The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-11-01
MOUNTAIN CUSTOMS.
Some Of the salient Feature. O.,
Life In the Highlands OF virginia.

weak, the rod of nature is strong, and
what the new rule lacks in whimsicali.
ty 1t makes up in popularity. There
the "free" but limited life forms clear
cut character that settles into certain
picturesque habits; and these Ia time
crystallize into customs that are none
the less unvarying because they arc
unfelt, and often none tho less amusing
because they arc so natural. One
would naturally expect in the self-con-
tanned mountaineer some distrust of
strangers, but scarcely the extreme
about hts road:
''My friend, can you tell me how far
Carey's mill ispn
"Naw."
"Why notp"
''It's burnt up"
Swell, where does Mr.. Carey livc?n
'Nowhcre.
':How is that?'
"He's dade."
''Ah! How far is tito where he used
to livep"
'Oh: dunno-'tain't fur
Yet meet him in his "home resi-
dence" or let him guide you mile or
two, and he will first inquire about
you In q sly, unconcerned way, and
then tell you about everything in that
mountainous region. from his neigh
bor's family history to the medicinal
value of "black rattlcsnake root
that is he will tell the commonly ac-
cepted facts about them, and now and
then theory to explain them-if it be
established by the common consent
of the neighborhood. My guide ex-
planned a roaring noise that follows @
thunder shower us due to "hcat in tho
clouds passing over the trees"
But with this caution hospitality is
curiously and charmingly mingled.
His cabin is his castle. In it he and his
hounds hold all the world at bay; but
once let the world bo in distress, and
In his same little cabin he will re-
ccive and protect the whole of it, whilo
he himself sleeps on tho porch. At
tempt to force yourself upon him, and
you will get bullet; ask for shelter,
and his hospitality knows no bounds.
Once received, you have apparently
absolute freedom Of speech and action.
But you must grant him the same
privilege, absolutely. Not the slightest
trace of patronage will bc allowed.
On one occasion my companion
ventured to suggest that the old family
clock in the corner of tho room was q
little slow and pulled out his gold
watch to prove it. "Wall," said tho
mountaineer, II would say that you've
got railroad time, but VIC keep sum
time here" On ono subject only is
Here ne draws the 1lne clear ana sharp.
As for him and his house they shall
serve tho God of their fathers, aud his
guest must conform, irrespective of any
private fathers and their habits. A
friend onco casually alluded to tho
roundness Of the earth. stranger"
said tho PATRIARCH "look er here.
Don't yer say nothin' like er that in
my house. Yer can't make me believe
as how the Lord Almighty first built
tho earth round like as see it now"
And the household customs arc as
primitive as tho philosophy. A Tin
basin on the porch and Il towel hanging
in the door suffice for the whole family
and the strangers within their gates.
And in their opinion '!good FORM in
washing consists in the judicious useo Of
these-no more, no less. Sit down to
dinner without it, and your host may
pretend not to notice It, but he will
deluge your plate with bacon gravy and
give you the neck of the chicken. On
the other hand, if you are too purticu-
lar in tho process, you delay the whole
family and incur the contempt of the
host to boot. Rev. DR.. A-was once
'putting-up'' with one of these noun
taincers, and after a lengthy use of the
basin stood combing his long hair
His host watched him for some time in
open-mouthed wonder, then asked,
''Say, mister, do yer do that ev'ry
mornin'?" Yes" "Wall, yer must be
sight O. trouble to yerself."
nut high ia the mountaineer ranks
hospitality. there is one virtue in which
he takes a greater pride, perhaps be-
cause it is more peculiarly his own,
and that is thrift-not low country
thrift, which is mixture of economy
and ncatncss. but the mountain typo Of
thrift. which consists of economy plus
regularity. The thrifty mountaineei
Is not only economical, he is steady
and does things "cordin' to custom"-
and very sensible custom it generally
is, although sometimes the reason for
it is hard to discover. One morning
my friend was up early, and sat on the
porch watching through the open door
tho preparations for breakfast. He
could sec the skillet upon the fire, and
from it arose the refreshing odor of
boiling coffee. Presently this was
poured out and in the skillet was put
bacon. This, too. was soon done, and
just in time, for the host came in, and,
finding the basin occupied. pressed the
skillet into service, Then water was
heated in it TO wash the dishes, and he
was called in to breakfast. When the
meal was over, he missed the skillet,
and, being interested in it, set to work
10 look it up. At last he found it,
leaning against the sunny side of the
house. and in it. eurled up, lay the cat
asleep-multa in parvo! This was
economy. And now, too, he realized
the force of the maxim: All things in
order. What difference there would
have been if by accident the bacon had
preceded the coffee, or the boiling dish
water had lain in wait for the moun-
taineer. or if the cat had come first!
But no! This order was carefully pre-
served day after day; and this was
thrift. namely, economy and order.
Ropes Made Of Women's Hair.
Speaking before meeting of the
Methodist ministers. Bishop Fowler
told OF a new heather temple in the
northern part OF Japan. 1t was of
Al