366 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 
bling was in 1854 commonly and openly practised in all the 
towns of the state; now it is prohibited as a crime, and is 
practised only in secret, and is a rare offence save in the 
mining towns. Horse-racing is common, and the state has 
some of the best thorough-bred horses in the world. Gam- 
bling was from 1849 to 1854 a common public amusement in 
all the towns and mining camps. In San Francisco a dozen of 
the largest and finest halls on the first floor, with doors always 
open to the street, and in several cases extending across whole 
blocks and opening upon two opposite streets, were occupied 
by gamblers, and were filled by crowds of people every day— 
no exception for Sunday—from dark until long after midnight. 
Fine bands of music and voluptuous pictures were among the 
common attractions of these places, and some of the tables had 
handsome women to deal the cards or gather in the money. 
Gambling is now prohibited by law, but is practised openly in 
the little mining towns. 
Some years ago bull-fights and fights of bears against bulls 
Were not uncommon, but they have gone out of favor, and 
nothing is heard of such exhibitions now. 
8 257. Luxurious Living.—The mode of living among Cali- 
fornians is luxurious. They all try to make the most of life. 
Everybody wants a neat house, elegant tableware, fine ma- 
hogany furniture, Brussels carpets, and a good table. In the 
towns especially, the people live well, even the poorer me- 
chanics and common laborers. Every man dresses in broad- 
cloth, and nearly every woman in silk. The exceptions are so 
few as scarcely to be worthy of notice. Gold watches are 
worn by draymen and washerwomen. In every occupation 
men get rich, and stingy men and misers are rare. 
§ 258. Health—Of the Americans in California, it may be 
remarked that they generally have the same marks as the 
Americans in the Eastern states. Their eyes are deep set, 
their foreheads high, their features regular and finely cut, their 
faces expressive and free from grimace, their lips thin, their 
mouths grim, their bodies tall, slim, and slightly bent in the 
