Thebusinessportionofthetown，centringaboutMainStreet，wasalwayscrowded。Annixter，arrivingatthePostOffice，foundhimselfinvolvedinasceneofswiftlyshiftingsightsandsounds。Saddlehorses，farmwagons——theinevitableStudebakers——
buggiesgreywiththedustofcountryroads，buckboardswithsquashesandgrocerypackagesstowedundertheseat，two-wheeledsulkiesandtrainingcarts，werehitchedtothegnawedrailingsandzinc-sheathedtelegraphpolesalongthecurb。Hereandthere，ontheedgeofthesidewalk，werebicycles，wedgedintobicyclerackspaintedwithcigaradvertisements。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。Theelectriccarline，thecity’sboast，didabriskbusiness，itscarswhirringfromendtoendofthestreet，withajanglingofbellsandamoaningplaintofgearing。OnthestonebulkheadsofthegrassplataroundthenewCityHall，theusualloaferssat，chewingtobacco，swappingstories。Intheparkweretheinevitablearrayofnursemaids，skylarkingcouples，andraggedlittleboys。Asinglepoliceman，ingreycoatandhelmet，friendandacquaintanceofeverymanandwomaninthetown，stoodbytheparkentrance，leaninganelbowonthefencepost，twirlinghisclub。
Butinthecentreofthebestbusinessblockofthestreetwasathree-storybuildingofroughbrownstone，setoffwithplateglasswindowsandgold-letteredsigns。Oneoftheselatterread，PacificandSouthwesternRailroad，FreightandPassengerOffice，whileanothermuchsmaller，beneaththewindowsofthesecondstoryboretheinscription，P。andS。W。LandOffice。