A Tour in the United States

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVII, Issue 3, 1 July 1924, Page 130

A Tour in the United States

Miss Stella C. Aston sends the following account of her tour across country m the United States : — ' ' The morning we left New Haven, Connecticut, the ground was covered m a mantle of snow, which gave it a verypeaceful appearance. "We had made many friends m this city during our eight months' sojourn, and will always remember the kindness of the nurses and doctors. Two hours' journey brought us to New York City, where we lingered only long enough to do a little business and make train connections for Chicago, 111. We travelled via the New York Central Railroad, which runs for some distance along the shore of Lake Erie. Five o'clock the next night found us m Chicago, with five hours to departing time, for the train left from another depot. We found on our tickets arrangements had been made for the transport of ourselves and baggage via motor- 'buses, and it saved us a lot of trouble and enquiry. Chicago greeted us with a temperature of 5 degrees below zero, and a cold wind off Lake Michigan. It is very noisy, as they have no subways; and being the world's largest railroad centre, you can imagine the numerous engines putting forth smoke and dirt, unlike New York, where all trains are electrified within half hour or more of the city, and they all come m underground. "We entrained at 10 p.m. for Denver, Colorado, having one hour at Omaha en route. At Denver the snow was thick on the ground, but the air was clear and crisp. We spent the day here with Miss Pearl Dahl, late of Wellington Hospital

Training School. It is interesting m this city to see the cowboys around m their leather or sneepskin breeches and sombreros. Our next halt was Colorado Springs, and while here we took a motor tour down to the Manitou Soda Springs — the 'Cave of the Winds,' a mammoth cave on the top of the mountains ; ' The Garden of the Gods,' so called because the red rock formations, grouped m various positions, give the appearance of animals, etc. ; and Seven Falls, via South Cheyenne Canyon. The Falls were frozen, and they were a pretty sight. Colorado is called the beginning of the West, and this little poem originates from there : WHERE THE WEST BEGINS. Out where the handclasp 's a little stronger, Out where a smile dwells a little longer, That's where the West begins. Where there is more of singing and less of sighing, Where there is more of giving and less of buying, Where a man makes friends without half trying, That's where the West begins. "We liked Colorado City very much, but could not spare more time here, so travelled on down to La Junta, to make connections with our train for Grand Canyon. Our route passed through Al-burquenque-New Mexico, where we had time to see the Indian building. The Indians from various tribes come m from the reservations and squat down on the lawns m front of the depot to sell their

handiwork — rugs, jewellery, pottery, etc., to the tourists. We found upon a little enquiry that, to save hotel expenses at Grand Canyon (which I might add are quite heavy), we could book on a Pullman, which was disconnected at Williams, and remain there all night. Next morning it was connected with a train going down the Canyon, arriving m time for breakfast. We breakfasted at El Tovar Hotel, then walked along the rim of the Canyon to Yarapai Point, then back to the look-out. It is a sight I cannot describe — twelve miles across from rim to rim, and wonderful colour changes. At 4 p.m. the Indians gave a war dance. They were the Hopi Tribe, and as 'Yellow Feet/ the Chief, explained, the word 'hopi' means 'peace;' so they do not actu-

ally do a war dance,, but a victory dance. 'Yellow Feet' went on to say that the Indian names are significant, and he was not according to his name, as he had been married four times and was still eligible. They bring us back to our childhood days and the Deerfoot stories. We booked on the California Limited for Los Angeles, and it seemed like coming into summerland, coming into California; with the orange groves and the pretty little depots with lawns and flowers m front. I notice a big difference m the growth of Los Angeles, as it is three years since I was last there. We had to take an upper Pullman berth from Los Angeles. It was certainly an experience up there, but I think one feels the train movement more than m a lower berth."