taken to Tokio, about an hour's ride by rail from Yekohama. The Emperor gave him a palace near the sea, where he lived during his stay in Japan, with the exception of the time for two excursions. The visit to Japan was very pleasant in every way. I think that the most important problem in modern politics is the future of China and Japan. I think our foreign policy should be directed more directly to China and Japan than to European countries. I know that it has interested General Grant very much; in fact, I think that if he were questioned on the subject he would say that his experiences in China and Japan were the most important of his whole journey.

General Grant's Return.

General Grant touched his native shores at San Francisco September 20, 1879. To say that he was enthusiastically welcomed by that golden city by the sea is not telling all the truth. The whole country joined in the grand reception extended. The General himself was overwhelmed, and when the opportunity was given his words of thankfulness were lost amid shouts of 50,000 people. It will never be known just what he said on that occasion.

After his reception in San Francisco, the General made a visit to Oregon, where he was also most heartily received. He had been in California and Oregon as a soldier, a quarter of a century before, and was highly gratified, as often stated in his speeches, to find them so greatly improved.

General Grant had now been, practically, around the world. It was exceedingly gratifying to find him enjoying the best of health, and to hear him say, in the widest sense of the phrase:

"There is no place like home."

In the Yosemite Valley-The "Loveliest Panorama Ever Seen "Grant's Little Stories.

One of the principal attractions in General Grant's California visit was the Yosemite Valley, which he was permitted to see in all its glory. The scenery and incidents are graphically described by one of the General's companions, as follows:

This has been the first day (Oct. 4, 1879) in Yosemite. The General came to breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Miller, leaving Mrs. Grant to follow, which she did a little later. The sunlight was stealing down the brown face of Yosemite Rock, the Merced was murmuring over its pebbles, and the trees sighing softly just outside the open windows of the dining room, but he heeded them not. He was too intent on half a dozen mountain trout, which made the principal portion of his breakfast, and which, with green corn, has been the main element of his regimen since he arrived in California.

Breakfast finished, the General discussed his traditional cigar on the front porch. Pending the arrival of the horses which were to take the party up the trail to Glacier Point, Ulysses, Jr., who is becoming almost as much addicted to the cigar as his father, shortened a fragrant Havana. During the delay the ladies had all recovered the roses which they had lost in the long stage rides coming to the valley, and were picturesquely distributed along the front of the hotel.

It shortly appeared that the General would not be accompanied by all his suite. Mrs. Grant during the night had heard some one in the room beneath her saying that the firing of the giant-powder cartridges detached the rocks from the sides of the valley, and wondering that they would risk so dangerous a trip. So she concluded to remain behind with Mrs. Miller, Miss Flood and Mr. Dent. The

rest of the company and half a dozen guides made ready for the ascent, and started a few minutes after nine o'clock. The weather was pleasant, but warm.

The General led the line, with Mr. Clark close behind him, as best understanding the region and being the proper person, officially, to be in close attendance. The trail was in shadow during the ascent, but the bright sunlight falling on the opposite side of the valley revealed every point, jutting crag, fissure, and crevice, from the meadows to the summit, and outspread the green valley like a map beneath the feet of the climbing equestrians. The sharp turns of the trail, which is broad and as safe as a wagon-road, brought to view now the upper end of the valley and now the lower.

The General declared it to be the loveliest panorama ever spread out before his eyes. He asked his companion about each point, dome, and canyon as it passed before him in military review. He lamented the dearth of water which should supply the great Yosemite Fall, Nature having been, all about, so lavish of her gifts. He proved so good a horseman that his followers could scarcely keep pace with him. As he came out on prominent points and halted with one or two of those nearest him he looked like a general in war times, inspecting the advance of the enemy, his staff grouped around him.

At Agassiz Column, 2,200 feet above the valley, the party dismounted. At this point many of the peaks had diminished in height; the Cathedral Towers were lost in the more massive forms of the Three Graces; the distance from wall to wall of the valley had grown vaster, and the Merced looked like a narrow ribbon winding through the meadows. The walkers took seats near the edge of the cliffs, which went sheer down 1,500 feet. The General, more venturesome than the rest, stepped out and took a