The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-02-27
gllisrellaGeons.
From the Overland Monthly OF December.
DAISY'S MISSION.

DAISY'S MISSION.
Hell Roaring Bar was neither
pretty nor euphonious name, nor a
reverential one; but, considering the
character OF its dwellers. 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 consci-
entiously have changed letter of the
name, even had / power to do so.
Not that it savored of sulphurous
odors; not that the roaring OF the
apparent patron saint we're ever heard
echoing among the canons that en-
compsssed it; but for sinfulness, and
wica edness, and riotous debauchery,
it was peerless among all the mining
camps / have ever visited in Cslifor-
MIA.
Twas sent there in 1873 by San
Francisco firm, to close out a busi-
ness that was drifting into inVolun-
tsry bankruptcy, and a long, dusty
ride found me there early in July
of that year. A view Of the camp
from the mountain had not impressed
me favorably, and q nearer scqusin-
tsnce only confirmed that first impres-
sion; hut, like hslf-reluctant BRIDE
groom, / had resolved to take it for
better or for worse" with but slight
hope, however, that it would prove
any better than it looked.
Hello, Deaconl What do yo.s
want in Hell-Roarin' /? Preachers
don't stand much show in these dig
gins you amt wanted; better git p'
This was my greeting. had just
alighted from my mule, tired and out
of humor, and felt Inclined to resent
the brusque, unmannerly salutation,
but did not, 1t was not q conscious
ness of the truth that quieted me,
tor my appearance was certainly
slightly clerical. True, had a per-
feet right to differ in opinion with
the speaker, for Of a verify this was
ljust the place where preachers were
wanted, and just the place they
should stay; but, making no profes-
sions OF EOdliness, held my tongue
for moment. looked up; brawny
and powerful figure confronted me,
and 1 replied blandly that 1 expected
to remain there q while, and suggest
ed, with sll meekness, that appear
snees we're sometimes deceitful. Soon
the Bar was agog with curiosity, and
crowd gathered. And such 8
crowd great brosd-shouldered fell
lows, dirty and unshaved, deeply
marked with chronic dissipation,
whose every second word was an
oath; stripplings, whose tongues
were volubly impudent, and early
trained to blasphemy in imitation
of their elders, gathered around,
while l unssddled my mule in go
awkward manner as to excite deri-
, sion. These people weighed every
thing, like their gold dust, in their
. own scales, and, measured by their
. standard, l was regarded as an Impos-
ter. l had store clothes'' on, snd
! this fact was too much for the fixed
conventionalism OF the Bar. Buck
skin snd gray flannel assumed dig
nifty In early times among the "honest
, miners more unyielding, more ex
: acting, :haI purple and fine linen,
My "boiled s'.irt' was considered sn
J lnfrsction, and therefore the Bar was
: sffronted. Deacon was echoed
; from mouth 10 mouth. BITS were
{ offered and freely taken that / was g
psalm singer a gambler with 8
q" dead thing,h or "Waxed keerds :"
, q lawyer, a doctor, anything but q
! horse Jockey or q gentleman. AL
r though nettled with the uneourteous
reception, could not afford to fall
I out with mynew neighbors. Beating
: my dusty hat against my knee with a
I Well-sssumed swagger, turned quiet
: ly, and asked if the Bar was dry.
E And the Bar SeGs dry.
With a vhooD, the crowd adjourned
to the saloon, a rickety, clap board
q institution, furnished with few stools
Z and rough tsbles, and the Bar drank,
first with myself; then with the bluff
individual who first accosted me.
e Pressing through the crowd, be held
e out bis big, rough hand, snd taking
s mine, ne led me forward with some
q thing OF a triumphant air.
a "Boys,' be said, "I take it all
. back. This is my old skipper; came
: out with him in '49. He sin't No
, preacher he spends his money Ill
I man, and don't whine Any q
e that don't like 'im can call on
: Thorp. That's me, boysl Let's
: suthin' -
, Finding that things had "a
/ unexpected turr, | immediat
J, advantage of .he new
r Thorp stood spousor for N
: emphatic assurance oil my
= like value of money put
I good humor; so expls
7 lness, and hoped to res
E the boys. And ! won
;. Of these people, not
, their tastes, or by faI s
a practices, but by
; business. While abI
bing against thei
!. scrupulously syoi
With their plea H
Z with them in thIs S
they respected s i
Q did not seem j g.
: bolsterous IA -
) i INDUCED
: But it was r.
Then il s
I labor q ;|
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