The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-03-23
"reminiscences OF
Western Travels.
BY HELEN NJ. TODD.
XVII.
entering Yellowstone Park.

H., next morning to find an inch or
# snow on the sidewalks, with ap
asreauy good prospect of more to fol-
The hotel clerk looked Disguised
consulted about the weather, and
,.,rsr.d himself past proph asying-la-
40. bang present, he apparently did not
10 saw what he really thought. Our
rage was good, however, and imme
,,t-ly after breakfast we left to take
.,ght clock train to the Gardiner en-
.-...4 to the Park. A very agreeable
-...sman with blue uniform cap let
--.+ rWylie Way" the first we had
.... so costumed, but by no means the
took us in charge, and escorting US
,rlnph from under the noses OF the
accents If the rival companies, Shaw and
g. a-l and Old Faithful, established us
.- me train, which was exceedingly
.-.,,-d. The weather was our first
7a.y consideration during the two
IRIS ride to Gardiner, and when the
IL really appear to be struggling
.ega the clouds, great was the re-
.hereat. The latter part of the
..r-v lay along the banks of the yell
.~s..7e River, through Paradise Val
.r Yankee Jim Canyon, and pass
.-. tIapse of Corivin Hot Springs and
ssatarium, as the train paused at the
..=u- gave the impression of very
We place.
lniQue Gardiner station, built of
..--r an exaggerated log cabin effect,
p.s uy admired as the train pulled in,
the platform another agreeable
.H h. Way" agent was awaiting US.
re early in making our Park trip,
a week before the official opening
and for this reason we found our
the midst of the hustle and
,- son attendant on the organization
ap forces and equipment. Most of
FL. ople who had come up on the train
" is were help for the various camp
I. 4aa transportation companies, 'sav-
... in Park vernacular, while we two,
r.r a gentleman and his wife from
ston, South Carolina, were thus
..r re only representatives of the tour
rs. ass, or 'dudes"
lrveyances were in waiting to take
.g to the Wylie Hotel, where before
..,rng the Park it was necessary to
Rough the formality of registration.
~ .cie Sam" keeps close watch upon
rJurists througho the government
.-zs-rve, and report must be sent each
-.-e TO the army headquarters from the
Fsa1Is camps and hotels. Tourists who
ar. not under supervision of the camping
transportation companies have to
make their own report at the nearest
sHaJtie" station, but those who are
uaa.ng a personally conducted" trip
lister at their entrance and exit and
Il The various camps en- route and the
r1upanies do the rest. Each company
Us l0der Government regulation and op-
rates its stages on a fixed schedule as
u -aying one station and arriving at
the next, with prescribed hours for lunch,
5lt, and by this means the Government
.7ows at just what place in the Park a
=-lain tourist is likely to be at a certain
l~e. And woe betide any unhappy wight
ar5ls rash enough to deface any proper
tlr leave his initials on any tree, stick or
stone. Vengeance follows swift and sure
and Uncle Sam has a way of making the
ldlshment fit the crime. A tale is told
u me unfortunate who carved his init
a.s on tree before leaving the Park,
q who was followed to hotel in an
t4er State, and even compelled to leave
BIS breakfast to come back at once to the
Park and efface the damage he had done.
ave seen many other places where an
=4aIly stringent Government regulation
light achieve excellent results.
Registraton over, dinner was in order,
lien we collected our baggage and wait
ID for the stages. By this time we were
On most friendly terms with our fellow
1udes' from Charleston, and were
promptly christened the "Y anks and the
SJutherners' by the irrepressible "sav-
ages" The weather had cleared, al
thCagh an occasional furry of snow OBJ
seured the sunshine, but it was so cold
that before leaving the Wylie Hotel we
put on all the surplus clothing we had
Ought with US, and thought longingly
OF our fur coats back IN Maine.
Driving up from the station before
Inner we had noted the great stone
Gardiner Gate over the Park entrance,
ieiIcated by Roosevelt in 1908, and had
7qmmented upon its inscriptions: "For
tn benefit and enjoyment of the peo-
pe' To our disappointment, our en-
trance TO the Park was by another road
'aaL led by, instead of under, this im-
pressive gateway, and we have since
Earned that the privilege of passing De-
h11th it belongs to the stages of the
hotel and transportation system and not
TO The campers.
story in connection with this same
Iardiner Gateway has recently been re-
.ated to me, and its truth was vouched
;or by the one who told it. A woman,
violently a tourist of the rush" va.
49,