A FOURTEEN-YEAR PERIOD 307 



a steamer edition and is— if we overlook its being very 

 "Frenchy"— reliable and respectable. It may therefore 

 interest you. 



My love to all of you, your 



FRANZ. 



[We shall now make a short review of the interesting de- 

 scription which the diary furnishes, as there arc unfortunately 

 but few more letters preserved, of which we shall read later. 

 Therefore a few notes in the form of a missing' link. — Trans. J 



Diary Notes. 



San Francisco, Cal., March 23d, 1855. 

 Having in vain tried to establish a well paying busi- 

 ness for myself, I resolved to quit painting and seek 

 new pastures. Olias and I engaged berths on board of 

 the SS. " America," bound for San Pedro, a small port 

 in Southern California, whence we hope to start for the 

 Kern river mines. We made this trip without mishap, 

 unless the fare charged, which amounted to thirty dol- 

 lars for each of us is taken in that way. On our arrival 

 at San Pedro, March the sixth, I saved five dollars by 

 walking twenty-five miles with forty pounds of baggage 

 on my shoulders, thus reaching the city of Los Angeles 

 after a ten-hour tramp. We went to the United States 

 Hotel for the night, where men of experience warned 

 us not to risk our remaining few dollars in the Kern 

 river venture. AVe took the hint and remained in Los 

 Angeles. My surprise was great to meet an acquaint- 

 ance, Wm. Arnhold, from Konigsberg, who at once 

 offered me a place in his saloon, which I reluctantly ac- 

 cepted as only my utter lack of funds could induce me 

 to engage in that business. 



October 10th, 1855. 

 My stay at Arnhold's lasted but two months and 

 how I disliked the work, which brings one in contact 



