3 1 6 AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



the distances from one end of the State to the 

 other. From here to Fresno, my other home, is 

 20 1 miles and it is 392 miles farther to Los 

 Angeles; thence southward still another 127 miles 

 to San Diego. If you wish to go to the end of the 

 State it is ten miles farther to Tia Juana on the 

 Mexican border where all wise persons purchase 

 a return ticket. In fact it costs something like 

 thirty dollars to go from one end of this State to 

 the other and wheat is only ninety cents a 

 bushel ! 



The California climate is just like the soil in 

 one respect it is seldom uniform at two points 

 even a few miles apart; so I shall pass this exten- 

 sive topic leaving it in its ever-ready freshness as 

 a suitable start for general conversation. Every 

 Californian will tell you about its virtues and about 

 his " view." Everybody talks about his view and 

 thinks himself entitled to own one. Wherever you 

 travel throughout the State the dwellers will show 

 you the curves of the ocean beaches or the wide 

 plains of arable land or desert waiting only for 

 water; girt with foothills and far blue mountains 

 beyond. 



As to hills, lofty hills with lovely views, there is 

 one in California for every family in the United 



