North Coast Limited, U.S.A. 23 March (1918)

Well, my dear, I am now en route for the Pacific, via North Dakota, Idaho, Montana and Oregon, Portland (Oregon my firsts jumping off place and then three weeks in San Francisco... I hate these journeys. These trains become like second class liner saloons; loquacious females, card playing club-men; and porters and officials who all seem so much more important than they do on natural short trips. I have a mother and child sleeping in the upper berth above me - for two nights - and they occupy my seat in the day, so that I have to endure the society of this second class saloon Observation Car - but a "mother and child"? (Letters to His Brother Llewelyn)