The Inspiration 3 



Festivities began with the "house-warming," which oc- 

 curred even before the roads were made, though twenty 

 or thirty homes were built, and others under way. It 

 happened to be a Fourth of July — the flag had been 

 broken out on the tall staff for the first time at dawn — 

 and fireworks lighted the way for the settlers as they 

 came through the sagebrush, or new-plowed fields. In 

 spite of the season, it was cool enough, in that land of 

 divine nights, to justify a modest blaze in the great 

 cobblestone chimney, in token of hospitality. Every- 

 body came in the best they had. Even dress-suits were 

 worn by those Avho had them. 



The affair was more than a "house-warming," more 

 than a social function. It sounded a new note — a note 

 of absolute democratic fellowship, for everybody was 

 formally invited and everybody came; a note, too, of 

 distinction, for it was then and there understood that 

 the social and intellectual life of the community was 

 to be placed on the highest possible plane, and stead- 

 fastly maintained at that level. Moreover, it was an- 

 nounced that on the following Thursday afternoon, and 

 every Thursday thereafter, the hostess would receive 

 the ladies of the community in her big reception room ; 

 that every lady was cordially invited ; that these affairs 

 were designed to be as fine in all respects as they would 

 be in any town or city of the land; and that in that 

 spirit each person was urged to do her part. 



And the ladies responded with alacrity and the utmost 

 good will. There were no absentees ; no one was ever 

 tardy; no one ever wore less than her best. Among 

 them were wives of professional and business men of 

 liberal culture and wide social experience. There were 



