Illness—Death of Mrs. Francis A. Drexel 
HE annual autumn trip which all deemed impera- 
Ftive to give Mr. Drexel a complete rest from his 
1responsibilities and work was always a matter of 
long and serious deliberation by all the family, or rather 
by all the feminine members, whose decision, once made, 
carried a weight of 4 to 1 and usually passed. In 1881 
The White Mts. with their almost inexhaustible store 
of scenic beauty and mountains carved and painted in 
unspeakable grandeur by the Master-artist of the Uni­ 
verse held a charm, which had a touch of kinship because 
of former vacation tours there. So to this "Switzerland 
of America" the family trekked this 1881. 
It was a complete change from the home life, thus 
adding a piquant flavor to the stay in out of the way 
places such as Louise describes thus: 
The Flume House is a most primitive hotel. It is 15 miles on 
one side and 24 on the other from either railroad or telegraph. If 
the stage does not come of an evening we have to send 4% miles for 
our letters. The Mamma of the prop, does general housework 
while brother Seth manages the stable. Joe keeps up the dignity 
of the house in being 3 foot one way 3 foot t'other and weighing 
300 lbs. At present we keep the house—that is to say there being no 
other guests here, the meals are regulated to suit us and the public 
parlor becomes a private one. So much at home are we that Poppy 
and I—the canine demoralizers—have the excellent spot at table 
with us. The order of the day runneth thus:—Rise at 
seven, 
wash, poke and dress; breakfast; a 10 to 14 mile walk, or drive, 
tea, and then read until gradually, gradually—and sometimes the 
dissolving is kept up until eleven—Shocking!!!—