Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-01-16
FIRST GRAND BALL In YOSEMITE.

we WcEe CaIll DSo OA IllC Oahh Vi bhS
MERGED river, about mile above the
hotels in the Yosemite Valley. There
were four of us-Mathew, man from
Visalia, university student, and the
writer. Mathew and l were travelling
companions. We had started along
from the City of Oaks, had camped
and cooked together, fought mosqui-
toes at Grayson, SWAN the sloughs of
the San Joaquin, and sweltered in
unison upon the great alkali plains be-
tore reaching the cooling Sierra. The
man from Visalia and the student had
Joined US in the valley, and together
we duelt in harmony in two canvas
tents beside the river, and i'll front of
the great Y Yosemite fall.
All in all, we were very happy
Above and below US on the river
were campers from San Jose, Stock ton,
and other parts of the State, and in
every camp except our own there was
q pretty girl. The valley tcemed
with Hebes in boomers, and a jollier
crew never walked the echoes of that
wild paradise. They flirted, rode
astride, raced and tumbled about ON
the ground like kittens, and there was
no daredevil enterprise too spicy for
them. AT night they would some
times invade our camp ell masse, and
the student was in his glory. He had
q guitar, and could sing, and possessed
4 faculty of making love to four or
five girls at one time which filled the
man from Visalia and the writer with
envy.
For ten days our felicity was COM
plete. These were in the good old
times, when but one wagon road led
into Yosemite Valley, and when a
white shirt was q rarity and Sarato-
ga trunk a sacrilege. Men went to
Yosemite to get rid of the smoke and
the noise of the city, and to free
themselves for season from the con-
ventionalities of society. In hugo
boots and blue shirts, unshaven and
unshorn, they stood face to face with
nature, and went away better men for
the interview. These days were coming
to an end, however. A new wagon
road leading into the valley was about
to be opened, and we were destined to
witness the Inauguration of a new
era. Fashion and dress and the frivol-
tiles of conventional life were to in-
wade natures last stronghold and take
possession.
1t was thought, however, by the
residents and pleasure-seekers i'll the
valley, that this was fit subject over
which to rejoice, and day was fixed
for grand turnout and celebration,
to be crowned in the evening by q
dance at one of the hotels. Every
one was invited to participate, and q
futter of pleasurable expectancy
reigned in the various camps. We
were the only exceptions. On the
evening before the celebration we sat
around the campfire-all four of us
silent and gloomy. The river ran
gayly past. and the last rays of the
setting sun lit up the great fall, which
hung like golden cloud against the
wall of rock above us. The voices o
happy stragglers could be heard
laughing and caroling through the
valley and everything seemed out OF
tune with our detected spirits. The
student, who was the saddest man Of
the four, was the first to break the ST.
lence.
well, boys" he remarked, ain the
language of an eminent divine, 'what
AIe YOU going to do about it?' The
stage came In this afternoon loaded
down with kid-gloved sweIls from
San Francisco and Sacramento and ,
new batch will doubtless he in 70
morrow. They will probabIv trx r.
make the ball Tomorrow evc,;ne
such a high toned affair that a MAJ
without white shirt and a calf-skil
gaiter will stand no chance
"If was Governor of California,
said Visalia, 81 would demolish ever
wagon leading into the valley.
would make it penal offenss for
man 10 bring in Saratoga trunk, an
would sentence any man who shoul
mention Or wear or ever make an
Ieierence to white shirt, while i
tan valley, to eat Mats biscuits 70
six months"
Mat, who was slicing a side of ba
con At the time, quietly wiped hi
looms, but said NOTHING
"Do the girls know our s;tpat;on7,
Iasked. 'i'ua'ion'
mo, but they take it for grante,
that we will be at the dance an
swered the student. They A.. ~
going; but l doubt not, from certs; =,
little asides l heard to-day, that the,
are nearly as troubled about thi, .n i
Ject of dress as we are."
"A girl dos not need any clothes
blHr'ed out Visalia, cor at least