Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-06-02
Log-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 forgetful to en-
terrain strangers. Their log-cabin
latch-string generally hangs out. He
may pull it who viii, 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 4 family. A
traveller may find himself at the close of
day in land where there is no tavern.
But any log-cabin will be his inn, pro-
vided he approaches it rs 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 eN-
hibited by a 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 a
nights lodging and board, l shouted,
Hello, there's
A pack of hounds responded by bark
ing. \ group of black children rushed
out from the negro-quarterS, followed
by their sable mother. with hands COW
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, stranger? how d'y, sir?
Light, sir.'' [alight] 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 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 soon be at home, >
said the mistress, ITO 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
a preacher. The husband repeats the
greeting when he comes home, and all
sit down to a 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 Won
please said this new explorer of the
s.Brush,'
Retire. reioined the hostess, ''we
| never retires, stranger; we goes to bed. y
MADAM said the experienced
preacher, i've 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 i'll opposite corners of the cabin
| one room.
| Her husband rose and brought out the
| Bible and hymn-book. Laying them or
the table, he said to hepreaehcr, "Wil
| you take the books, sir?"
That is the Southwestern invitation tc
| lead the family devotions.
| "Will you make 4 beginning, sir?' is
| the formula which invites guest to ask
a blessing at the table.
When the preacher had concluded the
| devotional exercises, he withdrew behirt
the backs Of his hosts they looking
steadily into the fire laid his garments
by, took the left-hand bed. turned his
face to the left-hand wall and SLEPT
soundly.
I'm indebted to You for night en-
| tertainment,' said tie preacher, in tic
morning, as he was about leaving.
Not at all, sir. Come to stay with
US again. whenever YOU pass this way
If he had offered payment, it would
have been regarded as a reflection on
theirhospitality.