Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-01-01
WESTERN LETTER.
Editor of The Monitor:
No. 5


far famed University of California at
Berkeley, only a short distance away.
Oakland has a population of some
10000. Many of San Francisco's
wealthy business men live here, con-
sequently there are many fine resi-
dences, beautiful parks and drives.
AS we did the city, the University
buildings and grounds very thoroughly
when we were out before chose
instead for the days outing, visit to
the home of Joaquin Miller, the ''Poet
Of the Sierras," and one of my favor
lite authors.
Travellers from all parts of the
country would consider visit to Bos-
ton, Cambridge and other suburban
cities incomplete without view Of
the homes of our beloved poets, Long
fellow and Lowell, and to show these
was always a part of the program Of
the entertainers, and since their death,
loving hearts and willing feet still
turn toward the homes which once
sheltered them, as toward a sacred
shrine. SO it was with some surprise
that among the large number of San
Franciscoans I questioned, not one
could give us directions how to find
their near by poet. We met with the
same result in questioning the Oak
land people inseveral instances, and
it is among OakIand's suburban hills
that his homsis located. Finally we
bethought ourselves of Mr.. william
Barnard, a scholarly gentleman for
merly a teaeher in Peacham, VT, who
was very lind in showing us the city
OF Oakland when we were in Califor-
mia eight years ago. We dropped
into his of7ce and here we got just the
informatisn desired, given in clear
and concise manner, he pointing out
the exacs1ocation on the map. After
exploding the different car lines to
take toreach the nearest point to the
home, be said there wodld be quite a
long walk to take to reach it, but he
chesrfly added, 'Etbe walk will do you
good; and the poet will be glad to
welcome you." had some doubts as
"a the latter statement, for when a
man places himself remote from his
fellons, and in altitude far above
hbm, 4 thought it might be to escape
intfudipg visitors However 1 was
intsrested in seeing the spot where &c
nany beautiful thoughts were coined
We went to the end of the car Lire
& as directed, and then enquired the
Walking distance. On learning it was
two miles, we began to look about fol
some public conveyance to take III
up, bat our search was in vain.
soon espied a woman with a horse
and a two seated carriage which she
was about to enter. accosted her
stating our predicament, and asked i
she could be hired to take US up. She
answered, no, but said she lived il
the direction of his home, but not OF
the highway leading to it, and if We
didn't mind going across fields tC
reach il, we could ride with her and
welcome So we accepted with cheer
fulness, but when we reached her des-
tinahon and received directions how
to proceed, what was our oismay to
find the aforesaid field as steep as a
housetop, and very lengthy. But here
we were far from the main road, and
saw no other way but to attempt the
ascent. After climbing some distance
with frequent rests, the dry crumpled
grass made footing SO uncertain
circled round the hill some distance
out of my way to board fence by
which 1 drew myself up, wadine
through scraggy sage brush part o.
the way. When we reached the tor
of the hill we found our way obstruct
ed by barbed wire fence, SO we hat
to play that we belonged to the rep
tile kingdom, for the time being, anC
crawled under. After resuming The
posture belonging TO man, and shak'
ing the dust from our feet and clothes
as testimony against that field, We
voted that hunting poets, thus far
had proved the sternest kind of prose
But from here on, the remaining
twenty minutes, walk was compare
lively easy. On reaching the spot
knocked timidly at the wide open door
ofthe authors home, and then again al
the open door Of an adjoining cot
tage or wing, but no response. But
had a good view Of the exterior and
interior Of this home with its simple
appointments, as plain as Che rum
blest of our Lakeside summer homes.
As I stood wondering if'my'oli hid
been in vain, kindly voice from a
nearby cottage called, "Come ia here
dear" Well, We both went in, as she
called Mr.. Webster to coma -too. to