The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-20
LOTS OF BOTHER FOR WOMEN.
They Go West to Teach and Cook, and Are
Worried Into Matrimony.


They Go West to Teach and Cook, and Are
Worried Into Matrimony.
Red Bend Washington Territory Letter.
When the census of this town was taken last
month, it was found that there was popula-
ton of 37S, including 293 males 60 married
women, one widow engaged, two maids engaged
and the restchildren. More than 200 of the men
are bachelors ranging in age from twenty-five to
fifty Red Bend is some distance from a rail
road, and it has been very difficult matter to
get young women TO locate here. Most of the
girls who come into this region stop at Yakima,
or go thence to the larger towns south of here.
When the school house was built the directors
advertised in various Territorial papers for n
teacher, and the first one who presented herself
was employed. She had not been at the desk
more than fortnight before she was married to
storekeeper named Elverson. who was about
the pest looking young man in the town. She
resigned her place. but consented to serve until
her successor had arrived One of the young
women with whom the committee had been in
correspondence was found disengaged, and in
the course of month she transferred herself to
Red Bend and took charge of the school She
was tolerably homely woman, somewhat ad-
vanced in years, but she, too was led to the
altar In less than a month, and gave up the
school as her predecessor had done.
Once again the place was filled, and things
went along smoothly for while About that
time McGinn, the tavern keeper, imported
servant girl from Portland, and put her at work
in his kitchen at salary of Sc week. Mrs.
McGlnn was not very lusty, and her husband
found that the only way In which Keeping motel
was possible was for him to have efficient female
help. He had had serious trouble getting any
body to come, but the wages that he offered
finally induced the girl spoken of to accept the
job. She had no more than learned the ways
of the kitchen before two or three young
door of the tavern. McGinn was equal to the
emergency. He watched matters for day or
two, and, becoming convinced that the school,
house episodes were to have a repetition IN his
own kitchen, he got gun, and just AS young
man appeared at the back door, the next even
ing after supper, he jumped out on him.
What do you want here?" he asked
Nothing" said the fellow, coloring up a little.
nothing much. was just calling on the girl
in there. She's an old friend of my family, and
| look in once in while to see how she's getting
on"
''Wel I'm friend of your family, too" said
McGinn ''to the extent that don't want to kill
you but if you don't keep away from here LII
murder YOU Now, you git"
The youth skunk away. The next day the
girl was missing from the kitchen, and late In
the afternoon it was discovered that she had
married the young man. The same day the
schooinistress announced her resignation, and
as McGinn on the war-path with his gun,
the leading citizens made up their minds that
crisis had arrived which would require good
deal of craftsmanship to bridge over.
That evening, when the school committee met
to consider things, Mr.. Elder the chairman, said
he had an idea which he thought might be worthy
the attention of his associates He proposed
that in the future all school teachers should be
made to sign a bond not to marry before the end
of the term. The idea was accepted but. fear
ing that the conditions might make it impossible
for them to get women into the town, they said
nothing about them to the with whom they
opened negotiations She came on and after de-
Gliding to take the place, was informed OF the
contract which she would have to sign.
To this she Indignantly declined to accede.
The school committee was ineXorable, and
so was she. She said she would leave for
home in the morning. The committeeman
looked at another to see if anybody was
weakening, but no one appeared to be willing to
give in so it was decided that she would have to
go. This particular girl Young and very
vivacious, and when she started off with School
Director Beebe for Yakima the whole town
wished she would stay. An hour later Bcebe
drove into town with the girl still in his wagon,
and to the people who gathered around the
vehicle with questions he said:
''The fact s we've decided to get married
She didn't want to go back, aud didn't want to
have her 60"
Every body felt that Beebe had played roots On
everybody else, but there was nothing to say.
AT the next meeting of the committee, which
Beebe did not attend, Mr.. Elder again had an
idea which he wanted to submit He said that
in view of what had happened, it occurred to
him that Red Bend had greatness within its
grasp Now" he continued. "let us oyerstock
this market with sehoolma'ams and servant
girls. Advertise orthem everywhere, offer big
wages and hire all that come. Well get enough
after awhile to go around. and when we do 1T we
may have few on hand"
The suggestion discussed at considerable
length, and finally adopted. The school board
decided to hire ten teachers, and twenty of the
married men in town agreed to take twenty-five
servant girls. The advertisements brought many
answers. and in the course of time the town be-
gan to Ill up with young women of every de-
scriptioE. AS they arrived they were assigned
to different families. and before
week had passed there more
marriages on foot than the preacher could keep
track of. The experiment has been found to
work splendidly and as the only schoolma'am in
town now is said to be on the point of marrying
it is thought that the same device will be resort
ed to again Six girls have married out of Nc
Ginn's kitchen, and during the last twelve
months there have been fourteen teachers at the
little school, The present incumbent is grena-
der from Michigan, and the Jcommttee think
she will last some time