U.S.S. "Juniata".

Rio Janeiro to Monte Video.

Nov 26 – 1881.

 

Dear George,

                        How are you getting along at school? You jumped a class. are you able to keep up with the class you are in. hope so. Do Alice & Frank help you in your sums? Tell them they must.

 

            We are getting nearer the South Pole than I have ever been before, or ever hope to be again. I don't fancy the weather a bit since we got south of the Equator. One or two days pleasant then a week of colder winds & rain, or a gale.

 

            We will be in Monte Video in a day or two, remain there a couple of weeks then go on through the Straits of Magellan to Valparaiso. On the other side (the Pacific) they have good weather.

 

            We have not seen a vessel since / we left Rio Janeiro 23 days ago. It has been monotonous enough. Quite a number of whales, cape pigeons, Mother Carey's chickens, & several specimens of the Albatross, such as are only seen near the Cape & south towards the pole. They are immense, about 16 feet across tip to tip of their wings. They have tried to catch one but have failed.

 

            I tried to get you something in Rio to send by the mail, but there was really nothing I could find for you, not even a good photograph of the place. Will try in Monte Video.

 

            I hope you keep well so that you will be able to go to school every day. Look out & dont get your feet wet, or take cold.

 

            I am going to send in Franks letter two specimens of mud picked up from the bottom of the sea one from 1100 & the other 2200 fathoms

 

                                                = 1¼ miles      = 2.5 miles. / You can ask Frank some Sunday to get my microscope out, I think it is in my packing box or trunk, I forget which, and look at the specimens. D^r said one was composed of fine sand & shells. I did not see them. he had his microscope.

 

            We had quite a gale a few days ago. the ship rolled 40 degrees each way. In Franks drawing tool box I gave him there is a horn protractor with the angles or degrees marked on, you can get that & lay off 40 degrees each side of a perpendicular and see how much we rolled. if you can get that protractor, ask the teacher to show you how much that 40° on each side is on the blackboard.      [small diagram of a circle bisected to show the 40° roll]

 

We did not have much sleep nights, or any comfort during the day, while that lasted.

 

            I expect we will have beastly weather going through the Straits of Magellan. 

 

I wish I could be home for your Thanksgiving turkey, if we dont get in you can imagine us feeding on beans, hard tack, canned beef & other such like luxuries. Ugh! I feel like vomiting when I see the canned beef or the beans, cooked by these Japanese barbarians, all grease. I think I should like a piece of a Dolphin, shark, walrus or fat seal just for the change.

 

What are you reading now? Tell Alice I am reading Kenilworth & she must read it.

 

            I wish you a Merry Xmas & a happy New Year when it comes in. Remember me to Miss Brock & Greely at the library when you go there & to Miss Day & Mr Cannon at the Depot & to Miss Bates when you see them. How is W^m Velocipede? broken?

 

            Much love, write me how you get along at school, &c.            Papa.

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