EXSICCAT/E OF THE 
“FLORA OF THE SEQUOIA GI(3ANT ) EjA fN R£G,l;Q, i N.” 
“the ORCHID HYBRIDS.” 
AWARDED 1ST PRISE, 
DESIGN FOR 
WEST OAKLAND PARK. 
GEO. HANSEN 
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT 
SCENIC TRACT 
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 
My dear Sir , 
April 27th. /99. 
I was very much surprised to learn by your kind card that 
you did not know I was. down here . Landscape gardening; is ray trie pro¬ 
fession, and I simply could not stand it any lunger where 1 was to 
work at what was' not of mine, and to fill i n time with , what I had to 
do to keep from going insane ^collect'in^ plants )f. : It was'either a'sy 
lum or suicide,and. I choose neither. I said to my better half that’I 
had enough herbaria on hand to pull through even if out of work down 
here: and down we came. I haific had no regular par since,, and a i.oo- 
le ss than I drew up tip ere, but I am singing all day long, and have 
enough to eat, through the wearing appare%3 runs low at tines. I am 
such poor hand in money affairs. I undertook public improvements'ere 
the money was handed in, and parties withdrew or simply said they did; 
not have it at time of calling , and I am short. Of the 'first job I 
did still db third \ is due me. nut the sun shines just the same,' ’and I 
think that L6n6tre was just forty when he got pay for his first grand 
work of designing Versailles gardens. 
15u asked whether I wad happy and. well . Happy I have' arslwerea. 
As to the well-being , you know I suffer from rhumatism. It has been 
very bad at times, and the only debts I have is a cLroc tor “‘bill, he tod 
we to take my time over paying it ) and. a printer’s item. I want to go 
to the mudbaths, but have not got there yet. - That answers that part. 
Mow .as to the,living I ache out . I ought to do better, but can 
not . People do nbt have grounds, and when I- persistently•remark, that 
I came here t c/never be discouraged, they admire my pluck but word I t S-noi 
vpry sparingly ,-. I have delivered more than 50 addresses before the var— 
