to Charles Baxter

608 Bush Street, San Francisco, Jan. 26, ’80

MY DEAR CHARLES,—I have to drop from a 50 cent. to a 25 cent. dinner; to-day begins my fall.  That brings down my outlay in food and drink to 45 cents., or 1s. 10½d. per day.  How are the mighty fallen!  Luckily, this is such a cheap place for food; I used to pay as much as that for my first breakfast in the Savile in the grand old palmy days of yore.  I regret nothing, and do not even dislike these straits, though the flesh will rebel on occasion.  It is to-day bitter cold, after weeks of lovely warm weather, and I am all in a chitter.  I am about to issue for my little shilling and halfpenny meal, taken in the middle of the day, the poor man’s hour; and I shall eat and drink to your prosperity.—Ever yours,

R. L. S.