The record-union., 1891-07-11
One of the BackwoOds Bellies on
a Lark.
How She Celebrated the Fourth of
July-The Conquest of widower
and the Sudden Awakening From a
Beautiful Dream.
[speeIaI Correspondenee OF REcoRp-uN1oN. !

L was sauntering aimlessly down the
street enjoying the delectable cool that
had followed on the heels of that frightfuI
hot spell. Even Santa Rosa girded on
her armor and marched III the rank of the
heated term. The weather clerk, becom-
ing tired of the vail about cold weather
and summer never coming, had pressed
the button and let the shiyering frater-
nifty thaw out. 1t was so torrid that the
ice wagon turned into a street sprinkler.
and out OF the cracks of the original
sprinkler steam puffed in fierce. hot lets.
! met friend who was bustling along.
full of business and his arms full OF
bundles. After the customary greeting
and over-customary interchange of chest
nuts on the state of the weather. before
and after the present day, for lengthy
period, he asked where l was going on
the Fourth. | replied, truthfully, that |
proposed TO serve my country by remain
ing at home. The expression that de-
Veioped amid the dust and sweat on his
countenance was worthy Of the attention
OF the Kodak fiend.
'G-r-e-a-t ScottGndt Not going to Gel
ebrate Going to stay at home and do
nothing? You unpatriotic sinner!"
lie was SO dead IN earnest that I began
TO take bird's-eye view Of the enormity
OF my crime, and in less time than II
takes to tell it. the conclusion had fash
loned itself in my thinker that as a non
taxpayer 1t was my duty To do little to-
wards celebrating the Birthday of Free
dom. l was really ashamed of the truth
ful statement had launched at first, and
thinking to make reparation for my lack
OF patriotism, crawdshed gracefully by
saying:
''Wl-I-l, hadn't thought much about
it. Didn't know, in fact, where the more
enjoyable excursion would be-"
You didn't, didn't you? Well, now,
We're going to Sebastopol. and you better
make up your mind to 90 along"
Here he unturled copy of the Sebasto-
poi 1tmeS, which was bristling with ac-
counts OF the good time coming, which
the Grangers and Farmers Alliance had
III course of erection. Flaming headlines
proclaimed "baslIet picnic" ''dancinp''
and ali the accompanying joys. ! mem
tally resolved that | would be ''in it, but
there were few reasons to the contrary,
which / stated briefly:
- - -
e "Fiddlesticlzs, What's the matter with
what you've got on?'
- -- - -v
why, our folks have packed lunch
enough for Company E. You don't need
to take any"
''
Fares only thirty cents, and anyhow
I'll get you pass
- -
We'll, now, that's sensible. You are q
patron Of husbandry as far as horseback
rides ana watermelon patches 90 and YOU
should get in and help make this thing
a success"
| removed several stratas off of my sin
laden conscience by sneaking down q
-rF oct |,
OF hre-crackers and a 2X3 inch flag, pre-
p2ratory to whooping up the anniversary
OF our independence. Then | flew home
starched and ironed my white sun-bonnet
took two of the three tucks out of the
SKIRT OF my last summers white dress.
and then there was one.' / put my
3-inch blue ribbon sash in readiness and
knew that after braiding my hair down
TO fine point and attaching pink bow,
the effect would be stunning.
Ten o'clock of the morning of the glori-
ous Fourth found the complete outfit at
the Northern Pacific railroad depot await
ing the train.
1t promised, for while, - to us in the
agony OF starched dress ups, to be like
the letter sung by wandering ministries
III interior towns, accompanying the sale
OF only y-a-dollar-a bottle, - that, never"
you know. It came, though, an hour
or more late, to the waiting, weaving ''six
hundred that vacillated over the
sprinkled planks of the platform, impa-
tient TO besiege the fair little city.
SeDaStopol is removed some seven miles
from Santa Rosa on branch railway, all
its own. 1t is to Santa Rosa what Wash
lngton Is to Sacramento the former can
never amount to much rs long as the lat
ter stands so near with its open arms and
manifold attractions. The site Of the
town IS magnificent. There are broad
acres in cultivation that publish the
thrift Of its owners and the richness of
the soil. In the distance is the rim of
ha2y blue hills that encircle the charm
ing spot like its crater. The rolling hills
are planted in vines with utmost pre-
cision, and at their crest the young pines
stand thickly outlined against the blue
skies like a clear cameo. They are as
trim and proud and orderly as so many
sentlneIS posted there to guard the city
lying at their feet. The place was in ma
nonal coIors on that auspiciOus Clay-fully
fifteen feet of bunting must have flung
itself to the wind, or at intervals hung
sulien and detected from its fastening
jealous of the tickle breeze that toyed
with its folds q few sweet moments, and
quests. Nor were the imposing stars
and stripes the only tributes to the
Importance Of the day. A Swiss
flag held prominent place,
that handsome emblem of white cross
III crimson ground. And the Chinese
inhabitants voiced their patriotism by
running up two immense nags-those
outlandish rags that bespeak SO plainly
their heathenish tastes. On one huge
three-cornered one the most hideous
dragon summed himself. He was a pranc-
ing object OF absurdity, the outcome of
some artist Mongolian's opium dream.
As the winds futtered the flag the scales
i !.
ically, and he took on more aggressive
attitude.
Tho people in that neighborhood go in
for a good time, and they have it, too.
They lunched, they danced, they talked,
all with hearty good will. There were
no halfway doin's in regard to that"
The Four Hundred were there, the Six
Hundred were there, but the Six Hun
dred and One were not in il. Never did
sieged and siegers feast SO royalty. As /
watched the orator of the day pack his
address in his grip sack and take his
place at the head of the table I wished
tervently that we could have Tommy
Jefferson with US to lend ecL0t to our
canned corned beef and stewed peaches.
The situation chosen for the picnic was
the beautiful pine grove but few hum
dred yards removed from the heart of the
city. 1t is on slight eminence, and
refreshing breeze at intervals sweeps
through the slim pines which are as SO
many harp strings, responding to the
winds caressing touch with musical,
drowsy soughing. There was pro-
gramme of speeches and patriotic songs
rendered at the platform. There was
dancing to the music of the Sebastopol
Band. The scraping of feet and the pop
ping of soda bottle corks at the rear of
the platform drowned it's strains to a
great extent, but it must be said that it
scores better record than bands of much
greater pretensions.
My lucky star was not in the ascend
ant; it had dipped down behind its hori-