Later on, a most pleasant settler,
on his way to Denver, came in his wagon having been snow blocked
two miles off, where he had been obliged to leave it and bring
his horses on here. The "Grey Mare" had a stentorian voice,
smoked a clay pipe which she passed to her children, raged at
English people, derided the courtesy of English manners, and
considered that "Please," "Thank you," and the like, were "all
bosh" when life was so short and busy. And still the snow fell
softly, and the air and earth were silent.
Letter X
A white world - Bad traveling - A millionaire's home - Pleasant
Park - Perry's Park - Stock-raising - A cattle king - The
Arkansas Divide - Birdie's sagacity - Luxury - Monument
Park - Deference to prejudice - A death scene - The Manitou - A loose
shoe - The Ute Pass - Bergens Park - A settler's home - Hayden's
Divide - Sharp criticism - Speaking the truth.
COLORADO SPRINGS, October 28.
It is difficult to make this anything of a letter. I have
been riding for a whole week, seeing wonders and greatly enjoying
the singular adventurousness and novelty of my tour, but ten
hours or more daily spent in the saddle in this rarefied,
intoxicating air, disposes one to sleep rather than to write in
the evening, and is far from conducive to mental brilliancy. The
observing faculties are developed, and the reflective lie
dormant.
That night on which I last wrote was the coldest I have yet felt.
