360 CALIFORNIAN WINE. 



if stationary. Of course, there is here, as in every 

 American city, an enormous skating-rink, where I saw 

 hundreds of people throwing;' al)out their nether limbs, 

 — never pronounce legs in this land of promise ! — in the 

 wildest fashion, many being attired in fancy dress ; the 

 entrance fee to this establishment was a bit, or twelve 

 and a half cents, — everything goes by bits and dollars 

 in the gold city. The Grand Hotel, like its companions, 

 the Occidental, the Cosmopolitan, and Lick House, were 

 on a scale hardly ever seen in Europe ; there was every 

 possible comfort provided ; the meals were excellent, 

 and all for three dollars per day, exclusive of wine, 

 which was dear, Americans drinking water, tea, or 

 coffee, during meals, generally iced, although after 

 dinner, which they get through in incredibly short 

 space of time, they are in the habit of retiring 

 to the bar to " liquor up." The Californian wines are 

 rapidly improving in flavour as the art of vine culture 

 and vintage becomes better understood, and I tasted 

 some good sparkling wine of home growth. Fruit, 

 especially strawberries, were excellent and plentiful. 



A few days' stay at San Francisco sufficed to persuade 

 me that my time might be pleasanter occupied else- 

 where, and I took an early departure for the famous 

 Yosemite valley. 



