The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-10-24
PILGRIMS AND TENDERFEET.

every portion of the world rushed to tn
n new Ell Dorado by land and by water tn
d words in the caption of this article wer
G not convertible terms. The pilgrim
was one who had crossed the plains wit
c an ox-whip for his staff and whose fee
4 were hardened by the burning sands @
: the desert through which he plodded hi
l weary way, and calloused by the flint
rocks of the mountains which he climbed
; to catch a glimpse of the promised lan'
eyond. His feet never went back on
him no matter how long the unblazec
path or how steep the mountains q
rocky the canyons. He was the leader
in stampedes and the first in the long
race for ''claims." He was known as the
pilgrim"
The "tenderfoot" was quite Il different
specimen of the genus homo. He was
one who had been confined for months
within the narrow bounds of a ships
deck in his long, tedious and dangerous
passage to the golden shores of the De-
cident, and while presenting the picture
OF health, he was tender all over. cs-
pecially in his feet. They burned, and
blistered and became swollen in follow
ing the pilgrim" over mountains and
plains. He could be seen at every stream
crossing bathing his bruised and swollen
and painful pedals in the cooling waters
and then binding the tender members in
the remains of canvas breeches while his
shoes were rolled in the blanket carried
upon his back. He was IA typical ten
derfoot of whom thousands were seen
upon the Pacific coast, before the days
of fast steamers and railroad travelling.
But pilgrim and tcnderfoot lost their
distinctive nomenclature in the course
OF time. Shoulder to shoulder they
penetrated wilds where the foot of white
man had never been planted. They
blazed trails and filled the Sierras with
prosperous mining camps. buildcd cities
upon the plains and inauguratcd an era
OF property such as the world had never
seen IN so short "A time. They sent gold
IN every direction to fill the impover-
lshed Golfers of nations. stimulated i'm
migration, directed railroads towards
the setting sun, built up an empire of
wealth upon the Pacific coast and in a
short years changed the map of
heir country. The "Great American
Desert has given place to Nevada, Idaho.
Montana. Utah, Wyoming and Colo
ado.
The pilgrim who crossed the plains in
40 or the early SOS and the tender foot
vho had beer his companion in seeking
he golden treasures of the sierra Ne
adas are now ''old-timers," and as the
express carries them through
'opulous, prosperous states teeming with
lie and enterprise which were dreary
'astes when they left the home of their !
hildhood they wonder what magic has
'rought the wondrous change. Poor
Duls! They can see the thin. gray hair /
here once luyuriant locks adorned their ;
cads; they can feel the twinges of pain !
orn Of years of exposures in mountain !
their failing cycsight is charged s
Advancing years; they know them |
only as they are today ''old v
But they do not seem to know
it WAS the pilgrim and the tender t
'ot Of their younger days who worked L
Ne spell, They led the way and broke !
lc trail through Il wilderness. Others Il
followed and completed the work b
begun. The younger men Of ii t
generation are rapidly coming 10 s.
10 front. The old-time pilgrims and il
Ic tcndcrfoot are back numbers. They p
soon be gathered to their fathers q
ld their names he known no more for y
'cr. But when the great balancing of o
counts shall be completed in the un- Il
lown beyond, and the recording angel Il
lall have given each his due for what Il
> did upon earth toward opening new p
'lds OF enterprise for man. the name of \
Ie early-day pilgrim and the tcndcrfoot IL
stand opposite the longest row of b
,ures. Amen. l.
st. Paul Globe. commenting upon =