The Red Cloud chief., 1888-08-03
WESTERN oUGOJTc.
T:ae Houses Of ES-ly Homestead Cllfmants
in kansas anu Nebra aka.

WESTERN OUcOJTG.
T:s- Houses Of Es-ly Homestead Claimant
In kansas ana Nebra .ka-
To begin with. the habitatiOn Of tn,
hOmesteader is either 4 dugOut or
house built of squares o: sod taken from
the pr:irie-Sebraska or Kansas brick
lis they = f~acetiously termed. Tn,
dugOut consists of a hole dug in tn,
side OF a canyon or any sort OF depres
sion on the prairie which will serve IA.
L wind-break. This hole is rooted
across. about on a level with the
prairie with inch boards. and these art
covered with sod. 4 foot or so O.
stOve-pipe protruding from the roof i.
the sole indication of 4 human habita-
thn. One generally serves all
the purposes of the homesteaLer and
his family. Ii he prOspers for sea
son. he adds 10 the front Of his abode
by erecting walls of sod on the sides
and putting in Il New front. the old one
serving as Il partition between the two
rooms. This is considered 4 cOmmOdi-
Gus dwelling. After riding over the
quarter section looking for an owner.
espying such an abode. and guiding
your team carefully down a break-neck
descent to the front door. would it sur
prise You. upon entering this hole in
the ground. to find. for instance. a
very modern organ with an imposing
cathedral back towering high in one
corner of the room? But this is no
cause for astOnishment-very fire.
quently organs and ornate designs in
furniture are to BIZ found in the dug
outs. Or. if the lady of the house
should invite you to remain for the
meeting Of the literary club there in
the evening. would you stare at that?
Not at all. Literary clubs. which the
members ride all the way from five to
twenty miles to attend. and where they
discuss with great earnestness every
thing from the latest political problem
to the most abstruse point in metaphys-
les. arc quite the regular thing with
u homesteaders. But to behold this
life 90 full Of paradoxes in the height
Of its incOnsruousness you should be q
spectator in the dugOut when a neigh
bOrhOod dance is in full blast. The
earthen walls have been skilfully
tapestried for the occasion with calico.
and when the fun begins. the clay floor
speedily responds to the capering Of
the many twinkling feet. and there
arises a cloud Of dust that would stife
an Indian. But. bless you: they don't
mind a bit of dust. A polished floor
and most perfect system of ventilation
attainable could add nothing to their
enjoyment.
The hOmesteaders are very honest.
You ear leave a house unlocked at all
times and your stores are perfectly
safe-with the exception of what liquor
you may have ON hand for medicinal
purposes. In other words. the home
steader will steal whisky every time.
As a class they r neighbOrly. kind to
one in distress. and exceedingly hos
But it must not be supposed that all
live in dugOuts or sleep
six or seven in u room: such experi-
ences attach to the first year or two Of
life more than to any later Pc
Rod. Many slightly. commOdious and
sod houses have been
built. The walls are usually two feet
in thickness. the roof shingled. doors
and windows set into the walls. and
the house plastered inside. sometimes
altogether making \ very neat
and desirable residence. These struc-
too. are free from the annOyances
Of dugOuts. in which are found all
manner Of insects and rodents. Occa-
a ra:tlesnake will burrOw
the earthen sides and coil him.
'elf snugly in the bed-clOthes. where
will find him On a cold morning.
such intrudcrs are rare. but there are
some people who st%renuOusly object to
even rare visits Of this sort: such are
energetic enough to get out Of
he old house and into Il new one be- |
spending MANI months in an abode
10 uncomfOrtably near to natures
ear t.-FrGnk II. Spearman. IN Hdr-
,cr's Magazine.