The Republican journal., 1915-12-23

Sam had arrived from Sacramento, and
though his time was as we'll occupied
with business as ours with sightseeing,
we managed to breakfast together each
morning, and dine and go to the theater
in the evening. enjoyed the San Fran
cisco cabarets, where we ate to the ac-
compartment of dancing, exhibition
cake walking, and music of all kinds.
Of the eatables, we liked the Pacific
coast crab very much, and found him on
the menu everywhere, but | cannot
speak so highly of the Pacific coast lob
ster If fact it is not a real lobster at
all, only sort of large awtish, and to
one familiar with the finer flavor of the
Atlantic product, It's Pacific cousin was a
sad disappointment. Tamales and
euchiladas were apparently favorite
dish and We're sold as commoonnlyi the
streets as the familiar ''hot dog" in the
East. They looked very appetzing in
their corn-husk wrappings, so one day
we screwed up our courage and ordered
tamaies at lunch counter. After one
taste we suddenly discovered that we
had lost our appetltes and beat hasty
retreat, deciding that taste for tamales
needs as much cultivation as that for
olives. The olives, by the way, that
were served on the California coast were
the so-caled ripe ones, quite different in
appearance and flavor from what We
commonly get in the East. ! did not
like them, but Will voted them far su-
perior to the green variety.
The flower stands on nearly every corner
were fascinating places to me, and the
novelty of buying beautiful roses for ten
and fifteen cents dozen, with maiden
hair fern and tinfoil for the stems thrown
in, was a delightful one. Twenty-Five
cents appeared to be an eXorbitant price,
and for that one could get the very
finest blooms. INDUCED in fresh bou-
quet nearly every day, and felt very
luxurious.
We saw some me things at the
theatres, notably very excellent vaude-
vile at the Orpheum, and Chauncey o.
colt in the Heart of Paddy Whack" at
the Columbia. On another evening
we went to the Alcazar to see two we'll
known comedians, Kolb and Dill, in
musical comedy. 1t was very amusing,
but our pleasure was sadly dampened on
reaching the street after the perform
ance, when we were met by the newsboys
calling the loss of the Lusitania, with
the first details of the loss of life on
board.
We were greatly delighted at meeting
Ralph Bird in San Francisco, former
Rockland boy, a cousin of mine aud best
man at our wedding, now living in
Alameda. We spent most enjoyable
day together at the Exposition and dined
at Old Faithful Inn, afterward going up
in the Horoscope on the Zone, from
which we had a splendid view of the Ex-
position as illuminated at night. The
evening effects at the Fair were truly
beautiful, being obtained with Indirect
lighting in conjunction with clever ar
rangement of searchlights, so that the
whole Exposition was as brightly light
ed as by day, but yet with subdued,
rosy effect that was beautiful.
The first day that promised sunshine
W chose for trip up Mt. Tamalpais
over what is called the "crookedes. rail-
way in the world" and far be ii from
me to deny that assertion! We took the
ferry at the Sansalito pier, and had
line sail across the bay, where we took
the train for Mill Valley. changing there |
for open cars up Mt. Tamalpais. l had
my first view of wild forget-me-nots
near Mill Valley, and as the train wound |
and upward the vista of noun
tain slopes covered with wild larkspur,
and blue thorn and lilac, making the |
ground literally blue, was a sight not |
easily forgotten. Of course the "offi-
ciap' photographer was in evidence
there never was trip in the West with
out that important parsonage, and on |
that occasion, l think he photographed |
our party no less than three times.
AT the tavern at the end of the rail- |
way we had an excellent lunch, to which
we did f,11l i,,rt;oo H., .,:x,Ll A,