Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1890-02-21

streams through
the cabin window and through tho
chinks of the cabin wall.
1t In the same sunshine rs that Of the
weekday. Yet as the miner wakes and
realizes 1t is Sunday it has a different
appearance. and conveys different im-
preston from that Of the weekday sun.
Everything seems more quiet, more rest
full, and even more s:aid and serious.
There belongs to it and to tho landscape
as he looks out flavor Of far-away
eastern Sabbath bells and Sunday morn
ing's 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 fiat. There is not tho least APP
proach to church society or religious
organization or observance. There Is
not, 80 far as known, 80 much as man
in the least religiously inclined. We
are hard lot. No work on the claim
to-day. The pick and shovel will rest
where thrown Saturday afternoon, and
only trickle of yellowish water from
the reservoir will secp through the long
line Of sluices instead Of yesterdays
muddy surge rushing through-sand,
gravel, and grating pebble and bowlder.
But there is work Of another sort to
be done and a great deal Of it. After
breakfast. shaving. That small mirror
Of most imperfect glass, whose reilec-
ton distorts the features, scrcwing up
one side of tho face and cnlarging the
other in an unnatural fashion. is suit
ably adjusted. A smell Of soap pervades
the air. He fathers and shaves and re-
fathers and reshaves with tedious and
painful precision, the while making
faces at himself in the glass as he brings
ono portion Of his countenance after
another more directly under the sweep
Of the razor. In some cases he comes
of with few scratches or leaves q
hirsute oasis here and there Of uncut
bristlc. Black pantaloons. a white shirt,
a felt or straw hat. linen duster and
tho Sunday boots. This il his dandy
outfit. In his pocket is q buckskin
purse. once yellow. now faded to dull
gray. holding gold dust, u few ounces
moro or less. perhaps five. perhaps ten.
1t Is the company dust and is to he
sold and turned into bright, yellow gold
pieces. And why oil this preparation:
ITO go to camp" Camp is three miles
away over tho mountain yonder. A
group OF ramshackle cabins. alternating
with saloons, three grocery stores, q
hotel. an express Office and Il justice Of
tho peace, all in q hot gulch. with hill
sides long ago swept of trees. SCARED
with cuts and streak:d with patches Of
has all the importance and interest Of a
great metropolis. 1t is tho center of
newa The stage passes through it on
the way to larger camp. Two boss
gamblers reside there. There ~ n faro
game on occasions. q billiard table with
y mountainous sort Of bed. where the
balls roll AZ they please and after an &C.
centric fashion OF their own.
The camp Is for him the first nerve
center Of civilization and the only outlet
to the great world which he has left.
You. fresh from the great city. regard
this dilapidated place ~ an out OF the
way corner: but to him. living on his
remote fiat. with but two cabins in sight
for as many miles. camp is place Of
Importance.
lie repairs first to tho Magnolia. He
has long in imagination seen it from afar.
How cool is the big barroom. The land.
lord keeps tho floor well wet down. That
Magnolia floor is one Of tho few places
where water. unnlixed with other 6uid.
is useful and grateful. How comforting
and soothing is the first drink. A long
drink in long tumbler. with plenty Of
ice. soda water and whisky. II heaven
be anywhere as "a material locality it is
in that first cool drink after three mile
July tramp over the kiln dried hills and
heritage Of the California foothills. The
Magnolia is the social heart center Of
camp.
There he finds the doctor. The doctor
drinks with him. The doctor drinks with
everybody. There. too. is the justice of
the peace. The justice drinks with him.
The justice holds his court at the Mag
nolia. The proprietor Of the Magnolia is
the camp constable, and between drinks
during trial calls viva vocc the witnesses
in the case. The judge drinks with him.
The judge generally drinks. Tho prin.
cipal camp gambler is ut the Magnolia.
He takes light drink. lie is wise man
and knows the advantage and profit Of
keeping u cool head. The regular camp
Lrunkard sits in the rear in one of the
arm chairs L::ck Of the billiard sable.