Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-11-06

man feel happy to be complimented as
Sparks Is. Every western paper which
comes to his desk conveys the blessings
of the people who would love to show
their admiration for him with dynamite.
He IS a large man, with a large nose, a
large appetite, a fairly large drinkitite,
and a bigness of belly which indicates
lofty brains and highminded sentiments
of philanthropy. He dresses better than
the pioneers whom he is so industriously
trying to put into the poorhouses and in
SANE asylums; but he isn't a whit better.
If 1T was not for Lamar, he would ride
the honest toilers of the north and west
into nightmares of unroason and des-
pair.
You should see our society people
now. They are getting ready for an i'm
portant campaign. Society is woman
hood in regalia. Didn't know that, did
you? Well, it's a fact. If it were not for
the sake of showing the costly clothes
which have driven their husbands and
papas to bankruptcy or inebriety, there
would be no society among the women
folks here. They congregate and segre-
gate for the purpose Of showing their
buds. The older women also want to
show off their daughters, and catch hus-
bands for them. Hence the balls and
parties and lunches and k%ettle-drums.
All of these things are delusiens and
snares for the unwary feet of the young
and unsuspicious dudes who partake of
the pleasures of sassiety. The milliners
and the dressmakers are busy. They
are working their eyes out and their
fingers off, for small pay, in order to
make some imply faced girl look beau
tiful under the gas lights. The milliner,
the hair-dresser, and the dress maker
make the bellies and beauties. Of course
there are handsome women, heaps of
them, whole teppes full of them. But
they do not over dress. They can afford
to he simply beautiful. 1t is the homely
miss who is dressed to death. She it
is who works the poor wage woman to
death, for starvation pay, and half the
time does not pay her. Our society is a
succession and procession of brass but
tons and brassy beauties. There is moth
ing like it this side Of Paris. The army
and navy boys are the fellows who
break the hearts. They are after wives
who have money. All of the girls are
after the poor devils who wear uniforms.
The majority of them are young men
who are as poor as Jobs famous turkey,
and have been educated at government
expense. But they put on airs and claim
aristocratic ex~altation, because of their
brass buttons. There are clerks in the
departments with more brains and
more ability and who earn better salar-
les. but they are nowhere in society when
compared to these petted paupers. There
are prettier girls on the shores Of Devils
Lake and all over the Turtle mountain
and Big Coulce country. There are bet
ter girls all over the prairies Of Dakota.
There are manlier and better men all
over the wilds of the widest west. But
they couldn'thold acandlet to the skinny
necked, spindle-skanked females and
dudes who run II society. Come down
here and take Il look at them some time
in the winter. 1t would do your soul
good. You would so back home and
defy cyclones and billiards. and grass
hoppers and every evil that can possibly
befall the honest, independent settler,
and thank God that you are not like
those mortals you see here in society as
leaders. BY the way, speaking Of socie'
ty and the way they marry in haste, here
is a real good ticker from IL bright
Evening Critic:
She was Il young woman in Washing
ton for the season, and was very fond O.
narrating her conquests and speaking O.
her charms over men.
He was a bachelor with Il heart ofstont
and a cheek of cast iron.
They were talking of loye and matri
mony and other cognate subjects.
"I've been engaged six weeks, Mr.
x" she said, with refreshing candor, il
view Of the fact that the announcement
had appeared in the society news thu
next day after the proposal.
"Ah?" he said, with a rosebud smil,
wreathed around an interrogation point
"How charming"
Delightful, Mr.. NJ" she continued
radiantly. "He was an old friend of OIL
family, and was SO persistent. How lont
do you think 1 kept the poor, dear fellow
waiting for his answer "and she riprle(
a real swell giggle.
"Um-um-,"hc cogitated, as if calcu
lating an equation of time between a sun
dial and Waterbury watch, "Um-well
should say about a minute and a half, O.
possibly two minutes"
There was an abrupt termination t,
the conversation, and the brute was lef
alone in the alcove where they had beer
talking. JOHN SMITH.