Alice B. Toklas, who was born in San Francisco, California, prefers living in a temperate climate. Her grandfather, a pioneer who came to California in 1849, married a woman who was very fond of music. Toklas tells us that her mother was a quiet, charming woman named Ellie.
Her father was of Polish ancestry; his Granduncle was responsible for raising a regiment for Napoleon and acted as its Colonel. Her grandfather left Toklas' grandmother right after their marriage, to fight in the Napoleonic wars in Paris; his wife cut off his supplies, forcing him to return to live as a respectable landowner.
Toklas states that, unlike her ancestors, she has no liking for violence, and is content with pursuing gentler hobbies, such as gardening and needlework. She enjoys a view, but she will also sit.....
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