dined with Doctor and Mrs. Wilder. It was a beautiful little dinner,
very delicious, and served in the daintiest manner possible. But out
here one is never quite sure of what one is eating, for sometimes the
most tempting dishes are made of almost nothing. At holiday time,
however, it seems that the post trader sends to St. Louis for turkeys,
celery, canned oysters, and other things. We have no fresh vegetables
here, except potatoes, and have to depend upon canned stores in the
commissary for a variety, and our meat consists entirely of beef,
except now and then, when we may have a treat to buffalo or antelope.

The commanding officer gave a dancing party Friday evening that was
most enjoyable. He is a widower, you know. His house is large, and the
rooms of good size, so that dancing was comfortable. The music
consisted of one violin with accordion accompaniment. This would seem
absurd in the East, but I can assure you that one accordion, when
played well by a German, is an orchestra in itself. And Doos plays
very well. The girls East may have better music to dance by, and
polished waxed floors to slip down upon, but they cannot have the
excellent partners one has at an army post, and I choose the partners!

The officers are excellent dancers--every one of them--and when you
are gliding around, your chin, or perhaps your nose, getting a scratch
now and then from a gorgeous gold epaulet, you feel as light as a
feather, and imagine yourself with a fairy prince. Of course the
officers were in full-dress uniform Friday night, so I know just what
I am talking about, scratches and all. Every woman appeared in her
finest gown. I wore my nile-green silk, which I am afraid showed off
my splendid coat of tan only too well.

The party was given for Doctor and Mrs. Anderson, who are guests of