Norwich bulletin., 1909-07-10

CRUDE MI. Well. As there were nun
dreds of people in the town who would
have given anything for the privilege
Of making a trip on a United States
cruiser, lost no time in communicate
ing With Mr.. Well. We went on board
about ten o'clock on the following
morning and were received with all
the honors ext ended on such occa-
sions. The admiral told us that he had
been obliged to leave the hotel much
earlier in the evening than he would
otherwise have done in order to es-
cape the opportunities of ladies and
gentlemen who were anxious TO take
the passage with him. Mr.. Well and
myself were. however, the only ones
to enjoy that honor, and with the
thoughtfulness which is proverbia1
with him, Mr.. WE'LL gave q banquet IN
the Red Room of the Bohemian club
to the officers OF the Philadelphia, and
grand banquet 1t was.
In 1899 accom- panied Mr.. Henry X
Field in a delightful visit to Yosemite
Valley The party consisted Of MIR.
and Mrs. Field, Mr.. William B, Turner,
vice president of the New England
Life Insurance company of Boston;
Mrs Turner, DR.. H. J. Stuart, then
organfst Trinity church; his daugh-
ter and myself, and it was generally
conceded that we were the jolliest
crowd that ever went into the valley.
Governor Gage and the park commits
sionerS were making their annual tour
Of inspection, which gave added eclat
to our visit. In the rear Of the hotel
there was a spacious platform given
over in the daylight hours to the
plebian utilitarism of drying clothes
for the hotel laundry, but at night it
was devoted to dancing. 1t was
free democracy, and until twelve
o'clock ladies and gentlemen. guests
and dining-room help, enjoyed them
selves together. took part in all the
square dances and always had part
ner. The round dances l found made
me dizzy, but my time did not go to
waste. for / made q point OF accom-
panying the governor or some other
of the distinguished guests in search
of refreshments, and renewing our as
surances of distinguished considera-
ton for each other. Those lovely
evenings can never be forgotten by
those who participated In them. Next
to the admiration of the beauty and
grandeur of Yosemite by day, will al
ways be the recollection OF those de-
lightful evenings spent on the plat
form OF a Chinese laundry.
The following year l visited Mount
Tamalpias for the first time, although
I came to California In 1851, and
Tamalpais is in sight of where I am
writing these memoirs. 1t was at the
Invitation of Mr.. H. X. Field that
made the trip; otherwise / do not
think should ever have thought of it.
During my long life / have seen a
good many crooked things, from a
politician up, but never anything quite
SO crooked as the railroad that con-
veys visitors to the summit of Mount
Tamalpais. Frequently, on the way
UP, the passenger Is in doubt whether
he is going or coming back, but you
"get there, all the same" and after
refreshments in the neat and we'll
kept tavern, you can gaze out upon
one of the finest views to be seen on
this side of the continent It stretches
from Mount Diaiblo to the Pacific
Ocean, taking in all the cities, towns
and villages within a hundred miles.
No one visiting San Francisco or its
vicinity should forego the pleasure OF
this trip.
The most enjoyable and satisfactory
Fourth of July observance have ever
taken part in was on the banks OF
the Russian river In the year 1900, at
camp owned and occupied by Mr..
Henry X. Field, his family and init
mate friends. The camp was perfect
in all its appointments, and furnished
with all the comforts of a home, and
the company the most merry and
light-heartedi Of sny that that has has ever Se
fore the Fourth, Charles K. Field and
Richard Hotaling were expected to
ioin the gay and festive throng, and
ais they were two of the joliest MEM
bers of the Bohemian club, 1t was pro-
posed to receive them with all the
honors not in use for previous arriv-
ais. A procession was formed and
headed by an improvised band fur
nished with instruments gathered
from the cooks kitchen, the pantry
and the dining table. The newcomers
were met at the edge OF the grove.
Darkness had already fallen, and the
dim light gave the assembly an I'M
pressiveness which it would not nave
possessed otherwise. With the excep-'
ton of music by the band" silence
reigned while the solemn procession
marched into camp, where the order
of "E. Clumpus Vitus" was duly con-
ferred by myself, as the Dandy Grand
Sachem' of the camp. After taking
the solemn obligation never to reveal
anything they did not know them
selves, they were declared ull-fiedged
members of the fright Royal Russian
River Roysterers," and then the fun
commenced. The following day being
the Fourth, the ladies of the camp de-
cided to present to Mr.. Field q testi-
monial of their high regard and esteem
of his untiring efforts in their behalf,
and with that object in view they had
visited a tin shop and purchased q tin
gallon measure, contracting to have
two extra handles added, thus forming
the loving-cup that was to be present.
ed. The recipient suspected nothing
of the surprise that was IN store for
him until the company had assembled
in the dining tent, when the cup was
produced wrapped in a gunny sack,
and during the reading OF a poem
written for the occasion, was solemnly
unveiled and duly presented amidst
applause and three cheers for H. *.
Field.
Another very delightful Fourth of
July was spent at Byron Springs with
the L. R. Meads. This is one Of my
'1ater-on" pleasures that feel should
be recorded.
When the Aloha Press association
visited San Francisco and was enter
tanned by the Press club. of which 4!
am an honorary and, I hope, honored
member, I made many warm friend
ships among the members, and have
kept up lively correspondence since
with one OF the charming women who
accompanied the association on its
trip.
Indeed, during all these interesting
years my life has been full of enjoy
ment, and 1t falls to the lot of but
few to have drawn around them the
enduring friendships such as 1 have
been blessed with, and prize them far
above worldly riches. For tits a grand
thing to have the good opinion of our
fellow-men I don't remember Of
ever having any desire to accumulate
riches, nor do 1 remember of there
ever having been a prospect Of it, ex-
cept when I bought stock In the Julia
mine.
I have also found that to be an at
tentive listener Is oftentimes more de.