The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-04-14
A Dirfhda Party.

On Friday night last some of the
friends of "Dick" Hasbrouck were
prompted by good will to pay him
their regards and congratulations on
the beginning of the oath year in the
progress of his manhood. All fully
appreciate the worth of his friendship
and hence can heartily wish him good
fortune and happiness for many years
to come. May his every recurring
birthday add to his worth until the
gratitude of all men with whom he
may have any connection shall be
manifest in their acts of kindness
towards him. Dick is preparing for
has and still is cultivating great firm
ness. Bland but brave, there is in him
already the fulfillment of a noble
promise. Firm in purpo O. firm in
friendship. For this he is hOnored
and respected. AS slight token of
their esteem, his friends presented him
with an easy rocking chair; new, there
fore serviceable, handsome, therefore
appreciable, entirely his own, and
therefore accommodating. Whether
it be . fit token let Dick answer some
time when resting his wearied frame
in its embrace. We ask no other boon
than that in future years, when settled
perhaps hundreds and thousands of
miles distant, he will think of his
friends when musing DER bygone days.
AS for ourselves, we hope always to
prize him as now, and never deny our
fellowship.
The evening was passed in social
chat and games and smoking the pipe
of friendship. At nine O 'clock all par
took of bOuntiful repast, which, of
course, was the leading feature of the
was in excellent mood to grow "phat"
by the combined effect of eat and
laugh.
A noticeable feature was the man.
moth pipe which all the gentlemen
smoked, and furnished by DIR. Belden.
This pipe is perhaps two inches across
the mouth, two and a-half inches deep,
with q neck one and a-half inches long
and one inch in diameter. 1t is gen.
uine meerschaum, and beautifully or
namented, with massive silver ring
around the mouth and another around
the opening at the neck, each one
fourth inch wide, and a cover or lid
over the top. The pipe without the
rings and lid presents the appearance
of one of the old crooked neck squashes
only brown instead of yellow, with the
neck bent nearly at right angles to the
head. On the lid of this pipe is the
name of its original possessor, "Wa-
Ka-da- -ha-ha." A short sketch of the
history of this pipe may interest your
readers. AS aforesaid, the pipe be-
longs to DIR. Belder, who obtained it
as a present from his brother, Hon. ID.
ID. Belden, of Colorado. The last
named gentleman, some 10 or Is years
ago, in company with party of trav-
elers, captured a young chief, WaKa-
da-ha-ha who was the possessor of the
mammoth pipe. After relating the
following incident he handed it over
to the party, at their request, when it
fell to Hon. d. d. Belden. The young
chief possessed squaw dear to his
life. 1t happened that there was dis
tressful drought, and the suflsrings Of
the poor Indians caused them to i'm
plore an old chief, who claimed the
power to move the beavers by prayer,
to pray for rain. The old chief prayed
and behold it rained but with the rain
there came terrific thunder and light
ming, and by one unlucky flash the
young chiefs squaw was made corpse.
This snraged the young chief and he
cOnfronts the mediator and charges the
blood of his lifeless squaw upon his
head. He is desperate and threatens
the old chief with assassination for the
offense. The old man not willing to
disclaim that he caused the thunder
and lightning to descend by his prayer
and yet to appease his wrath presented