[Boston—Friday, 19 March 1869]
Friday. Clarence King came to breakfast. Last night he spoke before the Thursday Club. I would like time to tell of him. He is but 28 years old now, for the last 7 years has been working for the government, exploring for the Pacific Railroad and for the last 2 years supporting a mother & brothers & sisters left in penury after a life of opulence by the sudden death of his father who left his affairs in an involved condition. He is a “trim built wherry”! Hard flesh, charge, vigorous form! Every summer since he was eleven years old he has passed in the open air camping out and for weeks together among the mountains of Nevada has slept with only an India Rubber blanket between him & the snow.
