-27- 
May 25 - B.A. 
This is one of the great holidays of the Argentine - 
celebrating 110 years of independence. San Martin being the 
hero of most of South America, a Te Deum Mass was sung at 
the cathedral where San Martin is buried. We couldn't get in, 
but we walked down as near the Plazo de Mayo as we could get, 
and saw the guard of honor, the cadets, and the mounted guard. 
The mounted guard, with their beautifully matched horses, 
and their splendid uniforms of navy and red, were most- pic- 
turesque, and as they sat at attention, with swords drawn, for 
over an hour, gave evidence of being well-disciplined. The 
town is very gay with blue and white banners floating everywhere. 
May 26 - B.A . 
Dr. Gray left us today as he is sailing home on the 
Argentina. The po icemen also got off. Y/e intended to 
go down to see the ship sail, but as we were catching a train 
at seven-ten, and the ship sailed at eight, it was not practi- 
cable. Dr. John left me a parting \ resent of a gaucho belt 
of cowhide with the hair on, fastened with a handsome silver 
buckle - very good-looking, and I an thrilled to have it. 
We were having a final drink with theShippens before we 
all went to the station, and Bill S. pulled out a small yellow 
envelope, and proudly showed a single yellow slip of paper, 
saying "That is all it takes - for Patagonia." We had two 
slips of paper, and promptly became very much upset. Somebody 
either Bill S. or the After ' can Express - had lost one of the 
Shirtpens* tickets. Bill did some frantic last minute telephon- 
ing, and we had a wild dash for the train, where poor Bill S. 
had to buy another ticket, hoping that he would be able even- 
tually to get a refund. As we are guests of the Argentine 
government, it seems unlikely that we will be able to rectify 
this. If one loses a pass, and has to pay one's way, there is 
li ttle chance of getting one's money back. 
We had dinner on the train, and a rough night's ride. 
Evidently the engineer had a grudge against somebody onboard, 
f or never have I been so badly jolted. Every time the train 
stopped or started, I expected my better half to be thrown out 
of his upper berth, and consequent l 3 r slept not at all. 
May 27 - En route Patagonia. 
When we awoke, we were well south of Bahia Blanca*. As we 
traveled all day, turning westward as well as south, we saw the 
endless plains of Buenos Aires Province, stretching flatly 
to the horizon. Toward noon we cane into the real desert 
country, which, inconsistently enough, was mostly under water, 
d.ue to the heavy recent rains. Sand dunes were wet, roads were 
under water, and the desert vegetation was mirrored in mud puddles. 
