CAMPING WITH THE PRESIDENT 69 



Grand Canon up the Yellowstone that morning, and, 

 in order to give myself a walk over the crisp snow in 

 the clear, frosty air, I set out a little while in advance 

 of the teams. As I did so, I saw the President, accom- 

 panied by one of the teamsters, walking hurriedly 

 toward the barn to pay his last respects to the body 

 of Marvin. After we had returned to Mammoth Hot 

 Springs, he made inquiries for the young woman to 

 whom he had been told that Marvin was engaged to 

 be married. He looked her up, and sat a long time 

 with her in her home, offering his sympathy, and speak- 

 ing words of consolation. The act shows the depth 

 and breadth of his humanity. 



At the Canon Hotel the snow was very deep, and 

 had become so soft from the warmth of the earth be- 

 neath, as well as from the sun above, that we could 

 only reach the brink of the Canon on skis. The Presi- 

 dent and Major Pitcher had used skis before, but I 

 had not, and, starting out without the customary pole, 

 I soon came to grief. The snow gave way beneath 

 me, and I was soon in an awkward predicament. 

 The more I struggled, the lower my head and shoul- 

 ders went, till only my heels, strapped to those long 

 timbers, protruded above the snow. To reverse my 

 position was impossible till some one came, and reached 

 me the end of a pole, and pulled me upright. But I 

 very soon got the hang of the things, and the Presi- 

 dent and I quickly left the superintendent behind. 

 I think I could have passed the President, but my man- 

 ners forbade. He was heavier than I was, and broke 

 in more. When one of his feet would go down half a 

 yard or more, I noted with admiration the skilled 

 diplomacy he displayed in extricating it. The tend- 



