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Mammoth Springs, YellowstonePark, Aug.20,1885. 9 A.M. Dear Louie, I hope you are all well. I suppose I shall not hear
from you until I reach Portage,--nothing at Portland. I reached the Park last evening, two days from Portland, I saw some
interesting country about about Prend Oreille and through the greater portion of Montana, and now this strange region of fire
and water, I mean to set on horseback this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Sorry I can stay so short a time. Afraid I will
not learn much, still I may get some good facts besides the mere pleasurable mass of wonderment from the spouting steam and
muds and suds. The general appearance of the country hereabouts is gray and ashy and forbidding -- few trees except in hollows
and ravines. Gray sage hills with here and there rough gray jumpers and two-leaved pines, far away removed from the freshness
and leafy beauty of Yosemite. The piles of salt from the springs hundreds of feet in height stained with many colors interblended
look like the refuse heaps about chemical and dye works, so far as I have seen. I feel better since leaving Portland and
am beginning to eat, not refusing anything -- not even hot soda biscuit and gray-looking lava-like puddings with blood-curdling
sauce and slime, more wonderful in color, some of them, than the variegated geyser muds. Have not been aware of my stomach's
existence for several days, and have not been compelled to take any of Dr. G ibbon 's powdered brass. After crossing the
Rocky Mountains yesterday morning I found one of the flowers that I used to love near thirty years ago. How old I must be,
and yet the sight of this purple liatris for the time being blots all these years away. 10P.M. In the forenoon, after
writing the above, I joined a party to examine the great terraces of deposits from the boiling springs near the hotel. The
glare of the sun on the white landscape was very severe and though greatly interested by the marvellous abundance of beautiful
forms and the strange colors, etc. I became thirsty and weary, and my old trouble began, and I was afraid I never would be
able to do any more with my old battered body. Had to come back to the hotel - walked not more than five miles. After lunch,
which was as bad as possible though costing a dollar , I set out again to climb above the terraces of the summit of a mountain,
determined to try again, and succeeded this time, after vomiting part of the abominable bill of fare. Now after an abominable
supper I am yet fairly well, though weary. Got some valuable facts relating to geysers and glaciers. Tomorrow morning we
set out on horseback, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sellers of Chicago, with pack animals to see the marvels at a distance and camp out,
though it is likely I may wish I had gone in the old way alone. But I fear I could not climb every day. Blessed Wanda is
asleep. Love to all, Ever truly yours, J. M.