
We returned from our wanderings last week. On the whole had a fairly good time. I had a good glimpse of a large
section of the country. I spent 10 days in Washington, then went to Ky. where I stayed till 1st of
June, & joined wife & Julian in Chicago June 5th. I found Wm O'Connor
better than I expected to; his mind seems clear
& strong, & his lameness not very bad. But there is probably little chance of his
ever being any better. A sea voyage is the thing for him, but he will not go. He has
probably got that horrible disease called progressive locomotor
ataxia I saw him several times at his office. He felt a little insecure in
his place, but I don't believe he will be disturbed. Washington was very beautiful & I was glad to be
there again. My sleep was very poor while in Ky, but I think of it as the finest
country I have yet seen—that is the blue grass
region of it; much ahead of anything I saw in Ill. or
Ind. or Ohio. I went to St Louis, & sailed from there up to Quincy on the Missippi. I was ten days in Chicago, the N.Y. of the west, & destined to be an
enormous city. We stopped at Cleveland with friends, then at Niagara & at Utica.
Julian saw many wonders & got many ideas. I am very glad to be home again. It is
getting to be a great bore for me to gad about to see things. I hope you are better
than when I saw you. You should make a determined attempt to keep your bowells open.
It makes me
shudder when I remember what you said about their torpidity. I could not live a
month so. Your head would be all right if you could keep your bowells open. Frank
Baker said that an outward movement, such as chafing & kneeding of them by the hands would be a great help. Why can you not have your boy
do that for 1/2 hour each day, also drink a good deal of water. Hathern Hathorn
Spring water from Saratoga would be good. Also a
wet towel over the liver. Drop me a line how you are, & if you have any plan to
get away from C. for the summer.

