The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1883-08-12
THE FIRST WOMAN.
How She was welcomed at Carbon
ate Camp in the Far West

dlc N<dIhD lAlC uA w Co%
June 80 was day of jolli6catiOn at
Carbonate, Col. being the advent of
the first wagon, the first woman and
the first board from the mill. 1t
would have been interesting to the
reader to have witnessed the electri-
flying effect on the men in the camp
when word was passed along the line
that a woman was coming. Long be-
fore she was within a mile Of tho
camp knots of men were gathered
here aud there watching, looking in
the direction from AShence the wagon
was to ceme. As she hove IN sight
each one gathered around his or their
camp as when an alarm had been
sounded in 4 prairie dog town. When
within few yards of the outside hab-
itation the woman alighted, and ac-
companied by her husband, proceeded
toward the county clerks office. (It
had been advertised that the dona-
ton of town lot would be gwen the
first woman who came in.) Curious
eyes we're watching her every step as
she approached the clerks quarters.
But the crowd which had gathered
around the office for mail receded re-
spectfully each side of the entrance.
As she passed in, Colonel Ferguson
serenely loomed up, and sailing
out among the boys, agitated recep-
| tion.
Seized by the inspiration, 100 hats
were removed from heads of noble
structure and design. siluristed some
what, perhaps, and 100 horny palms
passed over the unkempt locks to
smooth them down, vests were pulled
down and 100 pairs of eyes ran down
the respective owners digging
clothes" proudly inspecting the ine'
vitable "ball-stitch" which rejoined
the dismembered seam or held in
place the patch of conspicuous dimen-
sions. BY look of common consent
the Colonel was the man selected to
make the reception speech. Uneasi'
ly pluming his mustache with carbon.
ate-stained fingers, the Colonel ap-
preached her, and, followed by the
uncovered heads, he inadvertently
yanked a frog from his throat and
began:
Respected Madame"-snd l0C
heads nodded assent Appealing agaiI
to mis- mustache for the needed inspir
alton, the colonel resumed again
Respected Madame The illuminat
ing spectre Of this most fascinating oc
casion-" And 100 heads bobbed Sc
renely again in assent. Pluming agaiI
the source of inspiration, the haltin:
colonel staggered on: Footprints o
thine, which have FIRST fallen on ou
carboniferous soil, we welcome thee
Mercury in her aerial fight trail
through the starry architraves o
heaven, to trail over the silurian out
} crops Of Garfield county, which ha
become sacred to us from toll, vicissi
tudes and privations. 1t is ours b.
right of discovery, and You are vel
come. We are conyersant with yOu
: sex, and some of us have been victim
/ lied. We have learned to love ant
cherish III memory the tiny finger
which we're rubbed over our biscuit
in other days, and we languish for tn
same. The delicacy of sewing Oh but
tons (thimbleless) is ours. and on
, toil-stained robes bear the traces G
the sIlurian outcrop. For months "
have been surrounded by the beauti
full crystalline pearls of heaven, whic
have banked about and around us
= and our only sOlace has been the chr
\ of the camp bird and the weird wal
ings of the metamorphic blasts. W
|, have long anticipated the daisy, struG
Cling through the snowy depths
comfort US, as the day drew near uhe
: We laid by our snowshOes on the lime
! stone ledge, but this occasion is mOi
sublime, undreamed of and unprect
= dented in the history of our new cour
y try. Thou hast come upon us ike th
Y perfume freighted breath of the ger
y tie spring time, and thou art ii
v shrine to which we bow aud bring tr
U butte, and in behalf of these, my par
U ners ia the struggle, who stand befor
" you with uncovered heads, some o
U them glistening like burlished dis
" in the silurian sunlight, heads whic
" have been robbed of capillary trac'
W from inevitable contact, | again sa
welcome"
" And she dropped. - Denrer Se,rs
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III the blood be IMPOVERISHED.