[Pg 52] I like New York, even if it is a bit commonplace and straight-laced compared with Chicago. They are great on Sunday observance in this town, and I find I am gathering a little of the same spirit myself. For instance, at an auditorium called the Haymarket, there is always a devotional service very early on Sunday mornings. I attended yesterday, and was much attracted by the ceremonies and the music. You would be surprised to see the number of ladies who are willing to be absent from[Pg 53] their comfortable homes at such an inconvenient hour. [Pg 53] Say what you will, father, New York is a hospitable place. Although an utter stranger, I was invited the other night to the house of Mr. Canfield, a very wealthy gentleman who lives in great style. Mr. Canfield is well known as a philosopher who devotes a great deal of his time to the working out of the laws of chance and sequence. Beautiful experiments are made at his home every evening before a number of invited guests, among whom are some of the most prominent men in the city. It seems that it is the custom to have the youngest and least known guest contribute largely for the evening's entertainment, so naturally I went pretty deep into my available funds. I think I have just about enough to settle my hotel bill and buy my transportation to Lake Moose-something-or-other. It will be quite necessary that I hear from you at that point, and to the point, if you don't want me to become a lumberman or a Maine guide. By the way, I've been observant and I've discovered something, though you'll doubtless not credit it. I see at last how so many[Pg 54] dunderheads marry pretty girls. Two of them—pretty girls, not dunderheads—were talking at the next table to me the other day. [Pg 54] "So she's going to marry Dick Rogers, is she?" said one. "Poor thing! He's awfully flat." "Well," replied her companion, "he's got a steam yacht, an auto, a string of saddle horses and his own golf links." "Ah, I see," murmured her companion, "a flat with all the modern improvements." Not bad for a New York girl, is it? Your affectionate son, P. P.S. I met Colonel Blough the other evening and he invited me to sit in at a poker game. Of course I refused. He was surprised, said he supposed it ran in the family, and related the details of a little business
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