.OTQ0.NTkxMjA

281 In to new & remote a lace one wd not expect to find every thing, in the way of manners & customs, moving on precisely in the grooves of the Old World. For instance, I was just too late for a ball the Ladies of Denver, availing themselves of the fact that it was leap year, had given to the gentlemen. It had been I understood a lively affair & a great success. The Ladies selected their own partners, & took the gentlemen in to supper. (one however, has heard of other instances of this) As in all new settlements the fair sex must always be in a unclear, some of the gentlemen must on this occasion have felt - crossed out learned, "With pangs before unfelt, unpitied, & alone",what it is to be a ballroom wall-flower. I arrived at Denver at 4 A.M. A few hours afterwards as I was passing the door of the Drawing room of the Hotel, a gentleman I had never seen before, came out to meet me, & conducting a Lady up to me, requested me to take her down to breakfast. I afterward became acquainted with this gentleman, & found that he was an ex-judge, who had retired from the Bench that he might resume his practice at the bar. When breakfast was over the Manager of the Hotel invited me to accompany him up stairs to the Ladies Drawing room, that he might introduce me to the Mistress of the House, & some other Ladies whom I wd? find sitting with her. These ceremonies having been got through I took a letter of