284 Beyond the Sierraa. 



of California, ami alt^o of our friend Professor George Husmann, one of the 

 mosteminent grape culturists of the Golden State. We are met, ajj usual, at 

 the station by committees, with carriages and hacks. In these we are whirled 

 away on our local excursion through the vineyards of Napa valley. It is, 

 indeed, a delightful region. I should think that, as it relates to grape pro- 

 duction, this is one of the best in all California; and as toother products, it is 

 scarcely second to any. Our drive through the country was completed with 

 a banquet, given us by the citizens, at which, again, we could but be amazed 

 lit the variety of fruits and flowers. 



It was evident from the festival that the wine interest is here in its 

 highest estate. The extent and varietj' of wines displayed and freely 

 poured at the Napa banquet would astonish, and did astonish, the travelers 

 from beyond the mountains. The people of this region make a great point 

 of producing light, pure wines, that is, acid wines, as distinguished from 

 the heavier and sweeter varieties, such as port. They strongly advocate 

 the use of the beverage, and their tables and sideboards are, everywhere, 

 burdened with the product of their wineries. It is due to say that I saw 

 no evidences of intoxication or of the demoralization of character by the 

 use of this world-renowned drink. I may add that the question of the use 

 of this variety of light wine was much and ably debated during the sessions 

 of our Societj' and by our members and California friends while on our 

 travels. Whether the road to the perfect sobriety of our American people 

 lies by the way of these lighter fermented beverages, or whether we are to 

 reach the desideratum per saltern, and, as it were, a single leap upward from 

 the marsh of drunkenness to the salubrious plain of a sober life, I know 

 not; but one thing I do know, that the condition of the people as it 

 respects sobriety in the midst of these vineyards and wineries of California 

 is very greatlj' superior to that which we see so painfully and shamefully illus- 

 trated in the streets of our Middle-State cities and towns. By this I mean 

 that the drinking of the fiery waters of whisky and brandy and gin, the hor- 

 rible decoctions bearing these Satanic names, is, to my mind, infinitely 

 worse, as it is exemplified in the E:i5t,than the home and table consumption 

 of wine, as it is illustrated in the daily life of the Upper Californians. 



Taking leave of Napa, we returned to our train and resumed our jour- 

 ney to St. Helena, which was our next place for stopping. On arriving 

 there, in an hour or two from our departure, we were astonished to find an- 

 other banquet ready spread for our consumption. The consuming power 

 of man, as it respects banquets, is inversely as the square of the number. 

 The department of the interior is not of infinite capacity. The human 

 stomach has its metes and bounds. Doubtless, the greatest increase of its 

 capacity is due to travel and excitement. However this may be, we again 

 feasted at St. Helena, and I doubt whether the good ladies who administered 

 to us of their bounty, and the officials who welcomed us in speeches, were 

 aware, from any manifestations on our part, that only three hours before we 

 had, in like manner, suffered in the cause of civilization. 



