Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-09-05
LETTER FROM IDAHO.

The following letter has been handed to
us for publication. 1t was written by
Mrs. Ella Harper Cohen, formerly Of this
town, to one of her friends here:
RATHDRUM, IDAHO, Aug. s, 1891.
My Dear Fiend.-I have such a longing
to hear from home that | cannot refrain
from sending you one more missive to lct
YOU know that 1 am still in the land of
the living, and that | often think of old
friends aud old Shepherdstown.
You will be surprised to see my letter
dated from this place. Mr.. c. was sent
here on business, which he found would
detain him two months, so he telegraphed
for me TO come to him, and here | am in
Idaho, which means the "Gem of the
Mountains" Rathdrum is n wee bit of
town at the foot of the CUur D'Alene
Mountain, which when translated means
''the breath OF the heart" named by IN
old Frenchman after his ascent, which
was so steep it took his breath away for
awhilc-hencc the name. This place Is
en- route to the CGur D'Alene mines,
which no doubt you have read Of in the
newspapers. | have seen a great deal of
gold dust which came from there; saw
yesterday sixteen hundred dollars that a
few men got in one day, but all say ii is
no place for poor man, as it requires
money to accomplish anything and living
is so high. No one expects much from
the mines for a year or 50 yet. feel that
am experiencing dime novel life here,
for so many similar things have trans
PRED since our sojourn here. Every man
YOU meet has one and often three pistols
bucklcd around his waist, for this is L
lawless place; people are neither Cod
fearing or man-icaring. All they think
about is TO get drunk and kill each other
| have been in nineteen different States
and Territories, but never have been IN
such 4 Goddess country as this. Not a
church in the town; stores kept open on
Sunday and business conducted rs on
week day. think have heard your son
say he believed he woGld 60 out West Oh
ranch, as they call Il farm here. Little
does he know what a ranch is. Just for
curiosity visited several here, for when
| 90 to place | want to learn and see all
that is to be seen. The lady we are board
ing with has married daughter living on
ranch. Way out on the prairie, miles
from any one, is her cabin, two rooms.
i cI, vol, uI ~ nj
inS, only rough boards, and not one OF
these ranches has water on them, rs the
soil is too soft and moist 10 hold water,
and all have to come TO town and fill bar
rels and use that. Where G.. lived, when
l was last with you, ut the ColoneEs
grandfather's house, that house is pal
ace compared with western ranch house.
| have not exaggerated in the least. This
is the truth and nothing but the truth, so
tell G.. if he still entcrtanS the idea OF Il
Western ranch to give it up. And many
times those who have ranches very far
from towns, and near the mountains, III
winter when snow is OH the ground, their
houses have been surrounded by wolves,
and they did not dare poke their noses
out for days. Most all who have ranches
come to town in winter on this account.
Now, what CO you think Of ranches! Oh,
| would rather be dead.
Indians are plentiful here, and they
walk about in an almost nude state with
rs much nonchalence rs though they were
dressed in the top of the mode. have
seen several Indian graves. You know
they bury their dead high up in trees III
blankets fixed rs hammOcks, the body III
n sitting position. visited several Indian
camps, and could those who are so proud
of their PocahontaS blood see the red man
on his lativc soil and see him eat musk
rats and raw bear meat with the relish
that saw, and the filth they live in. Oh,
my, it was dreadful. / was i'll for Il week
afterwards. have seen things in Idaho
never expected to see and that l never
will see in any country again. Yet the
wild man is fascinating, and Mr.. Q. says
/ have so much curiosity to see everything
that won't GO home satisfied until have
killed bear (for they are very plentiful
here and have been scalped by an Indian.
Lake Pend O'Oreille is near, and it is a
lovely spot. Means Ear drop" All
have lovely names. Cwur D'Alene Post
is near, where one has the advantage of
lively army society. And all the Western
army posts surpass any Eastern that |
have ever seen.
Well, have written you long letter
about Idaho. Do you know | am five
hundred miles nearer you than when i'll
Oregon, and yet British Columbia is in
sight from the top of these mountains,
only forty miles off? But | am too afraid
of bears, cayotes, and wolves, which the
mountains are full Of, to climb up to get
a view of the British land. / crossed TIE
Willamette, Umatlla, John Day, Snake
and Spokane rivers to come here. Get
your atlas and brush up your geography,
and YOU will see where am. By the by,
| saw Il SHEPHERDsTowNR REGISTER, and in
it saw Mr.. Pierce's name. Can it be pos
sible that it is my old teacher who has
school there again? If So, Go give him
my love, and tell him if had any chill