sented San Francisco, the city of her birth, with a fountain, which stands not only as a thing of expensive beauty but as a shield of protection to the humble traveler as he is jostled across the most dangerous of all the spots that disgrace one of the most beautiful thoroughfares on the continent.

Notwithstanding the above supposed defect San Francisco is a noble and beautiful city, containing numerous splendid buildings, churches, schools, theaters, and public halls without number. With a meager supply of water the fire department is superb. I noticed that while a large proportion of the dwellings are constructed of wood it is rare to have an extensive fire. Some of the streets are well paved, while others are struggling to get rid of the barbarous cobble-stone pavement, which, in the city's primitive state, the pioneers, without regard to size or fitness, were wont to use.

Here, as almost everywhere, the Scottish element thrives. The St. Andrew's Society, the Caledonian Club and the Thistle Club are working, each in its own course, yet in perfect harmony, together. In every nook of that inland sea, called the bay, there are pleasant places of public resort, which enables societies to indulge, by means of the inimitable ferry system existing, in the picnic mode of pleasure and reunion, and the reader may believe that the Scotch are anything but slow to avail themselves of the facilities. And now, our golden wedding over, our twelve months' trial of the west shore terminated, and the wife and I having a little touch of rheumatism, we resolve to try the milder climate of Oakland. Before we take the boat suppose we take a peep at woodward's garden.

We cannot afford to pass unnoticed the favorite place of resort bearing the above title.

I am informed that this school, combining practical instruction with innocent amusement, emanates from the patriotic effort of an individual, and that that individual has passed away.

In the history of large cities we find the public frequently indebted to personal enterprise. Thus the refined taste and liberal pertinacity of Madame Tussaud have culminated in one of the lions of London. It would be hard to suppose any one sojourning in the metropolis, even for a few days, failing to visit her Baker street establishment of wonders.

In like manner is the community of St. Louis indebted to Mr. Shaw (an English gentleman) for his princely gift of his garden and museum to the city.

Milwaukee is also beholden to one of her eminent brewers (Mr. Schlitz) for the only park of which she can boast (now they have the National). The parks and boulevards of Chicago are the wonder of the world, for so young a city. They are supported by local taxation, which doubtless falls heavily on all adjacent property, while the drives are new. The incentive spirit of the gigantic scheme emanated from the late Col. Bowen, a far-seeing man, and doubtless the growing increase of the marketable value of that property has served to convince the owners of the soundness of the enterprise.

In the early days of San Francisco Mr. Woodward, the founder of his place of public resort, had kept the What Cheer Hotel for many years during the wild frenzy of its gold-hunting mania. Prospering in business he there founded what now constitutes the basis of this wonderful place of popular amusement— his museum, which he moved to his private residence on quitting the hotel business. During the national struggle of 1861-64 the expense of sending troops to the front placed California necessarily in the rear of her quota.

But if nature placed her beyond the reach of the fighting front she forgot not her equally important duties of healing and nurturing in the rear, as her quota to the sanitary fund at the close of the war bore ample testimony. In raising the needful funds Mr. Woodward took a prominent part, and the use to which he put his private property in aid of the patriotic movement may be said to be the advent of one of the lions of this wonderful city. In April, 1884, I visited this place, and for admittance fee of twenty-five cents feasted my eyes with more sights than memory will serve to enumerate. Overlooking the museum for another day I am struck with the healthy appearance of all the specimens of zoology, particularly the lioness and her three cubs, the amusing variety of the monkey tribe, and the goat carriage, riding swings, and other amusements for youth in this arena, the camera obscura and the circular boat, the wonders of the aquarium and piscatorial variety and propagation, and the ingenious subterraneous methods of displaying the specimens of the aquatic school.

Now the bell rings and thousands throng to see the drama. Here the ear-splitting sounds of a thousand throats of Young America startle the stranger, and at the same time fill him with surprise that notwithstanding the latitude given to youth the order of the theater is good. The performance is light and fair, but such a pair of acrobats I never beheld. If there was a bone left in their bodies it would be a puzzle to locate it.

We then repair to the music hall, where, in addition to good vocal and instrumental music, the outward man can be refreshed with the choicest viands and beverages, after which we take a general view of the fascinating spot in all its richest spring beauty, and on our way to the gate call on the sea lions, the monstrous alligators, and other wonders of the deep. Surcharged with the perfume of ten thousand flowers, we make our exit, and feel like treating ourselves to another visit to this municipal blessing. On the 5th of October, 1883, we spent a very pleasant day on board the Enos Soule, a fine ship at anchor in the bay, where she had Iain awaiting a charter for many months (an evidence of the extraordinary depression of the period of mercantile interests). The day was fine, the light wind approaching the ship favorable, and the entertainment on board sumptuous. Mrs. Captain Laurens, the friend of my daughter, generally accompanied her husband on his voyages to distant parts of the globe.