has other fish to fry, by order, probably, of 

 some politician, who for the nonce holds the 

 cards, or perhaps for more substantial reasons. 

 So Tom gazes distracted and helpless upon 

 shrivelling trees and parched alfalfa, while 

 Dick and Harry, not more righteous than 

 he, batten in green pastures and swelling 

 orchards. The reiterated information that he 

 is being imposed upon soon begins to wear 

 for the ' tenderfoot ' the tiresome aspect of a 

 truism. * Tell me something new !' he cries, 

 in the accents of the goaded. 



It may be there are yet some left in Israel 

 who confound politics, as they are generally 

 known, with patriotism. If so, let them live 

 and learn in the Far West. 



For weeks before the fall elections, we 

 ranchers were desperate for want of water. 

 Early in the summer the river had run dry, 

 and the rainy season took a seat behind the 

 sun and grinned at us. Towards election-time 

 a storm or two in the mountains filled up the 



