Norwich bulletin., 1917-07-31

sight except the bare brown moun- tains and sometimes we couldn't even see fhese
 Strassly Towns.
 Here and there we came to small miserable towns set in the glaring wilderness where they have to dig thousands of feet for water, and sometimes it is sulphurous water at that. It tastes awful. These towns exist chiefly as watering stations for the Union Pacific R. R. and as trad ing posts for the sheep -herders. Last winter was a hard winter and we saw hundreds of dead sheep, also number of other dead animals. In dies, they just throw it outside the icine Bow (see "The. virginian'o. I saw several dead animals, almost at town. Just as described in the book. Also Rawlins was the same as des- cribed. In fact, everything in the West is exactly as described, but one gets an entirely different Impression at close range.
 When we left the Red Dessert in Wyoming, we entered a long winding trail; high cliffs on either side and us company as we descended into what appeared to be the bowels Of the earth. Suddenly the trail came out on an open plain and such
 
 were all held spenbound How we gazed at the beautiful Bear Lake, Wyoming and Idaho! It must have been twenty miles long and such a beautiful and intense blue, surround ed by green trees, and having for a background, grey and purple noun tain! How we reveled in the sight!
 Beautiful Lake.
 We bought provisions at Lake Town and camped that night on the shore of the lake. We bathed in it, slept by it and started out refreshed in the morning; thinking our desert troubles were over. Here the roads were not so bad and we found the ranches and towns closer together. Idaho has a very rich soil but nothing will grow We have seen no natural growth shade trees since we left the middle. west. A real tree is a thing of beau- ty that hope to see again, some day. There are plenty of poplars in this valley but all man planted.
 Pebbles and sagebrush.
 I am very much disappointed in the Rockies. I thought that they would be rocky and covered with lots of trees, whereas they are covered for the most part with pebbles and sagebrush. Perhaps my hopes will be realized farther West where the eli mate is not so dry.
 I think the roundup and rattle snakes are the only typical Western things we have not seen on this trip We could have seen the roundup if we hadn't waited a few days in Nebras- lsa. We have seen Indians, cowboys, sheepherders, coyotes, prairie dogs, Chinese pheasants, cacti all kinds of ranches and stock. even coweir1s And such flowers, every color of the rain bow We have camped ins every kind of place, including an Indian Eeserva- ton, a swamp, a barn. and a desect- ed mining camp. We've been over dandy brick roads (Ohio) been stuck in the mud (also Ohio) so that we had to be pried out with boards. We nave skidded on slippery roads Gin Nebraska, where we had three terri ble thunder storms. three nights in circled high narrow roads where we couldn't have passed another auto or team and t would make us hold our breath to ook down; have ShiVered and baked and nearly died of homesiclz- ness but not one of us has had a cold on the trip. I have not entered a house in four weeks. We were not we met was most kind. The nights nave been so cold that I haven't had ! decent nights sleep on account cf ,old but l only lost four pounds. Bill l ost twelve pounds but he worked l harder than I did and he drcve every loot of the way while the two men in l he other car spelled each other l Don't be alarmed about his health. l as he feels perfectly well and | d six pounds since we arrived at this l 5lace.
 Mrs. W F. Dunstan
 General Delivery, Boise, Idaho.