The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-25
SOME NEW BOOKS.
CaIirornia and Alaska.

California and Alaska.
Perhaps tho most luxurious and doubtless
ono OF the most enjoyable railroad journey!
ever accomplished, was that ade by DR.. VIII
LIAM SEWARD WEBB. his family. and a small
party OF friends, In the sprinR and early sum.
mer Of last year. The record Of this trip has
been preserved in book. California and Alaska
and Over Tie Canadian Pacific Rdthoav. written
by DR.. Webb. and published By the Putnams.
The volume In which Dr. Webb's narrative Ia
contained 10 beautiful specimen OF the book
makers art Five hundred copies 10 the limit
OF the edition. Among the numerous illustra-
lions OF the work are four India proof etchings,
one by II. C. Minor, representing scene on
Lake Louise one by @ Y. Turner OF the Mis-
sion Of San Louis Roy; ono OF the north arm Of
BiscotasnR Lake, by J. G. Nicoll. and one OF
the Muir Glacier in Alaska, by II, Swain Gift
ford. These are particularly fine. and the pho
Geographic reproductions almost as numerous
as the leaves Of tho text. are well done and
full OF interest
DIR. Webbs party consisted OF twelve per-
sons and included, besides himself Mrs. Webb
three children, Mr.. and Mrs. Purdy. DR.. Nc
Lane. Julian Kean. George Bird. and Lewis
and Frank Webb. DR.. Webb's brothers The
journey was made In a special train OF four
cars. The first was q combination car. Its
forward part was baggage room, and 1t in
cluded besides sleeping room for the cooks
and porters, a bathroom. and q largo smoking
room containing plano desk. "a library, and
compartments for guns. rods. and sporting
paraphernalla. Next came dining car, next
car occupied by Mrs Webb, the three chill
drsn. two nurses and maid, and last the new
private car Ellsmere, occupied by the rest Of
tho party. Col. Oscar Eustmond. veteran OF
the civil war. had charge OF the train by day
and a Pinkorton detective looked out Mt night
Two experienced cooks and eight skilled por-
ters went along The start was made from the
Grand Central Station on April 6.
Railroad Journeys have not been thought ut
all times to be everything that heart could de- |
sro. but this was journey under peculiarly |
favorable circumstances. Not only was there |
no accident. and no inconvenience Of impor- |
tance, but travel was q pleasure The train was |
special. running as it pleased. and having |
the right OF way. From St. Thomas to Wind
sor. between Niagara Fas and Detroit. Ill
miles was spanned In 107 minutes, and the run
from SUSPENSION Bridge TO Kensington. near
Chicago, 497A miles, was made In IL hours aud
II minutes.
Many interesting details OF the trip are
recorded by DIR. Webb. The route was by way
OF Denver and Santa F6 into Southern Cali
fornia considerable stop was made at Mon
terey. From there the journey was continued
into the Yosemite Valley, to San Francisco. to
uoltuoIu IdluoTnld anu mOntduu' 10 Or raul,
into Manitoba. to Vancouver, on q chartered
steamer all about the Alaskan waters, to Mon
treal and finally home on June 10. The most
apartment in the train proved to
be the smoking room in the combination car
This was the room for general gathering in
the evening. Perhaps outsiders were prevented
from hearing 1t by the roar Of tho train, but the
piano was pretty constantly IN use. No matter
whether the rate OF speed was mile minute
or somewhat less. there was always music In
the smoking room after dinner. The habit OF | ,
spontaneous balance came to everybody with
In u day or two aftor the start and the general ,
behavior and occupations OF the travellers ,
we're very much they would have been in :
he rooms OF a stationary building. One Sun ,
lay evening. in the wilderness, while the train 7
was at a standsti for some reason or other. an :
Did settler presented himself with an apology g
He had been attracted by the music in the q
smoking room. The piano was an irresistible 4
novelty on the prairie. and he had not heard /
lynn singing for many years. lie was hos l.
,itably entertained 1t was seldom that the +
'arty were without one or two guests at dim | v
Ter. The cooking was most successful. and h
he dinners were the occasion OF constant de- c
light and pride. In the wilds Of the Canadian '
Dominion there was hunting and fishing Just r
efficient to be interesting. Not only did every Il
'ody keep well. but everybodys health and fl
pirits were improved by tho journey. DR.. Il
Webb affords q vvacious description of the r
ountry traversed, as we'll as Of the personal Ii
experiences of the travelling party. His chron- n
lie is ample, entertaining. and valuable. "