The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-12-04
A COUNTRY TAVERN.
PRENTICE MILFORD GIVES BITS OF
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
Keeping . Rural Hotel Thirty Five Years
Ago-Types Of Transient Guests and
Permanent Borss CIessnli-
ness and Cooking.

ago had more OF the family character than
now. Many Of our transient guests, who
bad stopped with US for years, on visiting
the place, we regarded in o sense as mem
bers OF our family. and this feeling was
reciprocal The hotel was for tlls village
sort OF center Of communication with the
outside world. The stage drivers, the
Steamboat captain, the express agent,
stopped with US These people were n.y.
brids They belonged half abroad, half at
home. II guest came who was related or
acquainted with any village habitant, he
drew to our house for the time being that
part Of the village.
Balls and dancing parties took place at
the house. So, often, did the shows aud en-
tertainments travelling about the country.
Special trials, referees courts, militia
courts-martial, also occurred there. Tne
hotel was the center for every thing "going
on" 1t could never sink into the staid rou-
tine OF the private family. Fresh lively
people were always coming, and these i'm
parted to the atmosphere about some Of
their life and ne wnes4 The city landlord
with hosts OF servants at hand and servants
for everything can walk about all day
without disturbing the purity OF his wrist
bands. But it is difficult for the country
landlord, oscillating as he may be obliged
to oscillate from pig pen to stable and from
bar to table, to keep up much dignity, un-
less it be inherent in his compo ition and
very plentiful at that-one OF those few men
who can rinse a bar tumbler as il they were
polishing a $40, 900 diamond.
CLASSES OF GUESTS
We had two prominent classes of guests
@Yorkers" and Yankees" The Yankees
came from across Long Island sound. Our
hotel was in Long Island village The
Workers were Of course from New York.
We preferred Workers to Yankees York.
srs never found fault with prices ami seemed
to think everything cheap. Yankees were
more inclined to beat down and find fault
have had them labor hard with me to
have the rate reduced from S1.50 to $L25
for q single days accommodation That
extra quarter seemed an agony to them 1t
was even painful to me to feel their meu-
tai writings and contortions while they
were so begging Off The closest-isted
Yankees came from the banks OF the Con-
necticut and from the numerous Haddams
on that stream. We came at last to dread
them. They wanted mora Of everything
for nearer nothing than any guest we had.
Minister'S also oppressed US in this re gard,
especially New England mini tiers They
wanted board always at "cut rates" and
they generally had large families and trav-
sled with them. IL seems to me a great
pity that the "cloth" can not be paid enough
for their services to enable them in finan-
cial matters 70 keep their ent up. as appear
ances 60, with merchants, spectators, stock
brokers-well, yes-and gamblers Every
man In tbs world know that it never ads
but rather detrict' fr m any mans stanI.
ing ami reputation with the ma .ses to be
always wanting thing' at few cents less
than anybody el,e. j. begsts q species OF
contempt
A CIRCUS FOR THE HOUSE.
There were two wholesale peddlers who
used to stop with U.s. who were each circus
for the house. The drove spanking teams"
and came round about once IN three months.
One sold cigars AMI the other motions" in
the dry goods line, "sxclusi vely to the
trade" They Travelled much together
While they were with u, the bar-room was
full every night These two men peddIei
stories as we'll as other wares an 4 coulj tell
them. Their range Of travel extended from
the east end OF Long I,land almost to
Albany, and on each Of these long dry land
cruisee they returned with a lot of fresh
yarns In addition, they were always
ready for q horse trade.
u
village is a big thing, and no sooner was
one mooted than everybody got winl Of it.
1t was, in fact, a bit of evsryboiy's bud-
ness, and between the principals 1t wa, in
those times a sort OF M ,difel prizs-fght
to ses which shoull get the best of the
othe.. When a horse trade was in full
blast at our house the stable yard would be
full OF men, boys and negroes, and an ad-
journment to the bar every fifteen minutes
for drinks was in order. People often i'm
agine Ia passing through that these small
towns arc duh an stupid The trouble lies
that they don't know where and when to
look for the life in them. Let them drop in
at a fire, a winter revival OF religion, q
drunken darky just found froz,n to death,
or a horse trade.
CLEANLINESS AND COOKING.
Eternal vigilance Is the price Of cleanli-
ness In any hotel Beds. above all thing,
need the most careful watching. Gusts
sometimes bring obnoxious insects In their
baggage and then lay the responsibility Oh
the house An ol sea captain imp ,rtsi
cockroacbes to our hou in his chest, aud
we fought them for months ere they wers
all destroyed. Toe cook Is mot impor-
tant part OF the h,.teL The cool cook has
generally bad temper. IL touchy. irritable,
and apt to fly of his or her handle at the
least touch.
don't wonder at thii, for cooking is one
OF the most exhaustin Of all occupations,
and the person who prepares toothsome
dishes for others is often without appetite
for them him elE Cooking is an appetite
robber. Some people are bound to grumble.
no matter how well they are served or how
much Il done for them. They can't help it;
it is born In them. The bent Of their mind
is to find something to grumble at With.
out finding it they are unhappy. They are
unhappy any way. but more unhappy when
not fault-fnding."