AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOHN F. LACEY 417 



I studied geology with great pleasure, also took up 

 astronomy and read all kinds of history and literature. 

 It became my custom, as soon as I could afford it, to take 

 a month's vacation every year and travel somewhere, al- 

 ways going to a new place each time, thus visiting every 

 state in the Union and every territory but Alaska. 3 I 

 did not travel for my health but by this travel and an- 

 nual relaxation kept my health in spite of the intensity 

 of my professional employment. In 1878 my wife and I 

 took a journey to Europe, visiting England, Scotland, 

 France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and Switzer- 

 land. In 1884 we again visited Europe and journeyed 

 through Ireland, England, France, Germany, Austria, 

 Belgium, and Italy, visiting Rome on this journey. In 

 these days of easy travel it will not be necessary to spend 

 any time in describing the familiar scenes through which 

 we traveled. There is no knowledge so easily obtained 

 as that which is absorbed by a wide-awake traveler. The 

 days are long in summer in the high altitude of Europe, 

 and much sight-seeing may be done between sun and sun. 

 We traveled too hard and tried to see too much, as Amer- 

 icans are apt to do. In journal letters written daily to 

 the children at home we gave a faithful chronicle of both 

 these tours of Europe. In those days Mrs. Lacey was a 

 good traveler and kept up with the procession, even 

 though it was a rapid one. 



In 1869 I was solicited by many of my old comrades to 

 stand for the legislature. I was nominated by a primary 

 election and elected by a large majority and took part in 

 the deliberations of the Thirteenth General Assembly. 

 I served on the judiciary committee and several minor 

 committees. 



I resolved then to keep out of active personal politics 

 and though taking part in all political contests I refused 



3 Major Lacey visited Alaska in 1907. 



