Letter to Marian Otis Chandler from her husband Harry

My Dear Mayne:

It is hot and dusty and lonesome, for we are in the alkali wilds of Wyoming with nothing to do or see and only to ride on and on. Under these very painful circumstances I am seeking to relieve the “white man’s burden” so far as I am concerned by inflicting a letter on you, but when you try to read this letter you will doubtless think it contributes nothing toward making the white woman’s burden lighter.

I am wishing every hour that you were with me and next time a trip is necessary you must come even if a dozen children must be left at home - see. We have been riding all the morning through Utah and past the Mormon settlements and I have decided after investigating the Mormon system thoroughly as we passed through the various places to emigrate to Salt Lake
- It seems to be just the place for an ambitious man that is for a man with ambition like your humble slave.

I could not help envying a man we saw at a small station just out of Ogden. His three wives were with him and several children with each wife. They all seemed to be in the happiest of condition and the self reliant and sturdy head of the three families must indeed be a happy man. None of his wives looked old and the two youngest were quite handsome and well (___). Our children looked (___) in comparison with these sons and daughters of this model Mormon family. I only wish you could have seen them as well as many of the strange and interesting spectacles which have been scattered along the highway through the frontier. We shall if the train is on time reach Cheyenne, Wyo. at 1:55 tomorrow morning and then I shall go to the hotel and wait until 10 o’clock am when the first train goes down to Denver reaching there about 10 am. If possible I will get out of Denver for home by Sat. morning. This would bring me to L.A. Tuesday at 7 o’clock am. Your telegram saying “all well” is just received and I am greatly relieved, for your papa had been feeling so badly the day I left that the thought that he might be too ill to go to the office had been worrying me and kept me thinking that perhaps I ought to have waited another day before starting away. We have passed through such new to me and interesting country that outside of being a little lonely the trip has been very enjoyable. We have a big train of twelve vestibuled sleepers with buffet and dining cars all the way from S. F.

A very fine looking lady with her little boy are patronizing the barber shop which is located in the end of this (the buffet) car. The lady has had a shampoo, a very elaborate one, and the boy has had his hair cut. Such is traveling (in the day) in the far West.

There is no mountain scenery on the Southern route to compare with this on the Central Pacific.

The car is shaking too badly to make writing when one has nothing to say in anyway justifiable and as the writing is certainly not readable, I will say Good bye till we meet again. With much love I am always Yours

Harry