The Wylie Camping Company was the first (and the longest-lasting) enterprise that accommodated tourists in rustic camps within Yellowstone Park.

Mr. V. L. Berryman was associated with the company in Gardiner, Montana and, assumedly, assisted the camping expeditions.

Wylie Camping Company ceased operations in 1917, so we do not know what happened to the later career of Mr. Berryman.

In July of 1914, Mr. Berryman received a postcard from his friend or colleague, E.A.S.

The friend was engaged in an excursion in Jamestown, North Dakota.

Jamestown was created as a working town for the Northern Pacific Railroad which built a crossing of the James River at that location in Dakota Territory.

A small garrison was established there to secure the crossing until the State of North Dakota was created.

Mr. Berryman’s friend may have been engaged in another business, but it is unclear.

(This was an era in which “Dude Ranching”, popularized by Teddy Roosevelt, attracted many vacationers to the upper Great Plains.)

EAS refers to his “visit” which will last until August.

The postcard message is largely concerned with miscommunication that caused Mr. Berryman to ignore Lorenz who had hoped to see him while passing through Gardiner.

The most exciting news from EAS is that he was going to see the Ringling Brother Circus  in Jamestown.

The postcard bears a somewhat hazy photograph of flax fields in North Dakota.

North Dakota was the leading US producer of flax in the early 20th century, although the demand for fiber flax was declining.

(Cotton largely replaced domestic fiber flax production by the 20’s.)

Today, North Dakota produces seed flax for the production of oil.

In 1914, flax could be harvested as early as July, so the postcard scene may have been contemporaneous to the mailing of the postcard.

One hopes that EAS, Mr. Berryman, and Lorenz prospered in the 20th century.