The next
evening I had my first adventure in high society, and it proved more
terrifying to me than any Indian fight I had ever taken part in.
Finding I had no proper raiment for a big ball, which was to be given
in my honor, "Mike" Sheridan took me to the clothing department of
Marshall Field's, where I was fitted with an evening suit.
The general's valet assisted me into these garments that evening. My
long brown hair still flowed down over my shoulders and I was
determined to go to the barber's and have it sheared before I made a
public appearance, but General Sheridan would not hear of this. He
insisted that I crown my long locks with a plug hat, but here I was
adamant. I would go to the party in my Stetson or I would not go to the
party at all.
The ball was held at the Riverside Hotel, which was then one of the
fashionable hostelries of Chicago. When I was escorted in, I was told
to give the colored boy my hat and coat--to this I violently objected.
I prized the coat beyond all my earthly possessions and intended to
take no chances with it. I was finally persuaded that the boy was a
responsible employee of the hotel and reluctantly gave him the garment.
Then I suffered myself to be led into the ballroom. Here I met a bevy
of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. Fearing every minute that
I would burst my new and tight evening clothes, I bowed to them all
around--but very stiffly.
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