The two
colored men--chef and butler--rather destroy the technique of a
military camp, but they seem to be necessary adjuncts; and besides, we
are not striving for harmony and effect, but for a fine outing, each
day to be complete with its own pleasures. It was a novel experience
to come to the mountains in a private car! The camp is very complete,
as the camp of a department commander should be, and we have
everything for our comfort. We are fourteen miles from the Union
Pacific Railroad and six from Fort Bridger, from which post our tents
and supplies came. Our ice is sent from there, also, and of course the
enlisted men are from that garrison.
The party consists of General and Mrs. Bourke, Mrs. Hall, Mrs.
Bourke's sister, Mrs. Ord of Omaha, General Stanley, paymaster,
Captain Rives, judge advocate--both of the department
staff--Lieutenant Travis, junior aide-de-camp, Faye, and myself. Mrs.
Ord is a pretty woman, always wears dainty gowns, and is a favorite
with Omaha society people. I know her very well, still I hesitated
about wearing my short-skirted outing suit, fearing it would shock
her. But a day or two after we got here she said to me, "What are we
to do about those fish, Mrs. Rae? I always catch the most fish
wherever I go, but I hear that you are successful also!"
So with high spirits we started out by ourselves that very morning,
everyone laughing and betting on our number of fish as we left camp.
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