Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-26
1alfs aud Sketfhes.
10 West Girls.
A PLACE WHERE THE PLAINEsT MAIDEN
CANNOT REMAIN SINGLE THREE MONTHS.

A Red Bend washington Territory
correspondent says that when the census
of Red Bend was taken last month it was
found that there was population OF 31S,
including 293 males, 60 married women,
l widow engaged, maids engaged. and
the rest children. More than 200 of the
men are bachelors. ranging in age from
25 to so. Red Bend is some distance from
q railroad, and it has been a very difficult
matter to get young women to locate there.
Most of the girls who come into this re-
gion stop at Yakima, or 60 thence to the
larger towns south OF here.
When the school house was built the
directors advertised in various Territorial
papers for a 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 the best looking
Young man in the town. She resigned
her place, but consented to serve until
her successor arrived.
One of tine young women with whom the
committee had been in correspondence,
was found disengaged, and in the course
of month she transferred herself 10 Red
Bend and took charge of the school. She
was tolerably homel y woman, somewhat
advanced in years, but she too, was ledtto
the altar in less than month, and gave
up the school as her predecessor had done,
Once again the place was filled. and
things went along smoothly for awhile.
About that time McGinn was the tavern
keeper, imported a servant girl from Port
land, and put her at work in his kitchen
10 rf NIrS Me.
CHM was not very lusty, and her husband
found that the only way in which keeping
hotel was possible was tor him to have
efficient female help. He had had serious
trouble in getting anybody 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 men
began to hang around the back door of
tho tavern. McGinn was equal to the
emergency He watched matters for a
day or two, and, becoming convinced that
the school house episodes were to have a
repetition in his own kitchen, he got a
gun, and JUST as young man appeared at
the back door the next evening after sup
per he jumped out of it.
What do you want here?" he asked.
Nothing" said the fellow. coloring up
a little; "nothing much. was just call
ing on the girl in there. She's an old
friend of my family, and look in once in
a while to see how she's getting on
"Well, I'm friend of you family, too,'
said McGinn, Ito the extent that l don't
want to kill you; but if you don't keep
away from here I'll murder you. Now,
you gitn'
The youth sluuk away. The next day
the girl was missing from the kitchen,
and late in the afternoon it was dis
covered that she had married the young
man. The same day the school mistress
announced her resignation, and as McGinn
was on the war-path with his gun, the
leading citizens made up their minds that
a crisis had arrived which would require
a good deal of craftsmanship to bridge
over.
That evening. when the school commit
tee 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 that all school teachers should be
made to sign bond not to marry before
the end of the term. The idea was ac-
cepted; but, fearing that the conditions
might make it impossible for them to get
women into the town, they said nothing
about them to the one with whom they
opened negotiations. She came on, and
after deciding to take the place was in
formed of the contract which she would
have to sign To this she Indignantly de-
clned to accede. The school committee
was memorable, and so was she. She
cold ba vp,,1I lava for hpn,n in tho
morning The committeeman looked at
one another to see if anybody was weak
enng, but no one appeared to give in; so
it was decided that she would have to 90.
This particular girl was 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 Beebe 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 is we've de-
cided to get married. She didn't want to
90 back, and didn't want to have her
go"
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 at
leHu. MI. Eluer again nau an lued Wnlcn
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. Jet us
overstock this market with school-ma ans
and servant girls. Advertise for them
everywhere, offer big wagons, and hire
all that come. Well get enough after a
while to go around, and when we do it
we may have few on hand"
The suggestion was discussed at con-
siderable 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 began
to fill up with young women of every
description. AS they arrived they were
assigned to different families. and before
week had passed there were more mar
riages 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 is now said TO be on
the point of marrying, it is thought that
the same device will be resorted to again
Six girls have married out of McGinn's
kitchen, and during the last twelve months
! there have been fourteen teachers of the