Dear America:
West to a Land of Plenty:
The Diary of Teresa Angelino Viscardi, New York to Idaho Territory, 1883
by Jim Murphy
ISBN: 0-590-22651-7
An Italian family's quest for land and a new life takes them across America to a utopian community.
Saturday, April 7
Mr. Anderson came to our car to talk to us right after
breakfast. I thought I would dislike him immediately, but did not.
He is tall and distinguished looking and seemed not to notice the
smell of garlic and sausage and boiled potatoes and cabbage and onions... Mr. Anderson introduced himself and then said,
"...Each one of you is a pioneer in the true spirit of this country...."
He told us that the "hardships of the journey will soon give way to
the pleasures and pride of new homes and new lives...." I don't know about this as I was perfectly happy in my old home and old life, but
Mr. Anderson has a nice voice and the Idaho Territory didn't seem
so impossibly far away today...