Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-24
"BAcKwooDs BELLIES
Delights That Charm the Lovely DAM
sells of Lakeport.


Delights That Charm the Lovely DAM
sells of Lalxeport.
Our charming correspondent, Laura"
having deserted her post in Lake county
and sought broader fields for her genius,
writer new to our readers sends US the fol-
lowing unique communication:
SINGLE SHANTY, Lakeport,
February 16, 1890.
EDS. REcoRD-UNIoN: OF course you
have heard of the backwoods bellies.
Laura" wrote to you about US. Well, Jack
Chats my beau) says that m one of them,
and l thought maybe you'd like to hear
from US, as it has been SO long since
Laura" wrote. can't tell you as many
nice things as she does, because she's been
abroad in the world. Why, she's been to
San Francisco and to Marysville and to
Bartlett Springs, and / have been only to
Kelseyville once with pa when he went to
trade horses with Bill Rogers. Jack wasn't
there, SO l firted little and pa got the
best of the bargain. But don't mention it.
Well, Kelseyville puts on some airs about
her gas well, but it can't hold candle to
Lakeport for nice houses. But sometime
Jack is going to take me and some friends
10 Hopland to see the cars, and maybe the
man that runs them will invite us to take
ride.
Mr.. Editor, it has rained up here-well,
it rained some more, then il showed, then
it rained and showed together, then it
rained, and has kept it up ever since, and
our beautiful lake came promenading up to
Main street, and gathered to her bosom all
the buildings, mber-yards, wood-yards
and old fences available, and il made things
lively, and there was so much sentiment in
it. know if Laura" had been here she
could have written poetry. The catfish
came Hopping right up to our kitchen doors
to get fried. The mudhens twittered
jubilee. Now and, then great tule boys,
supporting a lonesome crane, came floating
by, and the swishswash of theway made
music to our uncultivated ears. tell you,
we had the boss boat rides, if it did rain.
Our mothers were all the time worrying for
fear we would get the grippe, but we knew
it was too fashionable for US backwoods
folks. thought sometimes that Jack had
symptoms, the way he kept his arm around
me, he said, TO steady the boat. Some
times we have a case of jim-jams among
the sterner sex, but this is an uncommon
healthy place just now, for there is so much
more water. Laura" told me that bellies
sometimes have complaint, the enaatei (she
told me how to spell it). She says it's
half dozen French words, because might
some time go into society.
We don't get many newspapers here
since the storm, and l don't know as we
need them, for it don't take long to send
an item over town, and when it gets
through it beats the record of newspaper
reporters all hollow. We've heard of Nc
Ginty. some way up here, and some new
slang, even when we could get no mails.
Did you ever think what wonderful civil
izer slang is? 1t flies around the globe,
while it would take Volapuk century.
The Native Daughters gave masquer-
rade ball on Valentine Day. The costumes
were elegant and unique. think Laura
would have enjoyed it, for there were real
kid, and silk elbow gauntlets, powdered
hair, and decollette dresses. The dear
Natives made it une ofaire recherche; that's
another French word 1 learned.
AS sit watching the snowfakes to-day
drifting through the forest round the
village" somehow my thoughts go drift
ing up and beyond the snow bound, cloud
bound mountains, and I'm seated among
the sheen of silks and glitter of jewels
listening to Patti, Albani and Tomagno
making music that the gods might envy,
and l wonder what an opera would be like,
and if Jack and l will ever hear one, and
I'm wondering if the mstinees that our
larks, linnets and swallows give every
spring morHing would not be as full of
melody and more easily understood.
Now, for stranger, I've written you
long letter, but Jack said 1 might; and if
any of you city folks love bird music, beau
tiful lakes, towering mountains. grand
forests and charming maidens, visit the
home of the Backwoods Bellies. 3. B.