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EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION 13

were readily disposed of at good figures. We
then repaired to San Francisco and spent a
fortnight exploring the city, hunting up old
friends, and informing ourselves concerning
the safest and best manned vessel upon which
we could embark for New York via Panama.
The 'John L. Stevens', a powerful clipper built
boat, beautiful to look upon and advertised to
clear October 2, was selected and tickets se-
cured. Another ship .... was booked
to leave the same day and hour, but the
'Stevens' was preferred because of her speed,
which resulted from her clipper spread of sails
supplementing her steam; and for the further
reason that Captain Pierson had commanded
her for about five years in the passenger service
on that coast."

Except for a severe storm at sea and an
experience with brigands in crossing the
Isthmus, nothing of moment happened in the
course of the journey to New York. The
Doctor and his companion each had "belted"
about them "about twenty-five hundred dollars
in what were then known as fifty-dollar octagon
gold slugs." The Panama Eailroad was then
in operation for a distance of only twelve miles
from the Atlantic.⁰

In the year following his return to Iowa
young "Weaver became clerk for Edward Man-
ning at Bonaparte, Iowa. His employer, who



	EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION 13 were readily disposed of at good figures. We then repaired to San Francisco and spent a fortnight exploring the city, hunting up old friends, and informing ourselves concerning the safest and best manned vessel upon which we could embark for New York via Panama. The 'John L. Stevens', a powerful clipper built boat, beautiful to look upon and advertised to clear October 2, was selected and tickets se- cured. Another ship .... was booked to leave the same day and hour, but the 'Stevens' was preferred because of her speed, which resulted from her clipper spread of sails supplementing her steam; and for the further reason that Captain Pierson had commanded her for about five years in the passenger service on that coast." Except for a severe storm at sea and an experience with brigands in crossing the Isthmus, nothing of moment happened in the course of the journey to New York. The Doctor and his companion each had "belted" about them "about twenty-five hundred dollars in what were then known as fifty-dollar octagon gold slugs." The Panama Eailroad was then in operation for a distance of only twelve miles from the Atlantic.⁰ In the year following his return to Iowa young "Weaver became clerk for Edward Man- ning at Bonaparte, Iowa. His employer, who