Coming from the East they were struck with many peculiarities.

Everybody smoked in the streets, for one thing, they noticed; everybody "took a drink" in an open manner whenever he wished to do so or was asked, as if the habit needed no concealment or apology.

In the evening when they walked about they found people sitting on the door-steps of their dwellings, in a manner not usual in a northern city; in front of some of the hotels and saloons the side walks were filled with chairs and benches--Paris fashion, said Harry--upon which people lounged in these warm spring evenings, smoking, always smoking; and the clink of glasses and of billiard balls was in the air.

It was delightful.
Harry at once found on landing that his back-woods custom would not be needed in St.Louis, and that, in fact, he had need of all the resources of his wardrobe to keep even with the young swells of the town.

But this did not much matter, for Harry was always superior to his clothes.
As they were likely to be detained some time in the city, Harry told Philip that he was going to improve his time.