Dick and I and Louise started off for the week-end, not knowing in the
least where we were going to. Someone fetched us, our tickets were
taken and we were put on a train for Philadelphia. At Philadelphia
we were removed to a private car. The day was steaming hot, and Dick
enjoyed standing out on the balcony at the end of the car. It reminded
me of my journey to Moscow, the private car that met Kameneff was just
like it, perhaps it was made in the U. S. At Harrisburg we had an hour
to wait and went motoring in the town. First we visited the Capitol
to see George Barnard’s sculpture groups. These are attached to the
building on either side of the entrance, and they do not seem rightly
to belong to the place. Perhaps Barnard is too individualistic to be
architectural. We then drove along the riverside to the Country Club,
which was opening that day. I must say, that if Harrisburg happened
to be one’s “home-town,” or if by accident of fate one’s father or
husband’s work attached one there, I can imagine living very happily
in one of those riverside residences, bathed in sunshine, and prefaced
with a lawn and trees--overlooking the great wide river with its
islands and rapids, and the mountains beyond. It was truly grandiose.
Having in one hour “done” Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania,
we then continued our journey until we fetched up in a place called
Chambersburg. This seemed to me remote, and detached from the world.
That evening a dance made of me a total wreck, but the next day was
heavenly, spent in sleeping on the grass in the shadow of a bush. Dick
tossed hay and said it smelt of home, and there was a rivulet which
engulfed his boat, but he did not cry, he climbed onto the sluice gate
and made believe the wheel was steering a real ship, and that comforted
him. It was real, wild, ragged country, and we were happy. But it was a
long way to go for one night and one day. On Sunday night we travelled
back on the private car, sleeping fitfully. Since then Dick’s toy
trains are all private cars, and I had hoped to make a good Socialist
of him. All my work and plans are ruined. He seems to have become so
very exclusive!