26 



Nor can I close these remarks without reference to the 

 courtesies and hospitalities extended to us by the good 

 people of California. The first of these was the recep- 

 tion at Omaha of a telegram from the California committee 

 with the inquiry, " When will you meet us at sunrise on 

 the summit ? " To which we responded, " At sunrise Mon- 

 day morning ; " and just as the sun was lighting up his 

 fires on the snow-clad cliffs around us, the delegation, 

 consisting of the presidents of several societies, with their 

 ladies, came on board the cars, each bearing bouquets oi 

 flowers and baskets of fruits ; and from that time until we 

 parted Avith them at the same place, thirty days after- 

 wards, we were treated with a degree of affection and re- 

 gard that will ever be remembered with heartfelt grati- 

 tude. 



Our tour was one of continual and unalloyed gratifica- 

 tion ; and never shall I forget the sensations of that hour 

 when we stood on Nevadas' summit, amidst those snowy 

 cliffs, to see the sun in his coming. Never before did I 

 feel that I was so near heaven ; and I could not but re- 

 peat the language of the old Latin poet, " jSic itur ad 

 astra" — tins is the way to the stars! 



