CHAPTER X. 



Visit to California. 



I will say a word here of what I saw in California which 

 may be of interest to my readers as it was connected with 

 horse interests, and for the purpose of witnessing the devel- 

 opment of colts as practiced at Palo Alto, in order to see the 

 effect on young colts as a whole where early development is 

 the cardinal principle. 



I also desired to invest some what in California breed- 

 stock. I arrived in San Francisco on February -ith, 1889. I 

 stopped at the Palace Hotel, which is the rendezvous for 

 horsemen, and in fact most every one seems to take a stroll 

 that way during the evening. I had a good visit with O. A. 

 Hickok that evening, and after a good night's rest I started 

 for Palo Alto early the next morning. Palo Alto is the larg- 

 est horse breeding establishment in the world. When 1 ar- 

 rived at the Menlo Park Station I was met by one of Mr. 

 Marvin's assistants who drove me out to the ranch, which is 

 about two miles from the station. Of course I had heard and 

 read a good deal about Palo Alto, and as I drove into the 

 yard I saw a familiar face and grasped the hand of a friend. I 

 refer to Charles Marvin, the reigning spirit at that world- 

 famous ranch. He has been there about thirteen years and 

 has grown up with the ranch, and the stock has grown up with 

 him under his watchful eye and guiding hand. Mr. Marvin 

 shows the marks of time, his careworn features and stooping 

 form is the mark of his industry, which all the world knows 

 by the results he has attained with Palo Alto's now famous 

 sons and daughters. Electioneer and Charles Marvin's fame 

 will go down the ages coupled together, as one without the 

 other would not have been what they are in the horse history 

 of America. Mr. Marvin looked to me as though he required 



