Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-01-16
DOWN THE LINE.
The Foxes aud the Fowls-Holiday
Entertalnments-E

Special Correspondents Of the INrER-OcEAS.l
ODESSA, Jan. 1.-THE holidays were
obs. rvcd in the old time fashion except
that our four footed neighbors from the
surrounding prairie have persisted in
taking more than their share of the tur-
keys and chickens. The foxes COM
menced ON our hen roosts the night be-
fore Thanksgiving by slaughtering about
twenty Of the best young fowls, all but
five Of which they carried of. Next n
mink commenced on Neighhors Woods
and Rice's fowls in broad daylight and
was captured. For Christmas and Now
Years foxes supplied themselves with
turkeys down around Jesusalem.
But we are more interested in the
social gatherings Of the white folks and
tho feasts supplied on those occasions.
On Christmas Mr.. Edgar Caldcrwood
and wife invited houscful of friends to
spend tho day with them. Tho only
drawback on this occasion was the fact
that tho house was so small that the
number Of guests was necessarily limit.
cd, but those who were there spent u
very pleasant day and the dinner was
excellent in quality and seemingly in.
exhaustible in quantity and variety. The
little ones were made happy with NUM-.
erous toys and supply Of candies and
nuts which brought forth many protests
from their fond but careful mammas.
Invitations were out early for IL New
Year party at tho residence Of Mr.. and
Mrs. II. E. Stevens and tho guests
assembled to tho number Of ,hirty.scvcn,
old and young. At half past ono o'clock
a splendid dinner was served and tho
way it was discussed was II genuine COM
plimcnt to the host and hostts IS --partic-
ularly the latter Then the unfortunate
(perhaps 1 should say forlunatc) portion
Of the gentlemen who had stock to caro-
for adjourned to their respective homes
to attend to tho chores 70, the day, while
tho ladies cleared up tho tables and the
children assembled in the kitchen for a
general jubilee, where they performed
moro "steps and figures to the tune OF
violin than any dancing master ever
dreamed OF, no tune being too slow and
mono too lively for the little feet, even
to "Old Grimes" and the Devils
Dream"
When the adjourned portion OF the
Guests Ind returned a fine variety Of
nuts, candies, pop corn and pop corn
balls were passed around and a plcasan,
hour was spent in visiting and general
conversation. Another hour was dcvot.
cd to music and singing, after which a
genuine old fashioned oyster supper was
enjoyed by all with the usual accompa-
niment Of jokes at the expense OF the
timld Ladies' who decided TO "try q raw
one But it remained for the little
three year old Irvic Calderwood to bring
down the house at the expense Of his
uncle Robert NJ; the little fellow was
eating oysters like an old timer when H.
H., thinking TO give him poser, asked
him If he had not "better cut their heads
off," Quick us thought came the reply
"no, l bite zere tails off, After tho
laugh had subsidized X. NJ. acknowledged
himself beaten and "struck his co!ors.' u
About Top. IN. the part, broke up,
one and all voting that it WIS the most
successful "old settlers reunion" they
had ever attended, and we doubt if the
children will ever forget it, for particu,
lar attention was given them and they
repeatedly expressed their perfect hap
piness.
have taken more space than in
tended, but Mr.. Editor, with your per-
mission, | wish to say good word to
your Bartlett correspondent concerning
Mr.. Edwin d. Becker, mentioned by him
in your last issue. Mr. Becker is resi-
dent OF our town and an crtcrpris,ng
honest farmer, and We do not believe
those figures were sanctioned By him.
Eight hundred dollars is much nearer
the amount he has expended in build
ings the past season than $4,000; 80 acres
is much nearer the extent Of hls pasture
than is 100. do not know tho exact
extent ofhis farm. Or farming operations,
but think they were much exaggerated
in that report. The paragraph cnumer-
ating the buildings is about on a par
with the $4,000 and the 100 acre pasture.
We hold that such gross cxaggerations
OF the truth are not benefit, but pos
tive injury to the country. How can
we blame tn" c'p-tcrn paper. for licng
about us If We send ont such misleading
reports. The truth aI,o,. tho growth,
resources and enterprise Of this country
is wonderful. Then let us I've content
with the truth and leave the rest to our
enem;ca r.
Banu Dance.
On Wednesday night, Jan. eth. tho
Devils Lake Cornct Band will commence