The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-05-18

their religion can not help but preju-
dice one against them. The night was
spent in a clean home hotel, and next
morning at six o'clock we were off for
Jackson beyond the mountains over
the great divide.
A mile or two the road took us be-
tween the newly plowed fields OF the
Mormon settlers and then began the
climb up toward the pass After about
ten miles OF uphill travel by wagon,
we reached the snow line and here we
transferred our load OF mail, baggage
and ourselves to a good strong sleigh.
For a mile the line of advancing
spring had thawed out the road, but
soon We got into the deep, almost eter-
nal SHOWS of the high attitudes. One
horse slipped off the road into deep
drift utterly helpless, but we unhitched
the other horse and pulled him out,
then on again.
Even in this wintry region were
numerous signs Of spring. Scores OF
squirrels were cleaning the remains of
pine cones out of their dens in the
great pine trees or chasing each other
over the snow chattering gleefully: for
spring had come. Bluebirds, magpies,
larks and the gorgeous Rocky Mount
ain blue jays called and sang in the
gloomy pine forests and here and
there pale little butterflies ventured
out over the snow from their snug
cocoons.
Finally the summit of the pass was
reached and then, for the first time
looked into the mountain guarded val
ley know as Jackson's Hole. A great
level basin it is, with goodly mum.
Der of small cattle ranches nestled in
it. But, unlike other sections OF the
west. the wire fence is absent and in
stead the ranchers build log fences
around their hay fields. These per.
NIT the agile elk, deer and antelope
perfect freedom, but turn the clumsy
cattle easily.
And the people of this region! Up to
this year. there has been practically nc
immigration to this valley, so the peo
pie here are the old timers, hospitable
generous, honorable and proud, proud
of their valley, proud of themselves
and proud of the game herds that still
find refuge from the sordid, grasp
ing new element that 10 taking the ro
nance, beauty and freshness out OF
the "old West"
But have gotten ahead of my story
We were on the summit; SO now begins
the fastest, most exciting and thrilling
sleigh ride l ever enjoyed. Down the
mountain We went at 2:4O clip, the
driver In front. lady passenger IA
fine old western woman she was, who
lost brother in an Indian fight in
southern Wyoming in 1876, and has
had a big share of sorrows and hard.
ships on the frontier, but proud of IT.
in the middle of the sleigh and on the
back end of the sleigh, to balance the
load. At two places, snow slides haG
blocked the road, but with shovel ant
AK, we soon cleared passage ane
whoop and away we dashed or dropped
again.
After ten miles of this snow travel
We once more reached terra firma ant
transferred the load to wagon ant
soon reached jackson, So miles from
the railroad. It's an odd little town
has q good, we'll kept hotel and abou
twenty-five residences. mostly log.
| Now. in regard to the elk herds. Thi,
IL the natural winter range for them
Late in the fall, the snow drives then
in small scattering bands from thu
mountains. The come from the She
shone, the Teton, the Wind River an,
the eros Ventre ranges and collect IL
a great band in this valley. AS tn
snow melts from the lowlands, the,
follow the snow line back into tn
mountains, for following the snow i
the tender green grass that puts lif
and strength into these noble crea
lures to battle for existence through