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At John Swett's, Wednesday night, Feb.,1880. Dear Louie, I'm still drifting, and unsettled, and lonesome, in this big
trodden wilderness of tameness.I had made up my mind to shut myself up and bend my mind to work until I felt better, but I
have been pulled about and done nothing save a dozen letters or so of the common correspondence kind.Had a good warm hearty
time with Sam, though toned down a little on my part by the presence of ex-mayor Alvord, who wanted to meet me.They enquired
very kindly about you all, and Mrs. Williams showed me a lot of colored vine leaves carefully pressed which she said had belonged
to a box of beautiful grapes you had sent. Next day Alvord drove me to the park and showed me through the grounds and greenhouses.They
are doing a very good work out there in the sand. Mr. Alvord then introduced me to the Pacific Club, and gave me a paper conferring
the privilege of reading, loafing, smoking, in the rooms for one month from date Then I called into the realty office, alias
Real Estate office of Magee, when, for the moment neglecting business, he enquired very pointedly where I had so suddenly
vanished to that day.Had I been examining cherry buds about the Martinez hills, etc.? I answered by telling him to give ear
to the most astounding statement ever uttered on this coast since the Glacial Period, and all about himself.He then loosened
his grip on me, and listened with his lips wide ajar while I told him that a lady of remarkable discrimination up there in
that cherry region gave it as her opinion that he was handsome Then go for that woman, she is the first really sensible woman
judge of masculine beauty I have ever heard of in my life. Many and long and weary are the years that I have been seeking
that recognition of beauty from the sex that to me of right belongs.Now I have found it and may die in peace. After escaping
from this whirlwind of dusty chaff that was far from pleasing to me, I went to seek Mrs. Black, who used to be kind to me
in my early beginning days in Yosemite Valley, having learned that she was about to leave the city for her home in the mountains
about Coulterville. I dined with her and the friends with whom she was stopping.Then they begged me to go with them to hear
Clara Morris dying at the Baldwin Theatre, and I went. Her acting was very good, but the play, Alixe , or Dixie , has very
little or no good healthy sentiment in it, and I was as glad to get out of it as out of the foul, vulgar, steaming atmosphere,
loaded almost to the dead-point with carbonic acid. Next day dined with Roman and Upham at the Bohemian Club rooms. Roman
and Somers begged me to write something for the Californian , promising to pay, and urging the righteousness of writing for
and encouraging a home journal, etc.Then I chanced to meet Pixley on the street, and he too wanted writing for the Argonaut,ten
letters long or short at ten dollars each, or as much more as I thought fair.This from him was complimentary, but I urged
engagements with the Bulletin.However, I promised a bunch of facts on lack of government in Alaska, which he said he would
put together and fill out with his own reflections, etc. Yesterday fell into the hands and tender mercies of the tailors,
escaped unscathed.In the evening came up here, John declaring he must have a week's visit.Tomorrow evening I have to dine
with the Payots. Next day, or Saturday, perhaps, I am to set off with that handsome Magee on an excursion to Tahoe, according
to some old promise I had made him. The Sacramento people want a le cture (the Literary Society).At least 20 s Mr. Minus,
who delivered one there last week.Probably I shall make that long-delayed Chico visit while I am up that way.A' that and a'
that, and alack What is a body to do? John, too, wants me to go with him to the hills above San Jose to look at land he thinks
of buying, near Norton's, and what will be left of the wee winter monthies for work on the other side of all this. The day
I left you seemed intensely light and beautiful, and notwithstanding my dazed, half-awake condition I noticed some telling
glacial phenomena as the train glided along the curves of the bay that I had not seen before.Mt. Diablo stood out from one
point in clear relief, and the ice-sculpture on the north from the action of small residual