California is full of ambuscades, not of a hostile sort, but with all embarrassments that attend surprise. In a hasty drive this afternoon, when I thought I was to visit Oakland, I was suddenly drawn up in front of a college and asked to make an address, and in a moment afterward before an asylum for the deaf, dumb, and blind, the character of which I did not know until the carriage stopped in front of it. All this taxes the ingenuity as your kindness moves the heart of one who is making a hurried journey through California. I do not need such souvenirs as this to keep fresh in my heart this visit to your State. It will be pleasant, however, to show to others who have not participated in this enjoyment the record of a trip that has been very eventful and one of perpetual sunshine and happiness. I do not think I could have endured the labor and toil of travel unless I had been borne up by the inspiriting and hearty good-will of your people. I do not know what collapse is in store for me when it is withdrawn. I fear I shall need a vigorous tonic to keep up to the high level of enjoyment and inspiration which your kind treatment has given me. I thank you for this pleasant social enjoyment and this souvenir of it. [Applause.]
[SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, MAY 3.]
Farewell.
Sunday evening the President and his party, after passing a restful day at the Palace Hotel, quietly took their leave of San Francisco and repaired to their palatial train. Mayor Sanderson and his secretary, Mr. Steppacher, Col. Charles F. Crocker and Colonel Andrews, of the Reception Committee, escorted the party to their train. The President personally thanked these gentlemen for their kind and unremitting attentions during their visit. Shortly before the train resumed its long journey, at a quarter past midnight, the President gave out the following card of thanks to the people of California:
I desire, for myself and for the ladies of our party, to give an expression of our thanks for many individual acts of courtesy, which, but for the pressure upon our time, would have been specially acknowledged. Friends who have been so kind will not, I am sure, impute to us any lack of appreciation or intended neglect. The very excess of their kindness has made any adequate, and much more, any particular, return impossible. You will all believe that there has been no purposed neglect of any locality or individual. We leave you with all good wishes for the State of California and all her people.
Benj. Harrison.