Gen. Court Martial Rooms Denver City C T Sunday October 22nd 65 Dear Nell. Yours of October 1st was handed to me it on Friday last and now. ^ being Sunday I am going to answer it in some way or other. Everything jogs along in the usual way with slight variations We have been at work a little during the past week and have disposed of one case. and tomorrow take up another. which is, I beleive. the only one now on hand. When that is done I suppose we shall leave Denver. and I do'n't know as I shall be very sorry. We are having the most beautiful weather for October that I ever knew. and it causes great surprise hear. Warm, clear days with nights a trifle cooler… make it seem more like May than October.. The mountain tops are covered with snow. presenting quite a contrast to the pleasant valleys lying around us. The greatest excitement during the past week has been a convention for the nomination of candidates for Gov. Senators. and other state officers Colorado. as you, perhaps, already know is preparing for admission into the Union as a State during the next session of Congress. The Constitution of the new state has already been adopted by its people and all feel a great anxiety to learn the result of their application to be admitted.. The convention lasted two or three days and the town was full. There seems to be a great rush of travel to Denver at the present time. Hotels and all other boarding houses are full and the lucky chaps who can control the right of a bed is fortunate indeed. unless it serves him as ours has done three or four times during the past week. viz: give way under him and let him sleep on the floor. One night it gave down in the middle. leaving us doubled up like a jack knife. posterior on the floor and head and feet sticking up in the air. Last night the whole backside of the concern gave way leaving me against the wall with a fellow six feet high and weighing 195. atop of me.. Notwithstanding all these troubles are like our boarding house and are determined to “fight it out on this line if it takes all summer” Jokes are free and one that was perpetrated at our Hotel on a poor innocent. [illegible in original] [illegible in original] of a preacher fresh from America a few nights since was quite amusing and has found its way into the “Daily Rocky Mountain News” of this city. but not having a copy of the paper near me from which to clip the story I will tell it in my own way having nothing better to write at the present time.. Said Preacher had just arrived by the “Overland” late at night from Atchison. and applied for a bed and the clerk not wishing to turn him out upon the cold chari ties of a strange city. told him that all his beds were occuped but that he could put him in with a nice young man. who was at that moment out but would be in shortly and wished him to leave the lamp burning and the door unlocked. Mr. Preacher gratefully accepted the room and promised accordingly. The bed he was put into was occupied by one “Bob” Wilson. auctioneer for a commiss ion house in the city.. Bob came in about midnight when he was told that they had put a bedfellow in his room. and made apologies for taking the liberty which Bob. being a good natured fellow. accepted On reaching his room. he found the door locked and no noise or entreaty would induce the Rev. sir to open. Next night Bob was at home earlier but not meditating any revenge on his clerical friend until an opportunity presented itself for a joke which Bob never throws away. After preparing himself d he jumped into bed. and asked the preacher if it woul^ him if the lamp was left burning a little while as he was in the habit of reading after he went to bed Preacher said “No” so Bob commenced reading and presently scratching not thinking what he was doing. preacher soon becamse uneasy. rolled over two or three times then looked closely at Bob awhile and said, “Young man you appear to be uneasy” “Oh no.” says Bob. “my mind is easy enough” In a few moments during which Bob scratched again the Preacher asked him what was the matter. “Oh, nothing” says Bob. scratching again. “only these fellows” “What do you mean, sir” says P. “Looke here” Mr.” says Bob. “how long have you been in this country?” “Only since last night” says P” “Then” says Bob “You havent become accustomed to Gray Backs yet”! “Gray Backs! what are they sir.” Why nothing but lice sir” Preacher rolled up tight against the wall and said no more. Bob blew out the light and soon began to snore when P. carefully slid out of bed put on his clothes. and went down to the Bar Room where he took a chair and sat before the fire place all night while Bob laughed himself into a sleep that the next mornings gong failed to break. Preacher went to mountains next day to see the mines. He never was an army chaplain I'll bet Friday night I made my first appearance in society at a ball in town. From what I had heard concerning it I expected a big time. bill $5.00 got in and found a fiddle, lap viol, and dulcimer. 4 ladies and five men. Was bound to see the thing out. and accordingly stayed until about 2 o'clock danced three or four times and concluded that Denver had played out A theater opens here this week I received a letter from O.M. Cottere last Mon day. He had seen my name in the list of the officers that was published a few days before and wrote to ask me to make him a visit which I would like to do. He lives about a hundred miles from here on the Santa Fe stage line. The rival stage companies of Holladay. and Butterfield & Co. are bringing in passengers from the states very fast. Butterfield's line runs from Atchison via the Republican and Smoky Hill route in five days and a half. carrying passengers for 100. dollars. and Holladays. by the Overland route in six days and a half. carrying passengers for 150 dollars. Some think Butterfield and Co. will break Holladay down. but I think not as Holladay has the mail contract which pays him half a million a year and he can afford to lose the passengers. I think that if I ever go home it will be by the Smoky Hill route. not merely for the sake of it's being cheaper and faster but for the sake of seeing a new country. I want to see all I can before I get home. and while Uncle Sam. foots the bill. for when once I escape from his fostering care I shall be compelled to “eat my bread by the sweat of my brow” and then fare well to adventure.. Do. not hear any more from those who have gone to Fort Bridgen. Write often. and remember me to all Ed.