Gardens, etc., and became convinced
from personal observation of the greatness and magnificence of this city
on the Pacific, with its three hundred thousand inhabitants, covering a
territory of forty-two square miles, and the growth of less than thirty
years. On its eastern front San Francisco extends along the bay, whose
name it bears, bounded on the north by the Golden Gate, and on the west
washed by the Pacific Ocean along a beach five or six miles in extent.
It is not, however, a part of our plan to describe this wonderful city,
which has been done most effectively by others.

CHAPTER XXXV.

RETURN FROM CALIFORNIA.

Returns to the East by the "Iron Horse."--Boston _Transcript_ on
the journey on horseback.--Resumes literary work.--"Peculiarities
of American Cities."--Preface to book.--A domestic incident.--A
worthy son.--Claims of parents.--Purchases the old Homestead, and
presents it to his father and mother.--Letter to his parents.

We now accompany our subject on his return journey to the east. His
family and friends had naturally felt great concern for him during his
long and perilous ride, and he was anxious therefore to allay their
fears for his safety by presenting himself before them. He accordingly
purchased a ticket and left San Francisco by rail on the twenty-eighth
of November, and after a journey more rapid and comfortable than the one
he had made on horseback, arrived in New York city on December sixth.

Several of the eastern papers, on hearing of the captain's safe return,
furnished their readers with interesting, and, more or less, correct
accounts of the journey. We can find room only for that of the Boston
_Transcript_:

"It will be remembered that on the ninth of May, 1876, Captain
Willard Glazier, the author of 'Battles for the Union,' and other
works of a military character, rode out of Boston with the
intention of crossing the continent on horseback. His object in
undertaking this long and tedious journey was to study at
comparative leisure the line of country which he traversed, and the
habits and condition of the people he came in contact with, the
industrious and peaceful white, and the 'noble' and belligerent
red. According to the captain's note-book, he had a closer
opportunity of studying the characteristics of the _terror_ than
the toiler of the plains.

"Accompanied by certain members of the