In View of the rather elaborate plan I have sketched, I am certain that some of my readers Will wonder how I expected to be able, in the eight weeks to which my vacation was limited, to cover all the ground or get any definite or satisfactory notions in regard to the special matters which interested me in the places I pro posed to visit. It seems to me, therefore, that I ought to say something, by way of explana tion and introduction, as to just how this journey was made and in regard to the manner in which the impressions and facts which make up the remainder of this book were obtained.