Year: 1879

be in silence; for the world would pause
but for one moment to hear the tale and
then go on trampling the bleeding hearts
beneath their feet.


Vineyards and fruit orchards were also
planted by the padres. Now the county
is one of the main sources from which
San Francisco obtains her fruit and veg
etables, and Notwithstanding the greed
of the middle men, the profits are very
satisfactory. Strawberry beds are meas
ured here by the acre, and yield fruit
from April till November, sometimes
even later; for I find from my memoran-
da that we had strawberries and cream
for tea on the 26th of last December.


1t takes eastern people little while
q. ---aelvAs to the freaks of
nature manifested here on the Western
slope. People who eat turnips, cabbage,
and onions for six months and return
thanks for such a variety of food, get
their mental calendar fearfully disorgan-
lied when they come here where we have
fresh vegetable of every description, in
season and out of season, too. One may
date letter June when it should be
December, without being careless or for
getful, for strawberries, rich and ripe
and luscious, eaten by an open window,
are apt to suggest to an eastern man
the month of roses instead of the Christ
mas holidays.


Fourteen miles south Of San Jose the
Almadin Quicksilver mines are perched
up in the Coast Range. | know the
ride there is very charming and the pro-
cess of mining interesting, but | have
not time to enjoy the ride or investigate
the mines, for | must take you back to
Frisco by the other branch Of the Gen.
trail Pacific, which skirts the bay on the
opposite side from the road over which
we came.


Some of the San Franciscans, who
have forgotten how many millions they
are worth, have their summer residence
in the Valley on this side, and, as cat
may look upon king, We will use our
eyes as we 60 homeward.


Nine miles out we are again reminded
of the Murpheys, as the station bears
their name, and wonder if all the in
tervening miles between the two rail-
roads pay tribute to the Murphey pocket
book. While l muse on the strange
taste which Dame Fortune sometimes
manifests in selecting her favorites, the
train moves on through the valley, ''the
green things growing" nodding theil
good morning as we pass. and the flowers
filling all the air with delicious perfume
know my heart ought to be overAowing
with peace and joy and sweet content
perhaps it would be if the poor. care
worn face of the old man in the mex
seat could be forgotten. His shoulder
bend beneath burden of anxiety anC
care, and suggest thoughts which maxi
me uuarral with Dame Fortune again
Nav be the man hasn't used his chance
we'll, and only reaps as he has sown
but some way | never found wormwoot
any sweeter when prepared it for my
self than when some other person poure,
the draught.


But we chose this route because i


passes by rich mems gates, and eve


though there be lying at each of them


Lazarus, we must lift up our eyes an


behold them not.


We halt at Menlo Park, eightee


miles from San Jose. in the vicinity q


which several men of wealth have sun


mer residences, that of Leland Stanford


president of the Central Pacific railroad


being about mile from the station


The estate comprises two thousand acres


forty of which are laid out in lawns


gardens and vineyard, in the midst {
which is the house. villa with broa


verandahs, from which is had fine vie


of the bay and surrounding countr,


One of these days. if Gov. Stanford dot


not find that his path to the Gates 4,


Never is shorter than he thinks, he wi


erect a new house. and the three or fol


hundred acres which are receiving ii


attention of the landscape gardener, a


very suggestive of park which will
fitting setting for the grand mansic


in view.


!, Leland Stanford likes good horse
| we'll as any man. [ remember; son
prudent, careful man. who has jogg'
r to church and to mill and to funera
J behind the same nag which carried hi
t to see Nancy Jane in the old courtil
days twenty years ago, might say he b
4 an ertravogant love for the animal.
, view of the fact that it takes a mile
{ stable to furnish room for him to indul


his fancy In these quarters are ov
f three hunnred horses, and every one h
S royal blood in his veins; many of the
o with pedigree as long as the MOI
{ law, and with record under 2:30
v the Prussian Maid having trotted /
' mile in 2:19. There are three hors
o on the place which cost the snug lit
h sum of fifty thousand dollars, and