Hello. I have a sentence that needs to be clarified.
"In that country which begins at the foot of the east slope of the Sierras and spreads out by less and less lofty hill ranges toward the Great Basin, it is possible to live with great zest, to have red blood and delicate joys, to pass and repass about one's daily performance an area that would make an Atlantic seaboard State, and that with no peril, and, according to our way of thought, no particular difficulty."
First, why is the author using "an area that would make"?
Is the Atlantic seaboard state referring to California???
"to pass and repass about one's daily performance an area that would make an Atlantic seaboard State, and that with no peril, and, according to our way of thought, no particular difficulty."
What does the above sentence mean?
To live day by day in an Atlantic seaboard State can be done easily without peril?
Thanks in advance.
An Atlantic seaboard state are any of the states along the EAST coast of our country, from Maine to Florida. The author is comparing this land in eastern California and across Nevada to Utah (not a very mountainous area overall) with the eastern seaboard states.
To understand "an area that would make" -- just imagine the sentence without some of the intervening phrases:
"an area that would make an Atlantic seaboard state ... no particular difficulty."
Overall, the author seems to be saying that in the land east of the Sierra Nevada range, one can live a full life with adventures and joy -- a life that makes life in an Atlantic seaboard state look like a breeze. (Maybe he means no challenge there?)
Other teachers may have more comments for you.
=)
My own error in my first sentence!
It should read, "An Atlantic seaboard state is any state along ... "
The phrase "an area that would make" is used by the author in order to compare the size or extent of the land in eastern California and across Nevada to Utah to that of an Atlantic seaboard state. The author is suggesting that the area being discussed is so vast and expansive that it could easily encompass the size of an entire state along the East Coast (Atlantic seaboard states).
In this context, "the Atlantic seaboard state" does not specifically refer to California. Instead, it refers to any state along the East Coast of the United States, from Maine to Florida.
The sentence "to pass and repass about one's daily performance an area that would make an Atlantic seaboard State, and that with no peril, and, according to our way of thought, no particular difficulty" means that it is possible to live and move around this vast area in eastern California and across Nevada to Utah with ease and without any danger or significant challenges. The author suggests that one can live a fulfilling and adventurous life in this region, which is portrayed as being far easier and less demanding than living in an Atlantic seaboard state.