Greetings and salutations friends and confidants from all across the Interteleographary.

I thought it best to update you all the progress of my journey. I have arrived safely in New York city thanks to the speed and courtesy of the Greater North American Overland Carriage and Rail system. The machine that delivered me hence was a marvel of the age, their newest model, a towering behemoth a full 40 feet tall at the stern. To merely call this a locomotive would be an injustice. Sixteen wheels and two mighty boilers pulled the nearly two mile long train of coaches. It truly earns its given moniker, Chariot of the Gods! As for the train proper, it was as a city unto itself, with every luxury afforded to man available within. Thanks to the generosity of my uncle that is, I could never afford this sort of excess on my own.

At present, my uncle's airship is undergoing final preparations for the cross Atlantic portion of the sojourn. His manservant, Cliverdale, tells me that the main propeller drive has recently been upgraded, granting us six less hours suspended in the atmosphere. In a way, I almost regret it, recalling the times spent on Uncle's airship as a boy. Its a veritable palace in the sky, and I'm sure warm family memories will flood back to me the moment I set foot. A strange one that Cliverdale, there is something about his manner that is a bit unsettling. Uncle assures me that its simply because I'm not accustomed to having assistants waiting on me hand and foot, but still... I grow wary of his presence.

Perhaps it is simply because I'm nervous about my meeting. I shouldn't be. All plans are in order, and Uncle will step in and do most of the talking. He assures me that all I need to do is display the plans for my device (that still at present, I am not at liberty to divulge more information my friends), and he will handle convincing the investors of parting with their funds. Still though, what if they badger me in queries? These are powerful gentlemen, captains of industry, and despite the adventures taken in the last few years, I consider myself still but a lowly tinkerer. Perhaps I shall remind myself of the time the mole-men anointed me their king after solving that nasty spot with the cave creature. Or the adventure of the Orient, wherein I received highest honors from the noble sovereign of Shang-Ri-La (and no, I shall not betray its location, I have sworn an oath of the deepest secrecy). By the gods, I will muster the confidence somehow! (perhaps a few deep swigs of Colonel Breckinridge's All-Purpose Nerve Tonic will do the trick, they say its made with extract of genuine Cherokee snake-oil!)

Also of note! You may notice that my sponsors here on my Interteleographic Pane have been updated! Rest assured that I verify each establishment before allowing them advertising space. I can not give Lord Chumly's Haberdashery and Gogglarium higher honors! Why just this morning I visited their New York location, as in my haste I realized that I forgot to pack my morning goggles! Evening, daily, and formal were accounted for, but they in jolly old England are not as casual about such matters as we Americans. The fine young saleslady at the shop was most pleasant in helping find a suitable pair of eyewear (though none were needed in her alluring presence). I nearly spent a full hour perusing their wares.

Cliverdale has just informed me that he needs to use this Aetheroscope to conduct last minute preparations for liftoff. I shall not over extend my welcome to borrow Uncle's device, so I will be off! Wish me luck all! My next communique will be from across the pond!

Yours
Cornelius J. Huffnagle