Letter from Mary Elizabeth Garrett to M. Carey Thomas, September 26, 1891

Dearest Minnie, Here I am more than 9000 feet above the sea, with one of the grandest views that could be conceived spread out before me, and now that I have satisfied one part of the [illegible] man by lunching, I will do what I can to satisfy another part of that same [illegible] man or woman by beginning a letter to you. First, donGÇÖt think I am doing anything imprudent. I have come only so far as I could be carried with perfect safety by four careful guides, and am not going on to the top of the Gower Grat because the freshly fallen snow has made it slippery, so that while they could I have no doubt go further, I shall not ask them to try. Besides the guides, Nicoline is my only companion and I can not say that it is a near approach to ideal conditions. Yesterday I went also in a chaise a portents to the Schwarzer See, another superb excursion, with her as guard of honor on foot and today she was so stiff that I got her a horse and a very amusing [illegible] she is on it. I am not on horseback also because of discretion. I was taken sick on Monday the day I came over the Genni, which is the reason your letter was not begun as I expected Sunday night, as I felt utterly wretched that evening and after spending my 2 first days here in bed, I have made these two excursions in this way to possibly an excess of caution. This place at least you have never been to, but if I could give you any conception of it, you would think it worthwhile to give up a little of your next summer abroad to pure nature here instead of galleries cathedrals and theatres. You know you can now come here, to Zermalt by rail, the more the shame except when your time is limited and you bless the builders of it. As I look up I see the whole chain of wonderful mountains from Monte Rose and the Matterhorn spread before me, and as I look across the [illegible] Glacier, looking as if I could easily walk over to one or all of them. Monte Rosa, two of its peaks, the H+¦chste Spitze and the Nord Spitze, the Lyskamm, the Zwillinge (Castor and Pollux), the Breithorn, the Upper Theodule Glacier, the most wonderfully beautiful long smooth silver stretch of glacier I have ever seen, the St. Theodule Pass and the mighty Matterhorn, there they all are, each with its great glaciers all honing into the Great Gorner Glacier at my feet. Just on the brow of the hill I had and shall have again the whole panorama, with the Bernese Oberland, the Silberhorn of the Tungfran even being distinctly visible. How I wish that you were here with me now just this minute! With all the splendor of glory. There are very present for my consciousness the memories of this anniversary time. The seven years that seem like seven centuries since my fatherGÇÖs death and yet in some ways so short. I wonder whether I shall live seven more. I can not say I hope it, but I do not believe that they could bring as much unhappiness as has been concentrated into these seven. Tuesday 8 A.M. Brieg I had a miserable headache Sunday and could only get up in time to get ready for the journey, which was taken amid rain and clouds. Yesterday instead of going to the Belalt I stayed to write some business things that had to go by this mail and to write to you, and just succeeded in getting through the business things by dint of taking a long rest and some antipyrine at 2 this A.M. I suppose it was the coming down 3000 feet and the warmer air. Now I am just off [illegible] for the Kline Glebacher and hope to be able to write more tonight. Lovingly yours, Mary E.G.