Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           ItwastheFake,theeternal,irrepressibleSham;glib,nimble,ubiquitous,trickedoutinalltheparaphernaliaofimposture,anendlessdefileofcharlatansthatpassedinterminablybeforethegazeofthecity,marshalledby“ladypresidents,”exploitedbyclubsofwomen,byliterarysocieties,readingcircles,andcultureorganisations.TheattentiontheFakereceived,thetimedevotedtoit,themoneywhichitabsorbed,wereincredible.Itwasallonethatimpostorafterimpostorwasexposed;itwasallonethattheclubs,thecircles,thesocietieswereprovedbeyonddoubttohavebeenswindled.ThemorethePhilistinepressofthecityrailedandguyed,themorethewomenralliedtothedefenceoftheirprotegeofthehour.Thattheirfavouritewaspersecuted,wastothemaveritablerapture.Promptlytheyinvestedtheapostleofculturewiththeglamourofamartyr.

           Thefakirsworkedthecommunityasshell-gametrickstersworkacountyfair,departingwithburstingpocket-books,passingonthewordtothenextinline,assuredthattheplacewasnotworkedout,knowingwellthattherewasenoughforall.

           Morefrequentlythepublicofthecity,unabletothinkofmorethanonethingatonetime,prostrateditselfatthefeetofasingleapostle,butatothermoments,suchasthepresent,whenaFlowerFestivaloraMillion-DollarFairarousedenthusiasminallquarters,theoccasionwasoneofgalafortheentireFake.Thedecayedprofessors,virtuosi,litterateurs,andartiststhrongedtotheplaceenmasse.Theirclamourfilledalltheair.