Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-11-04

Unity Me-. Nov. 3.-Dr. E. NJ.
Soule of Unity In company with his
family. has just completed a trip
across the continent from Maine to
California in an automobile. He has
written home to his friends concern
ing the trip.
DR.. Souie is Unity's sole dentist
(teeth not feet) and in fact the only
one for some miles around, so that
folks of that community will have to
do away with aches and pains of the
molars and such until the doctor re-
turns.
Here is some of the letter which he
wrote home to one friend:
Napa, Calf.
Dear RI
Wish 1 could send you a circum-
stantial account of all of our trip but
If l could tell every little interesting
incident it would take a weeks time
and much paper and ink. So l will
just try and hit the high places of
interest. l really did not enter into
the spirit of things until we crossed
the Mississippi.
You know how I pride myself on
selecting camping equipment and
upon the addition of two small pals,
one to wash in, the other for cooking
and a new two-gallon oil can for
water. We were very comfortably
fixed. The auto bed was a complete
success and very comfortable for
camping.
While we were in thickly settled
communities we experienced a little
difficulty. in finding suitable camping
grounds. Usually we drove a short
distance up some cross road, away
from much traffic and finding a high,
dry and level spot made our camp.
We pitched the camp at right angle
| to the car, the door facing the auto
and about two feet distant. This
| furnished a dressing room as well as
! bedroom for Bel, who by the way
passed her 18th birthday while en-
route. l had with us steel tent pegs
| which were light to crazy and SIM
plified the process of setting up the
| tent, so we could do it in about ten
minutes.
Burned sage brush is the universal
fuel of the plainsman and is ideal for
| camp fire. 1t is prepared with
slight effort, burns with a quick hot
| fame. even when green. to a bed of
| fine lasting Goals for broiling and
frying. The memory of thick steak
cooked in direct contact with a bed
of these Goals certainly fingers.
We got reports from garages upon
the conditions of the roads and we
often changed our route in its minor
details not forgetting however to
keep our faces toward the setting sun.
The main highways have distinctive
| markers set up at intervals SO fol-
lowing the trail at most times was
not particularly difficult.
While we were in Fort Wayne, Ind,
we stepped into a garage and asked
we could find the Lincoln Highway.
We had pursued that road hopefully
and trustfully but had not sue
| ceeded in finding it until it seemed
like the will O. the wisp." (After-
| ward while we were upon it in Wy
oming we had the same feelings but
of that later). The man stepped to
the door. led me just off the edge of
| the sidewalk and said, You are
| now on the Lincoln highway"
pointing to a telephone pole on
which blazed out three broad bands
| of Red. White and Blue bisected by
a great letter, L. l had found it at
last and l followed - until I came to
| Salt Lake City.
| The land rises from the Mississippi
J westward in a long gradual sweep
until in Wyoming one reaches an
elevation Of 5000 feet without any
very spectacular mountain trails. We
followed here the route many of the
| pioneers traced in the days of the
Argonauts. We found an occasional
skeleton of OK or horse and specu-
lated upon the possibility of some
adventurous spirit losing his means
of transport when this beast dropped.
Late one afternoon as we were
watching for suitable camping
place we noticed people by the side
Of the road in evident excitement.
We hurried to the spot and found a
party Of four in commotion over a
rattlesnake which had occupied the
| ground where the party wished to
camp and had retired under the roots
Of a scrub FIR. A couple Of shots
from my "A annihilated the mon
ster" which was about a foot and a
| half long with two rattles. ex-