The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-28
Male housekeeping.

Written for the indianapolis Journal
One of the most comical features of ranch
life is the absence of femininity. No wonder
We are two hundred miles from milliner's shop.
with the distance constantly on the increase
Last Christmas a desperate effort was made to
celebrate the occasion by a BALL Over 10000
square miles Of territory was raked over, and
the result was seven fair maidens and over forty
dancing men. Each lady then had six partners
"a rather more than Scripture allowance. AS
everybody here is engaged in cattle-raising, and
only gives the odds and ends of his mind to
housekeeping the full capacity of the male for
that industry never is developed. He seldom
or never gets much beyond the manufacture of
plain bread, coffee and steak. These three
articles he will produce from the raw materials,
taking his meat from the foot, if necessary,
upon very short notice. Even an unframed
chef can boil potatoes, or open one end of fruit
can and pass it round the table, letting each
feeder extract with his fork ad ihitum. Coos,lng,
however, is only one detail of successful house
keeping The laundry must be attended to.
The cook must occasionally act as chambermaid
and undertaker-all of which is q severe tax
upon untutored masculinity.
One of the most celebrated men in the West
is Mr. -. He has shot innumerabe Indians,
and is always in demand when there is a horse
thief abroad. He wears his hair long,
and strikingly reminds one of Buff
falo Bill l first saw immense photograph
of this warrior in the window OF q saloon, and it
was sight to chill mans blood few days
afterward, stopping at ranch. noticed a man
with his rifle beside him, bending over wash
board and peacefully soapinc pair of stockings.
This was Mr.. -, the terror of - county,
and for whom awaits some day bloody death.
hOonifahla n m n
ever visits him Is sure of good dinner, although
female hand mas never consecrated his cook
stove. His ranch is of baronial proportions,
and if it only had floor, would be almost luxu-
either white muslin or brown wrapping
paper. suite of rooms in brown is preferable,
because after the lapse of a few years. the
virgin purity of the white muslin is apt to get
fly specked and torn.
The male housekeeper makes short work Of
his duties as chambermaid. AS the guests sleep
in blankets and he only sweeps out once a
month, he borrows no trouble. One wash basin
and towel renewed weekly supply the house
hold. Bye and by the toothbrush will make it's
appearance, and afterward the barber. But we
will not anticipate matters. For the present
every man is his own artist and tailor. The
cowboy. as rule, is great reader. His appe
title for magazines and newspapers is abnormal
The Century and Harpers Magazines and the
Patent Office Report and often the United States
Census tchiehy used for gunwads) are to be found
In every cabin. have never yet met with
cowboy that could not write. Ranchmen do the
most OF their eating and sleeping in the open
air.
IL is marvellous how comfortable an open
air camp can be made. 1t takes but a few min
utes to feed and hobble the horses and build
fire. In ten minutes more the bacon will be siz
cling in the skillet, the dough browning and the
coffee pot bubblng, and walloping. There is no
table. Each gentleman helps himself.
There are dozen ways of makinga comfortable
bed in the open air. If the night is windy and
no cedar is near the wagon box (if you happen
TO have onel set up against the wind makes an
excellent shelter for the head, and with the feet
to the fire, and a saddle for a pillow, and |
couple of blankets one can sleep like king. 1t
never rains. If the night is very cold, fires are
made up and allowed to die, and the boys sleep
in the warm ashes and sand. What about sick
nessf That Is an item never calculated upon.
An occasional horse kick or, gun-shot wound is
the extent of the cowboys ailments. AS there
are no doctors to be had, every one must be his
own physician. Occasionally a man meets a
violent death. AS there no preachers, and
praying is a lost art, the funeral is soon dis
patched. A cracker box for the head, sand for
the winding sheet, and the howl of the coyote,
and the everlasting winds for his requiem con-
stitutes the frontiersman's obsequies
1t is wonderful how much good nature and
this open air life develops. While
the ranchmen are by no means saints, and have
rather more than the average of sins, yet they |
are full of good fellowship. The housekeeper is
always glad to receive guests-the more the
merrier. A large ranch has cabins at every
water hole and the rent is always free. A
stranger usually takes possession. cooks at the
fire place. sleeps in the hest bedroom and in the
morning is off and no questions asked.
At headquarters. where the supplies are kept
and distributed, the chef gets in his work. But
even at his best estate this work has it's limita
lions, and is often accompanied with powerful
doors, especially if oieomarearine is used. This
is seldom the case. With thousand cows at it's |
door the average ranch is innocent of butter or
cheese. 1t is as good as show to see the cow
boy in the role of milkmaid Bossy is tied head
and tail to two posts The calf sucks and the |
maid milks on different sides of the same COW
who keeps up vigorous but unavailing protest. |
Milk gained at such a price ceases to have |
charms for the male housekeeper and he usually |
does without. d. P. BALDWIN.
SALT LAKE RANCH, A. IT,, Nov. Is, 1886.