The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-02-14
Miners Morning Sabbath Thoughts,
How lie Adorned liimscir-whcrc
Hc wcnt-Snndny Dcv0,ions.
Moro Poker Than Praise.


d;;fI;1|;iZE :: "
| 1NAlEMnS HIS is the Sun
.saEtyyE2- day sun tina,
| 80 streams through
tho cabin window and through Tho
cbinks OF tho cabin wall.
1t is the same sunshine as that of The
weekday. Yet rs tho minor wakes and
realizes that 1t is Sunday 1t has differ.
ent appearance, and conveys n different
Impression from that ofthe weekday sun,
Everything seems more quiet, more rest.
iul, and even more staid and serious,
There belongs to it and to the landscape
as he looks out flavor OF far.away east.
ern Sabbath bells and Sunday morning
hush and longer family prayer than
usual and Sunday school. But there is
not church bell within ten miles, and
there never will be one heard on this
Hat There is not the least approach to
church society or religious organization
or observance. There is not, so far as is
known, SO much as 6 man in the least
relgiously inclined. We are a hard lot.
No work on the claim to-day. The pick
and shovel will rest where thrown Sat.
urday afternoon, and only trickle Of
yellowis!i water from the reservoir will
seep through the long line OF sluices in.
stead OF Yesterdays muddy surge rush
ing through-saud, gravel and grating
pebble and bowlder.
But there is work OF another sort to be
done and great deal fit. After break.
fast, shaving. That small mirror OF most
Imperfect glass, whose reflection distorts
the features, screwing up one side OF the
face and enlarging the other in an I'm.
natural fashion. is suitably adjusted. A
smell OF soap prevates the air. He fathers
and shavcs and relathers aud reshayes
with tedious and painful precision, the
while making faces at himself in the
glass as he brings one portion OF his
countenance after another more directly
under tho sweep OF the razor. In some
cases he comes OF with few scratches
or leaves hirsute oasis here and there
Of uncut bristle. Black pantaloons, a
white shirt, felt or straw hat, q linen
huster and the Sunday boots. This is
his dandy outfit. In his pocket is a
bucksEin purse. once yellow, now faded
TO dull gray, holding gold dust, a few
ounces moro or less, perhaps five, per-
haps ten.
1t is the company dust and is to be
sold and turned into bright, yellow gold
pieces. And why all this preparation /?
ito so to camp" Camp is three miles
away over the mountain yonder. A
group OF ramshackle cabins, alternating
with saloons, three grocery stores, Il
hotel, IN express office and Justice of
the peace. all in hot gulch, with hill.
sides long sgo swept OF trees, Scared
with cuts and streaked with patches Of
dry yellowish ledge. Scamp" to him
has all the Importance and interests OF n
great metropolis. II is tho ceuter OF
news. The stage passes through it on
the way to "a larger; camp. Two boss
gamblers reside there. There is a faro
game on occasions; 4 billiard table with
n mountainous sort OF bed II where the
balls roll rs they please and after IN &C.
centric fashion; Of their own. salsss3
The camp. il for, hin the first nerve
center OF civilization, and the onlyoutlet
to the great world which he has left.
You, Tfreshi from the great city, regard
this dilapidated place as IN out OF the
way, corner; but to him, living on his
remote flat, with but two cabins in sight
for as many miles, camp is place ofim.
| O0rtQfnn. Fas.a hTaa#I. .FHa.H..
He repairs first: to the Magnolia. i lie
has long, in imagination seen it from
ufar. How cool is the. big barroom. The
landlord Keeps the floor well wet down.
That Magnolia floor is one OF the few
places where water. unmixed with other
iluid, is useful and grateful. How com.
forting and soothing is the first drink.
A long drink in IL long .tumbler, with
plenty OF ice, soda water and whisky.
II heaven DO anywhere rs u material
locality it is in that first cool drink after
n three mile July, tramp over the kiln
dried hills and heritage OF the California
foothills. The Magnolia is the social
heart center OF camp. u s.r ~
There he finds the doctor. Tho doctor
drinks with him. The doctor drinks
with everybody. There too, is the JUS
tice OF the peace. The justice drinks
with him. The justice holds his couri
Mt the Magnolia. The proprietor OF the
Magnolia is the camp constable, and be-
tween drinks during trial calls viva voct
tho witness in the case. The judge
drinks with him. The judge generally
drinks. The principal camp gambler is
at the Magnolia. He takes light drink
He isn wise man and knows the advan
: tage-and profit OF keeping cool head
d The regular camp drunkard sits in thu
rear in one OF the arm chairs buck OF the
billiard table. He looks go humble, sc
: frGspectful-anl.so dry, that our miner.
heart moves to pity and he ASKS hin
upI.n lie complies, but not with undue
haste. This treats Of the era between
1856 and 1870. The camp drunknrd haG
notthen SO ''lost his grip" as to be un
mindful OF q certain slowness, tleli6ura
ton. and dignity BETTING u gentleman
But;when he does arrive at the bar he
takes a "four-fnsered" drink.
They stand in row at the bar. The
barkeeper is mixing the ''long" and thu
short drinks. Each man waits, sayt
no,hi1g and eyes every motion-of TIT
bartender. The silence is impressive
f;|!All Is ready. Each glass is grasped ant
rdised, and then IRON each to each, anc
more than all, from all TO the. drinl
donor, there is a nod. that incanta.or,
phrase is uttered, E"Well, here's luck,
/ land tho poison is down. AS it rasps