The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-03-13
DAIsY,s MISSION.

Hell-Roaring Bar was neither pretty
nor euphOnious name, nor a reverential
one but, considering the character of its
jewellers, it was an exceedingly fitting
one for the locality that bore it. A six
months residence there convinced me
so thoroughly of this fact that / could
not conscientiously have changed a sin
gle letter of the name, even had pos
sessed the power to do SO. Not that it
savored of sulphurious odors not that
the roarings of its apparent patron saint
were ever heard echoing among the
canons that encompassed it, 1T was
peerless among all the mining camps
had ever visited in California.
I was sent there in the summer of
1853 by a San Francisco firm, to close
out business that was drifting into in
voluntary bankruptcy, and long dusty
ride found me there early in June of that
wear. A view of the camp from the
mountain had not impressed me favora
bly, with it, and nearer acquaintance
only confirmed that impression but,
like half-reluctant bridegroom, had
resolved TO take it for "better or
worse" with but slight hope, however,
that it would prove any better than it
looked.
80" Hello, deacon what do you want in
Hell-Roarin Preachers don't stand
much show in these diggins. You amt
wanted better git y
alighted from ly mule, tired and out of
humor, and felt half inclined to resent
the brusque, unmannerly salutation,
but did not It was not conscious
ness of the truth that uieted me for
my appearance was certainly slightly
clerical. True, [ had perfect right to
differ In opinion with the speaker, for
ofsyverity this was just the place where
preachers were wanted, and just the
place where they should stay but, max
ing no professions of goodness, held
my tongue for moment L looked up;
Il brawny andpowerful figure confronted
me, and L prudently held my temper.
replied blandly that L expected to re-
main there awhile, and suggested, with
all meekness, that appearances were
sometimes deceitful. Soon the Bar was
a&2f w'fh curiosity, and crowd gath
6rcs3f @D@ni1h inch crowd Great
sbayed, deer Ii fellows, dirty and un-
6sspahohs,, marked with chronic
uas an o 8. nose every second word
rrs~res s{riplings, whose tongues
tox My fptilent and early trained
<zphemy Nnitation of their elders,
\therea rogs1 while i unsaddled my
Lllc IN sotwkward manner as to ex-
cite 16ension. These people weighed
everything, like their gold-dust, in
THEN own scales, and, measured by
their standard, / was regarded as a
worthless imposter. had " store
clothes ON. and this fact alone was too
much for the mixed conventionalism of
the Bar Buckskin and gray flannel
assumed dignity in early times among
the honest miners" more unyielding,
more exciting, than purple and fine lin
en-. Nv" boiled shirt was considered
an infrseJion, and therefore the Barwas
affronted. deacon was echoed from
mouth to mouth. Bets were offered and
freely taken that wss psalm-singer ;
gambler. with dead thing" or
"waxs2 keerds, - q lawyer; doctor; any
thing At a horse jockey or gentle
Although nettled with the un-
nt reception, could not afford
/*0ut with my new neighbors
M A9 my dnsty hat against my knee
80 wtll-assumed swagger, turned
etly and. asked If the Bar was dry.
the Bar was dry.
& W whoop the crowd adjourned
shloon---a rickety, clap-trap In
e. Nm. ;urnished with few stools and
IL tables -and the Bar drank-first
myself then with Joe Miles, pro-
kor then with the bluff individual
"a had first accosted me. Pressing
...