Letter from Grace McClurg to her "dear folks," August 28, 1910

Goldfield, Colo.,
8/28, ’10.

My dear folks:
“there is a pleasure in the pathless woods;
There's a rapture on the lovely shore;
There's a Society where now intrudes,
by the deep sea, and the music in its roar:
not that I love man the less, but Nature more.
From these our interviews, in which I start
from all I may be, or have been before,
to mingle with the universe, and feel
what I can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal.”

- Byron.

Away off on the hills, out of sight of a house or any living creature except a few mag-pies and black-birds. One can roam the hills here with impunity, for snakes are almost unknown, and there is even less danger from thugs. One of the Minnesota boys left this a.m. So I came down to the 7:30 train to tell him goodbye, then a 25 min. Climb brought me to this spot, the most glorious I have seen yet. And curled on the ground on the sunny side of a pine, using a comfortable boulder as a writing table. Have been resting my head a while on it, and almost went to sleep. It is pretty hot here now, but the shady side is too cold with the cold wind coming that way. As usual I wish you all here. Wouldn't it be bliss to camp out here about two weeks? If I could only have about that long a carefree stay in the hills, I would be OK for school. As it is, I am going to be far more ready than I was last fall. Still I am counting the days left – only 6 more for canvassing, unless I do not do well and have to put in a couple of days the week I expected to sew. Did not (over) do you quite as well this past week as I had planned, but may make up for it next week. The past has been a sort of off week. Often when I get so tired out, and do not feel extra good, it seems, “What’s the use to struggle on any longer?” But when I stopped to consider the difference my schoolwork is going to always make in my life, when I realized how much more I can appreciate everything and everybody, I want to go on. Then I think so often when I see the different rock formations, etc. As a tramp over the hills, “What if I only understood a little about geology, how much more I would enjoy these trips.” I will study geology next year. Another summer I could enjoy not only the beauty of all this, but could revel in mind pictures of what the region used to be ages ago, and how God has changed it all; how he threw up the mountains so that great round beautiful red boulders are in one heap, how jagged gray rocks pile up into another mass, how the great layers of striated rock lie horizontal, or stand perpendicular with their defiant edges sticking straight up above the soil to make the ignorant wonder a thousand questions. Oh, if I only knew things. One miner was telling me why the gold lays in veins. When volcanic action was casting up the earth's crust and breaking it into pieces, crevices were cracked all through the rock. Some kind of mineral deposits, seeping through in the water, united with other chemicals, and some kind of a chemical action taking place, due to the pressure or something, produced the particles of gold. Oh, so many wonderful things in this wonderful world of ours. I want to visit a “gold mill” before I go, and have a bid to visit one next week.

Am getting to be a regular native of the natives out here. Can climb and walk better than the most of them. Climbed this hill in 25 min. and 30 min. is considered excellent time. The climbing and walking is a boon for me. Will go down for dinner at noon. S.S. and church is in the p.m. here. Yesterday, I saw a woman - beautiful strong brunette face - dressed with slouch hat, sweater, ugly yellow denim climbing skirt, and yellow miners boots (laced high shoes) and I almost envied her. Few women around here realized their opportunities, but stagnate in their homes or find no pleasure outside of lodges, neighbors, etc.

There are three things I would love to do before leaving: go down to Canon City to go through Royal Gorge; take a day's jaunt with some one out to Box Canon, about 5 min. out from C.C.; have a good long pony-ride out into the hills, perhaps all day. I see no prospect of the first or last, for they both cost money. The second, I think I can take. Told you about that last Sun. If Sullivan can't arrange to have me go, I think I'll ask that bachelor who gave us the plates to take me. I can do so without losing a mite of respect. Had thot of going over to C.C. this p.m. Late, but do not believe I will.

