244 LUTHER BURBANK 



Not feeling able to pay for a sleeping berth, 

 which at that time was a rather unusual luxury, 

 I was obliged to make such shifts as I could to 

 gain snatches of sleep. 



A generous lunch basket had been provided, 

 and this served its purpose well, for the train 

 was sometimes delayed for an entire day far out 

 on the plains with no house in sight. Several 

 times I had the pleasure of sharing my lunch 

 with fellow passengers who would otherwise 

 have suffered hunger. 



At that time it was a common experience 

 for axle boxes to become overheated by fric- 

 tion, and then it would be necessary to make 

 long stops until repairs could be made. This, 

 with numerous unclassified delays, made the 

 journey longer, but added zest to the journey. 

 At best, at that time it took nine days to cross 

 the continent, and the contrast between the 

 trains of that period and the luxurious expresses 

 of to-day is notable. 



Early Days in California 



I have said that two older brothers were living 

 in California. But I did not think Tomales, 

 where they lived, a suitable place for the work 

 in which I proposed to engage, because it ap- 

 peared that this region, being close to the ocean, 



