Year: 1867




king another extensive tour through
the eastern cities, | happened to think
the best thing l could do would be TO
write YOU a letter, both for my own
amusement and that Of your readers.


Without going back TO my travels
| shall commence with Chicago, as il
will furnish subjects for any number
of letters.


Finding that hotel charges made
my pocket-book rather unhealthy. /
picked up the morning Tribune and
glanced at the list of


BOARDING HOUSES


that desired TO I'LL Hp;" and seeing a
modest advertisement, l made up my
mind to call and see if / could be &C
commodated Half an hour later
found me at the door of a neat, two.
story frame house


was shortly confronted by the
lady of the house, who desired to know
if l had applied for board an
swered in the Affirmative, and asked if
she could accommodate me with
suitable room. She told me she
| thought she could; and following her
up a narrow stairway and turning
several angles, she presented to my
view room about nine by eleven feet
IN size, containing a neat bed. marble
top table, wash-stand, two nice chairs
and sundry other pieces of furniture;
but on looking a the floor found that
the carpet looked shabby; however, l
didn't mind that much, as the general
appearance Of the room was good. l
made up my mind TO engage it if We
could agree on terms. TERMS" said
she, "are eight dollars a week in ad-
vance, and think you will be per
fectly contented; We have good beds,
and not single bed bug anywhere


Thinking, charges reasonable, J, l paid
the required amount, and told her l
would bethere for tea, and would have
my trunk sent around nthe morning.
Going into the parlor With her as she
desired me- TO be posted with regard TO
the house, we came in contact with
a young lady who was introduced to
me as her daughter: pleasant look,
ing girl of about eighteen summers,
and who, it seems, had Just come IN
after taking walk. She was dres-
sed in the latest style; and for the ben
eft of your lady readers, l shall try
and describe her.


She wore short walking dress of
fancy Biaritz, of the Bismark shade of
brown, neatly trimmed, sack with
long tapering sleeves with bead trim
ming. On her feet a pair of high bal
morals, from the top of which hung
two pairs Of red tassels Having been
in the boot and shoe business I could
plainly see that they were number
fves covering pair Of number sevens,
which caused her TO. forget all her
other miseries-very likely. Clan
cling upward, we find on her dainty
ears pair of long gold earrings, back
of which was a ciigaon Of a new pat,
tern, terminating in a point ffty-si1
degrees above the horizon, and which
reminded me very forcibly of a muzzle
on greyhound; and on the top of
which was dainty bonnet Of white
silk about FIVE inches square; properly
called by the trade ''lamp-mats, which
contrasted nicely with her golden
curls. (I forgot to mention that two
Of such curls were suspended from the
chignon-a la Japanese.)


If my darling wife were in this part
Of the country, she would probably
dictate methiBg different from this
| always get into stew when buying
any thing for the dear creatures; for
before leaving her thought It prorer
to make her a present Of new bon
net or something of that sort; so I
went into millinery store bought
one of the aforesaid ..lamp-mats, -
onsy paid fifteen dollars for it II put
il in nv pocket-book and took the
lightning express for home, for fear it
would be out of style before l got
there fashions change so suddenly
nowadays.


But TO resume. NJ subject this
time | believe Is boarding houses, and
now | will Try TO describe our supper.
We had beefsteak | had some. and
thought they had put in soIe-leather
BY m stake Hash, by way OF variety,
for people with tender teeth: weak
tea aud strong butter, on which land
ladies'. generally make their money:
hot roll apiece. having once seen more
tender davs, but which reminded me
Of the wear 1864 in Dixie.