Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-10
SAN FRANCISCO TO YOSEMITE.
An EngIishmans Account of the Trip

Inc Journey from Oan francisco Is very
firing and fabulously expensive, writes an
Epglishman to the Saturday Roric'C.
1t is, however, in some parts extremely
interesting The first half hour or so is
pleasantly spent ON board gigantic fer
ry-boat, built high out of the water, like
the steamers that ply on the Hudson riv-
er. Part of the lower and principal deck
is reserved for ladies "gents" are there
fore requested not to spit upon that Sc
lect portion of the vessel. Considering
the limitless expanse of ocean on which
the expectorating skill of the Californian
may be practised, considering also the
large expanse of deck which is still devo-
ted to that pastime, it is not, we venture
to think, unreasonable to ask that "gents"
who insist on obtruding their company on
the fair sex should only do 80 ON the terms
indicated. The notice is, however, little
regarded. Habit, we suppose, is too
strong.
Leaving the ferry, seven or eight hours
in the train over dusty and dreary plans
brings the traveller to MADEIRA, his halt
ing place for the night. He may either
leave San Francisco in the afternoon and
arrive at MADEIRA during the small hours
of the morning, in which case he passes
the night in sleeping-car dropped at
the station, or starting in the morning he
may arrive about sunset. In the latter
case he will pass the night at the inn
close by, whence starts the coach in which
he will spend the whole of the following
day, with brief intervals for meals. If
not yet accustomed to the sturdy indie
pendence Of the American character, he
will be surprised on alighting from the
train to find that no steps at all are being
taken for the removal of his luggage
from the conspicuous position it occu-
pies by the side of the line. Its fate, he
will discover, is subject of no interest
whatever to any one but the owner. He
is fortunate if he finds lad with nothing
"pertickler" to do who will lend help
ing hand.
On entering the inn he will receive a
practical lesson in the results of monop-
oily. No obsequious waiter or pretty
chambermaid comes forward to learn and
minister to his wishes there is no "man.
ager" to appeal to like that important
parsonage at the hotel at San Francisco,
who is instantly recognized from his pho.
tograph hung up in the railway stations
next to that of the President 80 oui
traveller betakes himself to the bar
where alone there is any sign of life
Here, indeed, is the proprietor +; but it is
as difficult to attract his attention as it is
in another place to catch the Speaker
eye. However, should convenient lul
occur in the demand for liquor, the re
quest for bed and board will receive at
tention, the stranger will be informed o
the dinner hour, and let into possession
of small bedroom tenanted during til,
hot season by mosquitoes of good appe
tite, against whose voracity no unfai
precaution has been in the way of provid
ing curtains. The insects and their pre-,
are left to fight it out between them OF
equal terms.
The coach starts at 7 next morning
numbering vehicle drawn by four, six, o
eight horses, according to the number c
the passengers and the state of the road
1t is to be regretted that the Father of hi
, Country did not, like Napoleon or Gene
, raj Wade, of road-making fame, use hi
great influence in educating his country
men to appreciate the advantages of
good road. That from MADEIRA to til
Yosemite would in any civilized countr
,, except America be called bad road whe
at its best, which is at the beginning c
: the tourist season. The repairs the
. made are calculated to nicely so as
/. last throughout the season, leaving til
= road at the end of it in condition jul
. : short of dangerous. Consequently tn
. coaches are necessarily built with vie
:, rather to strength and solidity than to IL
= comfort of the passengerS. The wei
y u and tear, the humping and the jolting il
hicted on man and beast and carriage |
, m average American road beggars
n scription. On the coaches that run b.
= tween MADEIRA and the Yosemite the tou
" ist should pray for plenty of fellow-pas
engers-for his best chance 70 escape
;, bruising is to be securely wedged in vii
. a dozen other victims, the .fatter the be
!, ter.
= But If the roads are capable of il
/" provement, it must be acknowledged til
a the driving is admirable. The pace al
y the accuracy with which team of eig
~ a. horses is driven round the sharpest cury
- :, is truly wonderful-an experience, on t
10 "a whole, perhaps more exciting than agrt
a a. BILE. The excitement eliminates whe
p; as often happens, the coaches to and frt
as the valley do not meet at the appoint
m as spot. In such cases the coach that
40 40 rives first, pursues, after brief pau
~, ~ its onward course, and is liable at a
~ turn of the road to encounter the ptl
Se "a coach. Now as the curves are remarl
m ams bly, sharp, and the road is many plat
H., ~ too narrow for two coaches to pass, a q
~, aoulty sometimes arises which is OIL
bs "s surmounted with much trouble, and oc
I 'a sionally at considerable risk to one Of
q coaches. Indeed, when the two tea
ba happen to meet, as some day in all p
mn mo0 liability they will, at the apex of shi
'o. m curve on q steep hill, there will be trou
10. M with both coaches, and the population
A a the United States will undergo sud-
reduction.
ed FlOtsam! (I492,
mt =, v.,ono