The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-04-11
Lop-Cabin HOSPITALITY,


Prominent among the virtues of the
rough but not rude people OF the South
west, is the grace of hospitality. They
sometimes forget other religious pre-
cepts, but they are mot forgctful to en-
terrain strangers" Their log-cabin
latch-string generally hangs out. He
may pull it who will, and be assured of
q welcome within. But he must pull it
according to frontier etiquette, for in
their rude region, as in more refined
circles, custom prescribes the form Of
introducing ones self to a family. A
traveller may find himself at the close of
day in a land where there is no tavern.
But n log-cabin will be his inn, pro-
vided he approaches it as the pioneer
code of politeness ordains.
He nsE ride up to the fence that sep:
arates the cabin from the road, but he
should not dismount and climbt the fence
and rap at the door. Etiquette demands
that he sit on his horse until asked to
get off and come in. The following
graphic picture, reduced from one eX-
hibited by n missionary of thirty years
experience in the Southwest, shows what
The code demands of the would-be guest
Sitting on my horse, says the mission
airy, describing the method OF securing y
nights lodging and board, shouted
Hello, there!'
A pack Of hounds responded by bark
ing. A group of black children rushed
out from the negro-quarters, followed
by their sable mother, with hands COY
cred with the meal of corn-dodger sh,
was mixing for supper.
The mistress of the farm showed her
self from the door of her cabin, stock
ingless, shoeless, dressed in humc-spun
and homemade linsey-woolsey.
''How d'y, stranger? how d'y. sir?
Light, sir!' [alight] Eight, sir!'
I'm a stranger in these parts, mad
am replied the traveller, remaining on
his horse. "rve ridden fifty miles and
am tired. Can | get to stay with you
tonight. madam"
"Oh yes, if you can put up with our
rough fare; we never turn anybody
away
The traveller, having complied with
the rule of etiquette, even to using the
formula of asking lodging, dismounts.
MY husband will Dor be at home"
said the mistress. ''to take care of your
horse. sir
II will do that myself, madam" he
answered, and her little son led the way
to the stable.
On entering the family cabin, the bare
footed mistress greeted him with a
hearty welcome, which was intensified
as 500 as she learned that her guest was
a preacher. The husband repeats the
greeting when he ONE home, and all
sit down to a supper of hot corn-brcad,
fried bacon, potatoes and coffee.
When it is bedtime, the preacher did
not make the mistake of a verdant mis-
sionary. MADAM, 1 will retire, if you
please" said this new explorer of the
Brush
"Retire!" rejoined the hostess, 1--WE
never ~retires, stranger; we goes to bed"
MADAM" said the experienced
preacher. "rve ridden a long distance
to-day, and am very tired"
You can go to bed at any time you
wish, sir. Just take the left-hand bed"
pointing to one of the two beds stand
ing in opposite corners of the cabins
one o
Her husband rose and brought outthe
Bible and hymn-book. Laying them on
the table, no said to the preacher, "Win
you take the books, sir?n
That is the Southwestern invitation to
lead the family devotions..
"Wnl you make a beginning, STRIP is
the formula which invites a guest to ask.
a blessing at the table.
When the preacher had concluded the
devotional exercises, he withdrew behind
the backs Of his hosts-they looking,
steadily into the ire-laid his garments
by, took the left-hand bed, turned his
face to the left-hand wall and slept
soundly. ,
Pm indebted to you for a nights en-
tertainment," said the preacher, in the
morning, as he was about leaving.
mot at all, sir. Come + stay with
US again, whenever you pass this way"
If he had offered payment, it would
nave been regarded as . reflection on
their hospitality.