AMERICAN IMPRESSIONS 213 



2000 ft., and the Alpine Zone above it is not rich. By 

 going into the range from three different points, La Veta, 

 near New Mexico, Pueblo (the Arkansas), and Colorado 

 Springs (a feeder of the Arkansas), and Georgetown (the 

 Platte) on the North, we had a fair general view of the 

 Colorado vegetation from 4000 to 14,000 ft., yielding me 

 altogether about 500 species I think, of which I have dried 

 small specimens. 



After these explorations we came up to Cheyenne on 

 the main line of rail from the Mississippi to the West, and 

 took it across the E. Mts. to Ogden in Utah, whence a branch 

 36 miles long runs between the Wahsatch Mts. (12,000 ft., 

 with rocky peaks and patches of snow) and Salt Lake, to Salt 

 Lake City, where we arrived last night and whence I write. 



You expressed an interest in hearing about the manners, 

 social &c. of the Americans as they impressed me. Of 

 course all such impressions must touch principally upon 

 very superficial observation. The New Englanders are 

 most like us in language, speech, and habits, and have least 

 of the nasal twang, which is simply obtrusive and detestable. 

 As a rule I find the Americans too loquacious, for ever 

 praising themselves and introducing you to most remarkable 

 men. They think the curious things of their country have 

 no parallel with us, and forget how ' Colonial ' they appear 

 to us. Their high sharp voices, and of the women especially, 

 is the most grating feature of their life to us. In other 

 respects they are superior to us, as in education, civility, 

 great desire to oblige and take trouble for you, decent, 

 cleanly manners, clean shirts and a far superior condition 

 and manner of the official and subofficial classes attached 

 to public conveyances and to Hotels, &c. These people 

 are most universally well conducted, civil and obliging to 

 all, far more so than with us. Meal hours are at very irregular 

 times. At Hotels you pay so much a day for everything 

 whether you eat or no. The food is most abundant, waste- 

 fully so, and I do not like the little messes of endless meats, 

 breadstuffs, and vegetables that are served to each at all 

 meals. Each individual is surrounded by a constellation 

 of little thick white plates, which the waiters throw down and 

 about like quoits, making a dreadful clatter all through the 

 huge or small dining-halls. Few drink at meals anything 



