River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-09-19
Extracts from Letters written by
Miss Bertha Foster.
Manltou, Col. June %, 1901
,ar nOld Folks at Homer

l have written you a couple Of
postals which l hope you have re-
ceived, ere this, that you may know l
arrived safely. The trip the first day
was very hot and dusty. As we passed
through Wilder | went out into the
vestibule and had look at the school
house and buildings. A gentleman
on his way to Delta, Col had his
nephew with him. He was a dear
little boy aged four Lloyd GetZ was
his name. / also met college girl
from the Northwestern University OF
Chicago going home TO DenYe r.
Wednesday was much pleasanter. We
passed a mum Der Of sod houses. They
looked so queer to me out on the
prairie. The scenery was not pretty
until we neared Denver, when the
lofty, snow-cdpped peaks Of the Rock
les could be distinctly seen through
the haze Mr.. Gates and his sister
met me at Dea YER and, as we had to
wait for the train, we took advantage
Of the opportunity Of seeing some of
the city-had carriage and drove
until train time What we saw of the
city was beautiful-paHed streets so
clean and nice, fue buildings, many
OF them Of Colorado stone. We drove
past the capitol court house, through
the business portions Of the city and
saw some OF the residences. From
Colorado Springs we came on to Mani
tou by street car. The ride from
Denver down was delightful with the
mountain scenery all the way We
saw the snow-capped summitof Pixies
Peak. | heard a Gentleman say he
elm bed up to the Peak to see the sun
rise and 1t took eight hours On the top
OF one Of the noun tains that we can
see from here, called Red Mountain, a
young lady lies buried. She was en-
gagged to a young gentleman at the
time of her death, and it seems she
and her lover had promised each other
that the one who died first should be
buried in that spot where they used to
climb together, and as she died first
he fulfilled his promise. 1t cost $4,000
and took eight men to carry her re-
mains TO their final resting place.
The house we occupy is in a beauti-
ful spot, surrounded by mountains,
and pretty mountain stream ripples
down the bank. This is a very gay
place here at Manitou; every one
comes here for pleasure and seems to
find it. Mary Mrs Ritehle) was quite
i'll on the way here but is feeling
better.
July s.
l should have written this before
but the days slip by so fast. The
Fourth OF July we had a sort of a
family picnic under the trees. Later
in the evening we walked up town to
see the illumination of Pixies Peak.
Then we had some fireworks at home.
The first Of last week we all took our
lunch and went up the cauon above
here. 1t is lovely up there. A pretty
mountain stream trickles down, then
loses itself ia the rocks below. The
mountains on either side are grand.
The children took off their shoes and
waded Ia the stream. The rest of the
party walked farther up to a shady
spot and sat down to rest while Mrs.
Richie read Emerson's Nature to
US. Yesterday afternoon a party Of
us went out TO Broadmoor, a resort
some distance from here. We pass
through Colorado Springs TO reach
there. The scenery going out is nice,
and also the grounds and casino.
| There is a lake just back Of the casino,
then behind, the mountains, making a
pleasing picture. We had refresh
ments on the balcony Of the casino
about six then waited for the music
which began about 7:30, after which
we returned to Manitou. | much re-
greet that | am unable to write you
more favorably Ia regard 10 Mary.
The physicians think her condition SER
iouS, and we are all anxious. She had
anticipated so many happy days here
this summer and has been unable 10
join US in our excursions. Saturday
we went through the Garden OF the
Gods"-went on horse back. One
gets fine view of Pixies Peak from
the Garden and the scenery all
through is fine. We saw Cathedral
Spires and Balance Rock, besides the
many curious formations all the way
through. We went one day to Chey.
eane Canon. This was the finest trip
OF all for grandeur OF scenery. In this
canon are the Seven Falls and the
pillars OF Hercules, great masses of
rock that tower far above you. At
the head OF this canon is the spot
where Helen Hunt Jackson was
buried. We did not 10 up to her
grave as the climb was hard one.