May 1899

Recieved my call to come on a mission about May 19 and on Friday eve at 8 oclock May 26^th. I started for the train accompanied by Vienna [Booth], Hannah [Booth], Edna, Nora, Rose, Lillie, Shed, Aunt Delia [Winters Booth], Ina, Esther, Sister & Bro Boyden and several others. The train was 2 hours late and at 10.20 Aunt Susa [Young Gates] Dan [Daniel H. McAllister] & I left our homes and all the people we loved for Europe Dan and I as missionaries and Aunt Susa to attend the International Council of Women. We could not get a birth but slept qui[te] well.  

Sat 27. The trip through the mountains today was delightful. The scenery was ver[y] beautiful Mountains were covered with [page damaged] There were tall pine trees. The old Engi[nes] seemed like they were working hard, he [page damaged] they puffed and whistled going over the [page damaged]. 

Sunday 28. Today it is quite warm. [page damaged] country looks green and beautiful, rolling hills, thousands of trees. Changed trains [page damaged] Colorado Springs from the Colorado Midla[nds?] [p. 3] to the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific  

Saw Lincoln, De Moines, crossed the Mississippi river at about 3 in the morning. It did not seem as wide as I had expected. 

Monday 29^th. Arrived in Chicago. Stayed at the mission house a little while but wasted 2 hours at the depot, because I was afraid to walk around alone much and Aunt Susa wanted to write and Dan went off after the tickets. Left on the Nickel Plate Railway [a]t 4 oclock. Had to take the local train [page damaged] that we could stop at Niagara. The people [o]n the train acted horrid and it was so cro[wded] we had to sit up all night. Arrived [page damaged] [B]uffalo at about 8 in the morning and [page damaged] the train out to Niagara. There are about [page damaged] people in the City of Niagara and it was [page damaged] beautiful town. We took a carriage at the [page damaged] took a 14 mile drive so that we got [page damaged] the grand old falls from every stand [page damaged] and they are indeed every thing that [p. 4] has ever been spoken or written of them in fact I doubt if there are poets skilled enough or artists good enough to give people half an idea of what these falls are like. On either side of the river are magnificent parks covered with grass flowers and trees with beautiful walks and drives and quaint little arbors and spooning seats The little boat that sails up the river is called Maid of the Mists. There was an old man who told us that the boat for which this one was named was once going to [illegible] be seized for the debt and the captain rather than see it taken got in and sailed over the falls and the ship held out till it got to the whirl pool rapid[s] when she sprung a leak. We went on the Canada side of the river and rode over a fine [page damaged] and then came back to Buffalo and [took] the Delaware & Lackawanna for New York where we arrived at 8 oclock in the mornin 

May 31. We were on the Jersey Side and ro[de] the ferre across the river Took a street car [p. 5] and went up to Mrs. Eastons on 15 E. 59 St and she took us to the lodgings she had secured Sister [Amanda McEwan] Knight and Clara [Holbrook] were there and Aunt Gusta [Augusta Winters Grant] & Bro [Heber J.] Grant were down at breakfast. I went with Aunt Gusta to her lodgings and as I was very tired I had a sleep then got up and took a bath and got ready to go to the Museum in Central Park. There was beautiful statuary[,] jewels, pictures the one that I liked best was a woman with a veil thrown about her like she was eloping. There was also all sorts of needle work, real lace, etc. After we came out Sister Gates Dan & I took a 10 cent round Central Park We found it to be a very beautiful and delightful place, but I found it quite impossible [to?] [a]dmire the beauties of nature while there were [page damaged] [m]any beautiful people around. I think the New York women are by far the most handsome of any I have ever seen. It was just about 6 in the evening and all the aristocrates were out driving. Dressed elegantly? [p. 6] O no!!!