Petrified Log
191112648Seattle 1911. 13.25 x 8.75" stitched plain grey wrappers 22 leaves illustrated with pasted in photographic magazine clippings; title page 15 typed text pages 12 page diary two pages of poetry and one page of statistics four illustration pages one page with a newspaper clipping one blank. A typescript account of an all-girls trip taken by the students of Professor Henry Landes at the University of Washington. Called the "Traveling School of Geology" this five week excursion to Victoria Island and to Northwest and Southwest Washington State consisted of ten girls and five staff members including "Madame Oakley" a chaperone and Landes Dean of Science and founding member of the University's geology department each individual is listed on the title page. This vivid playful account is mostly about adventures and hijinks rather than science with descriptions of clothing food and flirtations "studying heology instead of geology" throughout as well as lively accounts of mountain climbing camping local color and the participants. The group first toured Victoria Island and the San Juan Islands before visited the Cascades including an ascent of Pinnacle Peak and the climbing of glaciers on Mt. Rainier. The close bonds of the women comes through quite strongly with their silly nicknames "Madame Moraine" "Bonnie Boulder" etc used throughout and the long poem at the end describing the various subsets of five within the ten students "There were five who wore knickers and five who wore skirts and five who on the mountain always wore shirts." <br /> <br /> The confident carefree personalities of the girls are apparent for instance when one girl climbs onto an oil can to give a speech on a wharf in coastal Washington or when the girls spontaneously jump into the water to swim much to the chagrin of Professor Landes:<br /> <br /> "On the wharf due to 'Germany's' oratorical ability she was hastily lifted to the top of an oil can in order that she might give us an example of her 'ladies and gentleman'. During this flowery outburst our eminent fishologist 'Middy' employed her leisure time chasing 'Uneeda' with a rat-fish and 'Boots' made a doll-baby of kelp.It was about this time that 'Uneeda' replied to 'Madam' that she was studying heology and not geology. Was it this reply that caused Mr. Gilliam to offer to furnish her specimens of tear drop rocks at La Conner" July 11 1911<br /> <br /> "The 'Call of the Wild' was so strong that they could resist it no longer. Away they went into the water!.They were seagulls. They could scarcely be distinguished from their untamed relatives as they shrieked to each other while paddling around in the water.The Professor finally succeeded in coaxing them out of the water by promising them a launch-ride to Tikeland." August 1 1911<br /> <br /> Of particular interest are the passages describing the group as they hiked trails climbed mountains and crossed glaciers:<br /> <br /> "Another plunge into the forest for seven miles down grade and camp was near. 'Uneeda' began to lag so 'Bonnie' gave her a fifth egg which revived her. 'Dude' begged to be left by the wayside to die but Prof. Landes called her attention to a hickory stick and no more complaint was heard. Dinner served at 7:00 p.m. and all unconscious by 9:00 after a feast of cherries brought in by 'Boots'." July 8 1911<br /> <br /> "At 8:30 A.M. started for Pinnacle Peak to get what was to many of the party their first experience in mountain climbing. Antitalus in her No. 8 boots several skirtless among them modest Dakota and all with hideously painted faces carrying lunches and gay bandannas tied to their belts.Prof Landes determined to take everyone to the summit. After constant help from the patient professor Tailus gave a shout of victory from the top and considered herself quite a heroine.That night 'Uneeda' still held her own at dinner. Ate in relays and won an eating contest with 'Milwaukee'. For a part of the day a man joined our party and of course the 'Dude' monopolized him." July 19 1911<br /> <br /> A page of statistics at the end notes that the group traveled 1749 miles in total of which 184.5 was on foot. A vivid playful account of an early outdoor education expedition for women. In good condition with printed title label that was once on cover missing chipping to edges of wraps stain to lower corner of front wrap. paperback
Caroliniana · États-Unis1 250,00 $US≈ 1 057,63 €
