Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Upontheasphaltsidewalkitself,softandstickywiththemorning’sheat,wasacontinuousmovement.Menwithlargestomachs,wearinglinencoatsbutnovests,labouredponderouslyupanddown.Girlsinlawnskirts,shirtwaists,andgardenhats,wenttoandfro,invariablyincouples,cominginandoutofthedrugstore,thegrocerystore,andhaberdasher’s,orlingeringinfrontofthePostOffice,whichwasonacornerundertheI.O.O.F.hall.Youngmen,inshirtsleeves,withbrown,wickercuff-protectorsovertheirforearms,andpencilsbehindtheirears,bustledinfrontofthegrocerystore,anxiousandpreoccupied.Averyoldman,aMexican,inraggedwhitetrousersandbarefeet,satonahorse-blockinfrontofthebarbershop,holdingahorsebyaropearounditsneck.AChinamanwentby,teeteringundertheweightofhismarketbasketsslungonapoleacrosshisshoulders.Intheneighbourhoodofthehotel,theYosemiteHouse,travellingsalesmen,drummersforjewelryfirmsofSanFrancisco,commercialagents,insurancemen,well-dressed,metropolitan,debonair,stoodaboutcrackingjokes,orhurriedinandoutoftheflappingwhitedoorsoftheYosemitebarroom.TheYosemite’busandCity’buspassedupthestreet,onthewayfromthemorningtrain,eachwithitstwoorthreepassengers.Averynarrowwagon,belongingtotheCole&ColemoreHarvesterWorks,wentby,loadedwithlongstripsofironthatmadeahorribledinastheyjarredovertheunevennessofthepavement.