Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-02-13
The Leisure Hour.
D.ILSI'.S MISSION.

Hell-Roarng Bar was neither n pretty
nor euphoniOus name, nor reverential
one, but considering the character of its
dwelers, 1t was an exceedingly fitting one
for the locality that bore it. \ six months
residence there convinced me so thorough
ly of this fact that / could not conscen-
tiously have changed single letter of the
name, even had l possessed the power TO
do so. Not that it savored of sulphurous
odors not that the roarings Of its appar-
ent patron saint were ever heard echoing
among the canons that cncompassed II, but
for sinfulness and wick cdness and riotous
d ebauchery, it was peerless among all the
mining camps | have ever visited in Cali
fornia.
was sent there in the summer of 1853
by San Francisco firm, to close out busi-
ness that was drifting into involuntary
bankruptcy, and long dusty ride found
me there carly in June of that year. A
view of the camp from the mountain had
not impressed me favorably with il, and a
nearer acquaintance only confirmed that
first impression, but like a half-reluctant
bridegroom, had resolved TO take it for
"better or worse" with but slight hope,
however, that it would prove any better
| than il looked.
"HelloI deacon. What do.you want in
He'll Roarin'H Preachers don't stand much
show in these diggns. You amt wanted
better git!
This was my greeting. l had just alight'
ed from my mule, tired and out of humor
and felt half inclined to resent the brusque
unmannerly salutation, but did not. 1
was not a consciousness of the truth tha
quieted me, for my appearance was GER
tainly slightly clerical. True, l had per
feet right TO differ in opinion with tn
speaker, for of verify this was Just th'
place where preachers were wanted, anC
just the place where they should stay
making no professions Of godliness, hel,
my tongue for Il moment. l looked up
powerful and brawny figure confronte,
me, and prudently held my temper.
replied blandly that expected to remai
there while, and suggested, with all meek
ness, that appearances were sometimes yer.
deceltfu. Soon the bar was all agog wit
curiosity, and a large crowd gathered. An
| Sucll cfOWu! ! bfelt DfOaN- -SnOuluefeu lei
lows, dirty and unshaven, deeply marke
with chronic dissipation, whose every sec
ond word was an oath striplngs, who's
tongues were volubly impudent and earl
trained to blasphemy, by imitation of thei
elders, gathered round, while l unsaddle
my mule in so awkward manner as to eS
cite their derision. These people weighe
everything like their gold dust, in the
own scales, and measured by their stan(
2 ard, was regarded as a worthless impo
tor. had "store clothes" on, and this ia
alone was too much for the fixed CONVEX
tionalism of the bar. Buckskin and gre
o flannel assumed. a dignity in early tim
q among the "honest miners more unyielC
- ing, more exacting than purple and fiji
l. linen. My "boiled shirt" was considers
= an infraction, and, therefore, the Bar WI
affronted. "Deacon," was echoed fro
mouth to mouth. Bets were offered al
freely taken that l was psalm-singer ;
gambler, with "dead thing" or "wax
keerds !" lawyer, a doctor, anything b
5 horse jockey or gentleman. Althoui
nettled with the uncourteous reception
could not afford TO fall out with my ne
n neighbors. Beating my dusty hat agair
my knee with well assumed swagger,
d, turned quietly, and asked If the Bar W
dryT And the Bar was dryl