Oh, If you could only be here. Off to the South are the great high mountains. From here, they appear to rise in three ranges. The first is merely a line of irregular hills, with the pines, pasture, and trails distinct. The second range takes on the blue tint of the haze, and individual hills are less distinct. The far range, walled up against the sky is a deep blue, the separate peaks marked only by different densities of the blue. Rarely a patch of snow can be seen now. Off to the east, these (over) first two lines of hill separate, leaving a great V, known as the Canon Valley, a great fruit country. I can see the smoke of Canon City, but can distinguish only the dark spot of a town, for it is 40 mi. Away. Away out are occasional spots of silver, ponds for some ranchman's cattle. It is just as pretty on the side of this hill which I came up. Pike’s Peak looks but a step off to the right, and all the jagged foothills leading that way are very plain. Wish you could see that. No pines there. Nothing but red or terra cotta rocks. The peak is rounded off, looking so peaceful, but the foothills rise up so sharp as if they would resent any intrusion on the old bother taking his ease behind and I believe they would. I will always regret more or less not getting to climb the peak, but I scarcely see how I can get it in, and it may be expedient not to go. It will suffice to be steeped in the beauty of these smaller climbs, which are more accessible. Oh, shaw, I am not going to try to tell what else one sees from the other side of the hill. Words are so vain. I'm hoping to get a good picture of the Goldfield side of Big Bull Hill which shows the mines “dumps” of refuse ore better than any other place around.

Writing of it put me in the notion to come over on this side of the hill. The cold wind is just sweeping up the hillside, but I am on the windward side of a friendly pine,and can finish. The sun is not so hot now. This fragrant pine smell will increase my appetite for dinner. Coming across, picked samples of a few of the mountain flowers. One is a mountain blue-bell. Another is a specie of dandelion. The purple blooms at home, tho much more luxuriant than here. Picked about a dozen wild raspberries on the way. Bushes 6 to 8 inches high. Goldfield and Victor Spread out below. Behind Bull Hill is the summit of my old friend Pisgah. A small hill shuts Cr.Cr. out of sight.

Letter from Ethel this week. She had a grand trip, arrived O.K., and is with her aunt in the swellest home she has ever been in. Her aunt wants her to stay all winter, and doubtless she will, and will have the time of her life.

I changed places to stay last night. Doesn't God always provide for the right thing at the right time when one trusts him? G. Is such a dead town in a business way and otherwise, that it would take a power of energy to keep cheerful without some cheerful environment. Rather expected to keep my room at V. but Mrs. Sipe has company coming tomorrow, and had to have it. That meant move. Wed. When I came here to work, called on the primary supt. for information about S.S. Children, and incidentally asked about a place to stay. When I left, she called me back and said I could stay with them, a widow and 18-year old daughter. Fine girl, I was not to decide at once. Had left my lunch there to call for at noon and when I got back they had company and had a place fixed for me to eat. Felt instantly at home, and am assured that it is the best place in town for me. Your letter will be forwarded tomorrow. Next week, address me at Cripple Creek. 307 E. Carr.

Did Harry tell you of his kindness to me? By paying cash for my books, the Co. Pays freight, thus saving me $8 or $10. Wrote him for $150.00 for a month's time, and got it without interest or note. I tell you, one appreciates those things. Didn't think it would take quite that much, and expected to have $5 or $10 to get my sewing with, but it took the whole check. Was (over) wondering as I came up whether it wouldn't loan me that much for a couple of weeks. I am sure I will not collect enough deposits to do me. I should like to have him write at once what he can do. How does he like fireing? Harry wrote about it, too.

The “short line” Train is just winding around Bull Hill away way down there. Think! In two weeks from Tues., if I can get my delivering done in time, I will be taking that train back for the east. Can hardly wait, because the meantime holds so much hard work, yet I hate to leave too.

You know I have been telling you that John Sipe looks so much like Dwinell. We printed some more pictures of him last night, And I will send you mine as proof of my statements. You can send them on to Pearl, and she can return them to me. I should be very sorry to have them lost. John and I have had some great old romps together, and I will miss him. Would like to drop in on Pearl for her birthday. You might send this letter on to her for a birthday letter, provided she send it back again. Sometime I want all my last two years letters again, for I do not have time to keep a diary, and should always regret not having something to recall the details of events and associations that will drop out of one's mind as the crowded years push on. Mr. Sipe Has some films of Box Canon, and I took off a few prints for myself. We'll enclose those two, to be returned. Wish I could afford to take a lot of pictures myself. Have remarkable success in printing. Spoiled not a single one in 4 ? doz. Cards and paper prints. Cost Sipes $1.65 for 3 ? doz prints of John, 6 positions, and they are more delighted with them than with the photographer’s at $1.50 per doz., and only one picture on a card. We three worked only about an hour last night. Mrs. Colaw Has dinner about ready, so I must hike. Goodbye with lots of love from Grace. Have been up here 3 ? hrs.