Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/167

Rh fire was first raised; she deliberately walked up stairs, got her bonnet and shawl on, and went over to the Verandah to secure a room; she then went out to look at the house burning, as it was said to be the most beautiful and grand sight that was ever witnessed. She was asked if her baggage was saved, she said yes, when she had neither given up the key nor sent any one to look after her baggage, though it was very valuable; it seemed as if she was so perfectly fascinated with her beaux, and so excited by the fire, she was perfectly sure she had her baggage secured, and so lost all her clothes and money too. Her uncle had been there with her, and had only left that morning. She did not know the contrary till evening, when she was to have her head dressed for dinner, for notwithstanding all the excitement of the fire, there were but a very few who did not want their heads dressed the same as usual. All those who were able, secured rooms at the Verandah or the neighboring hotels. It was amusing to see for weeks afterward, in all the hotels and boarding-houses such crowding together as there was. I could scarcely say which amused me most, to see the people running around, hunting up their friends, or to see them running into stores, on galleries, or the roofs of houses during the fire, to see the dome of the hotel fall.

Many who were witnessing the burning of this grand floating palace, on their return, had no homes to go to, as their own had been burnt up. There were a number of houses burnt that day, and some churches. For my own part, I have no remembrance of ever making myself so generally useful as on that day, and was so worn out from going up and down stairs so