The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-02-15
Vacation Eotes-No. 4

vacation Aotes-No. <
Hartford. in spite % lis active enterprises i be
coming more aud more q community Of literati and
retired business men. and IS chiefly ATTRACTIVE for
it, charming aud iuiellisen; society. l. J. The
home Of Mrs. stowe and Mark Twain and Warner
the writer OF travels and the author Of Back Log
Studies. Being 4 Boy, aud other well-kuown books.
Here the great Bushnell worked and developed
bis liberal and sensible theology. Beautiful aad
stately residences abound. not crowded together
and pressing on the street. but in ample grounds
with trees and lawns and GoweIs.
We visited the house Of Mark Twain who was
absent with his family in Europe. Il Is built OF
red brick Of an odd and unusual style, but ex-
ceedingly picturesque in its effect, with deep YER
andas, Jutting gables and cosy balconies away up
near the roof. The inside is finished in black wal
nut and is convenient and luxurious 10 the last de-
tail. The library has a large fireplace with u
carved oak mantle piece reaching to the ceiling,
which was obtained from an old mansion in Scot
laud. Over the library Is a study for the use OF the
humorist in his work Of book making il is said
however that inspiration does not readily CONE =
him there, but that when he yis&as$S accomplish
work worthy Of hjwa&s u fetires TO his barn.
We also Called on Mr. Warner, who lives in q
litNe old brick cottage half hid in the trees and
'EJ 49, Nt~4AN @LA A" LIS HasAOA - u NAAAADSAf
shop with treasures from many lands. He had
just returned from the Adirondacks where he has
CLEANED material for sketches interesting even = . ~
readers of the literature of that much written about
country and which they have already had the ben
eft of in the Atlantic Monthly.
\ drive back < of the city gave US a fine view Of
its roofs and spires and of the beautiful rolling
country that surrounds it, with the scattered
groups of trees, and the Connecticut river in the
distance, but without the foreground of ocean and
background of mountains so essential TO Hawaiian
landscapes.
NUMBER 5.
Railroad travelling in sleeping cars is like voy-
aging at sea in both cases the passengers form a
temporary community, sharing the same ex-
periences and sympathizing with each other in the
same hopes and fears. This social feature robs
even the monotonous overland journey of much of
its WEAKNESS. The occupants OF a car become in
a sense members Of one family the acquaintance
grows day by day, and the last days of the jour-
ney are often more really enjoyable than the first.
Such a trip affords good opportunities for study
ing people. Some of your companions are good
and some are wicked, perhaps, but all are on
their good behaviour, and you cannot always tell
the sheep from the goats, and sometimes find the
greater satisfaction in the society of those whom
you suspect, according to the ordinary ways of
Judging, of belonging to the latter class. Such a
community is also likely TO be very cosmopolitan.
Representatives of all nations meet and fraternise.
Now and then your n~eighbor is some celebrity
whom all like to say they have seen.
On our trip east, Edison joined the train at
Cheyenne. and rode with it as far as Omaha. In
appearance he is as different as possible from the
ideal one naturally forms of the great inventor
awkward, boyish and carelessly, almost slovenly
dressed. he would pass at sight for q brakeman
rather than a genius. In conversation, he has an
indolent, Indifferent manner ; perhaps he despairs
of hearing from the ordinary talker anything half
IS absorbing as his own inspired thoughts on the
great topics which he more than any other is so
wonderfully mastering.
Coming west we had the company of a German
family, consisting of the parents, three daughters
ranging from thirteen to twenty years old, and one
son who now lived in California and had gone to
Germany to bring them over. None of them ex-
cept the son could speak English, the youngest
indeed, a pretty brunette. had studied English at
school and spoke it q little but very timidly.
Two other grown up sons and q other OF the old
lady were living in California and had been alb
sent from Germany for many years. This interest
ing family had but one objection known to the
rest Of us. They were accustomed to take their
] daily lulcQ IN the car anu Lduc Il generous size VI
Limberger cheese a prominent part OF the repast.
Now this kind of cheese may be very nice to cat
believe it is, but it is hardly a success as a fra
GRANGE, especially in q closed car the fact, there
fore, that on these occasions the other passengers
retired to the extreme ends OF the apartment. and
even into the adjoining cars, needs no further ex-
PLANTATION. As the days wore on, and the distance
from the beloved Fatherland increased, the Old
lady had severe attacks of homesickness and low
spirits. and it was feared that the trip might be
too much for her. But on the last day of the jour
ney during the rafting down hill ride from the
Sierras into California. several incidents occurred
which did her n great deal of good and placed her
out of danger. At COlfaX, one of her long lost
sons suddenly appeared and was folded to the
mothers heart, and kissed and caressed with
emotion too great for words and only family eX-
pressed by the tears which freely flowed from her
eyes. The rest of the family warmly joined in
these demonstrations Of afectionate welcome,
while the interest and sympathy of the car
community were so great that Il good part OF
them had to cry too. At Sacramento the remain
ing son surprised them, which necessitated a repeti-
ton of the tableau of the morning, and again at
Stockton, where the brother appeared on the
scene. These successive surprises were doubtless
arranged by the California members of the family,
] ana were q great SUCCESS vi OH ludt udy Z
was no happier woman in the St"te then this brave
old lady.
\ Belgian Consul in our car, on his way to his
Office in Japan, was an interesting study when
other subjects failed. He spoke broken English,
but was clearly OF good family and well educated.
He was something of a dandy. and washed his
face in scented water, and got himself up every
day in faultless style, regardless OF the inconveni-
ences Of car life. His restlessness was extreme,
and he was constantly in search of something
amusing. but nothing could satisfy him very long
at n time. He had hardly continuity sufficient for
playing cards. While on the plains, one day,
buGaloes became the topic OF conversation. when be
asked. how much You link it cost to get one
live buffalo - Some one replied oh, l don't
know. n good deal I guess" Upon which he