Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-08-16
the FIRST HOTIN.
How She Was Welcomed 10 u Mining
Camp In the Far West

@sV' e'tV an 10 ~
Camp In the Far West.
June Both was day of jollifcstion at
Carbonate, COL, being the advent of the
first wagon, the first woman, and the
first board from the mill, says the Dearer
NeOs.
II would have been interesting to the
reader to have witnessed the electrityipe
effect on the men in the camp when word
was passed along the line that woman
was coming. Long before she was within
mile OF the camp, knots of men were
gathered here and there watching, look
ing in the direction from whence the
wagon was to come. As she hove in
sight, each one gathered around his or
their camp, as when an alarm had been
sounded in prairie dog town. When within
few yards of the outside habitation the
woman alighted and, accompanied by hef
husband, proceeded toward the coun v
clerks office. ct has been advertised
that the donation of town lot would be
given the first woman who came In.
Grrious eyes were watching her every
step as she approached the clerks quar-
tiers. But the crowd which had gathered
around the office for mail receded respect.
fully each side of the entrance. As she
passed in, Col. ferguson serenely doomed
up, and, sailing ont smoDg the boys agi-
tated a reception.
Seized by the inspiration, 100 hats were
removed from heads OF noble structure
and design, siluristed somewhat pei haps,
and 100 horny palms passed over the IN .
kempt locks to smooth them down, vests
were pulled down, and 100 pairs of eyes
ran down the respective owners "digging
Clothes" proudly inspecting the in
evitable "ball stitch" which reioinud the
dismembered seam or held in place the
patch OF conspicuous Dimensions. By a
look of common consent, the Colonel was
the man selected 10 make the reception
speech. Uneasily pluming his moustsche
with carbonate stained fngers, the
Colonel approached her, and, followed by
the uncovered heads, he inadvertently
yanked frog from his throat aud began:
Respected Madam 100 hsads
nodded assent. Appealing AGAIN to his
moustsche for the needed inspiration, the
colonel resumed again nRespscted
Madam-The illuminating spectre Of this
most fascinating OCCASION" And 100
heads bobbed serenely again in assent.
Pluming again the source of inspiration
the hating Colonel staggered on : "Foot
prints OF thine, which have first fallen on
our carbonlterous soil, we welcome thes
Mercury, IN her serial flight, trails
through the starry aronitraves Of heaven
to trail over the silursn on crops of Gar
feld county, which has become sacred
to US from toll vicissitudss aud priya.
tions, 1t is ours by right Of discovery
and you are welcome. We are conyerssi,t
with your sex, and some of Ms have been
victimized. We have learned 10 love and
cherish in memory the tiny fingers which
Were rubbed ovar our bscnits in ntEsr
days, and ws laI guisl for the same. The
deilcaoy OF sewing CD buttons (thimblelsss)
| is ours, and our tOil-stainei rnhas baa r
the traces Of the silurian outcrop. For
months We have been here surrounded
by the beautitul crystalline pearls Of
heaven, which laye banked abont and
around us, aud our only an9ce has been
the ohirp of the camp bird and the
weird watIings of tue Interchangeable
blasts. We have long anticipated the
daisy, struggling through the snowy
depths to comfort US, as tine day drew
near when We laid by our snow shoes on
the limestone ledge, but this occasion is
most 5uolllns, uudrsamed of aud uupre.
oedented in the history of cur new oouu-
try. Thou hast come upon us like the
perfume freighted breath of the gentle
spring-time, and thou art the shrine to
which We bow aud bring tribute, and in
behalf OF these, my partners in the
struggle, who stand before you with
uncovered heads, some of tLem glistea-
irg like FURNISHED disk in the siluriaD
sunlight, heads which have been robbed
OF capillary traces from inevitable con-
tact, again say, welcome"
And she dropp d.