Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-03-16
I,og-Cabin Hospitality,

Prominent among the virtues OF tne
rough but not rude people of the South
west, is the grace of hospitality. They
sometimes forget other religious pre-
cepts, but they are ''not forgetful to en-
tertain strangers" Their log-cabin
latch-string generally hangs out. He
may pull it who will, and be assured of
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 family. A
traveller may find himself at the close of
day in a land where there is no tavern.
But any log-cabin will be his inn, pro-
vided he approaches it as the pioneer
code of politeness ordains.
He may ride up to the fence that sep
arates the cabin from the road, but he
should not dismount and climb 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 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
ary, describing the method Of securing a
nights lodging and board, l shouted,
"Hello, therer'
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 cov-
cred with the meal of corn-dodger she
was mixing for supper.
The mistress of the farm showed her.
self from the door of her cabin, stock
ingless, shoeless dressed in home-spun
and homemade linsey-woolsey.
How d'y, strangerp how d'y, sirq
Light, sirr' [alight1 eight, sir!''
I'm stranger in these parts, mad
am,' replied the traveller, remaining on
his horse. 'I've ridden fifty miles and
am tired. Can I get to stay with you
tonight, MADAME"
"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 soon be at home,"
said the mistress, ''to take care of your
horse. sir.''
Il 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 soon as she learned that her guest was
preacher. The husband repeats the
greeting when he comes home, and all
sit down to supper of hot corn-bread,
fried bacon, potatoes and coffee.
When it is bedtime, the preacher did
not make the mistake of verdant mis-
sionary. MADAM, will retire, if you
please" said this new explorer of the
''Brush.'
'Retire!'' rejoined the hostess, "we
never retires, stranger; we goes to bed"
MADAM" said the experienced
preacher, "I've ridden q 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,"
pOluLlllS W Olio VI tllC LWO UCl5 bIdlllt'
ing in opposite corners of the cabin IS
one room.
Her husband rose and brought outth
Bible and hymn-book. Laying them on
the table, he said to tho preacher, "Will
you take the books, sirp''
That is the Southwestern invitation tc
lead the family devotions.
"Will you make beginning, sir?" Is
the formula which invites guest to ask
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 fire-laid his garments
by, took the left-hand bed, turned his
tnco to the left-hand wall and slopt
soundly.
"Im indebted to you for q nights en-
tertainment," said tho preacher, in the
morning, as he was about leaving.
"Not at nll, sir. Como to stay with
us N@uin, whenever you pass this way
Ii lie had offered payraent, 1t would
havo been regarded as q reflection or