Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-02-24
ON TIE SAGUENAY.
SATURDAY EVENING ADJUSTMENTS
AMONG CANADIAN LUMBERMEN.

National Gnyety "A Good F"nndh'i"" TOT
FINN - The Games of "Codhshihs,
"t,no,t,,., Horse" and "Foxes"-Play-
ing Rude Farce.
On Saturday evening, when the COOK
allowed ms to sit up late, the men engaged
in games and pastlmes, at the order OF lhe
foreman as well rs by their own deSlrei
for beans, pork, tea and amusemehts are
needed to keep them from quarrellnS ana
abandoning the hard labor Of numbering.
Their national gayety makes a good iouh-
dation for fun and their national courtesy
prevents them from carrying JOKE 100
far and embttering their rough inter-
course. A small group were quiet enough
to play Il game OF draughts; the brightest
and shyest lad spent half an hour Ill VIII
ING a letter, while another sat close by MN
and watched him tine entire time with
wonder and admiration. The youngest
lad was Il victim of many consolatory prac-
tees; he could scarcely appear on the lloor
and escape the embrace OF one or announcer;
they made sweet speeches TO nm, huggeu
him and kissed him, and insisted thnt ms
hot resistance was due to the shynesS ana
coquetry of girl. Early in the evening
q man named Francois arrived from the
settlements; aud the company at his en-
trance broke out with questions about the
pending election He was violent partl-
san of the Conservatives, and being good
sufferer, IN eXcitabe character ana Il
violent gesticulator, it soon became evil
dent that he was in some measure the butt
of his companions.
When ut last he debate seemed to be
getting too warm, the foreman spoke,
quietly but sharply: chats enough;
some games" The group dispersed ut
that instant with an amazing submission.
And Francois was the first to lead IN
reparation by suggesting the game OF cod
fishing" He stood up blindfolded, hold
ing out in his loft hand one end OF snort
leather strap, and raising knotted towel
in the other, ready to strike; the others
stepped about him, eagerly and silently,
to Jerk the strap and retreat before ne
could deal them a blow; whoever should
get possession of the strap would take his
turn at fishing. At length Baptiste
reached the belt from behind, drew it up
between the fisherman's legs, and SO
dragged him backward around the camp
and out into the snOwdrift; and mean-
while it seemed as if the roof must rise
/ ing the rat" was a quieter game; they sat
| close together in circle on the floor, with
/ their feet together and their knees raised
to form an arched passage all around the
circle; the knotted towel was passed about
under their knees, while one man in the
center tumblcd and scrambled over their
| feet and tried to catch it; while he would
be looking or reaching for it at one point,
they passed it slyly along to the opposite
side of the ring, where they showered
blows on his back as an intimation that
he was watching at the wrong hole.
The "buckinG horse was a line of
men who bent over as for leapfrog, and
by locking their arms about the waist OF
the one next in front formed Il continuous
back; the head man held fast to post;
the riders mounted at the tail end, and
tried 10 keep On their beast while crawl
ing along TO the head, in spite Of the
jumps, sl,yings, and various antics of the
men. During pause fellow came from
the cooks corner with his face whitened,
and VII IN 81 group saw him and laughed,
he also laughed and blew a cloud of flour
over th~m. 1.-The foxes" We're two men
on ha ads and knees, tied together by a
strap about their necks; growing,
grimacing, and backing'&part, each tried
to pull the other over the floor. In ''sell-
ing sheep, Il number of them, covered by
blankets, sat in group on the floor; the
buyer felt of them and lifted them to test
the weight, and finally, after selecting
one, he lifted it for final Judgment
while a by stander set pan of water I'm.
der it-fOr a surprising effect. In "knock
ing down the owl, " two men held rigidly
pole on their shoulders, and a third-the
owl-straddled it and hooted defiance
While holding on to his perch
then the hunters approached, each
with a bag filed with rags, and
dealt their best blows on the feather
less bird till he TOPPED over and hung
head downward. Baptiste and Francois
played rude farce called The Pedilers. =
A lad was securely tied as pack INTO the
back of each; then taking staff they
went around the room, in opposite di
rections, and offered to sell us pins,
needles, and other notions; while bar.
gain was in progress the peddler would
place the end Of his staff under his pack
and relieve himself more or less of its
weight while the wigcling Of the pack sci
off the crowd in fresh merriment. Al
last the rival merchants met, got into q
dispute, and Chen fell to cudgeliug eacl
other--on their packs, Of course But the
main interest OF all these amusements
was the cAildishpcss of the men; even the
gray haired worked ut the entertainment
with pcrspiring zest; the room rang with
their bosterous laughter the loud talking
of all at once, the orders of half dogeI
masters of ceremonies; and the leadina
spirits often jumped and danced about
with uncomfortable eXcitcment.-C. IL
E0TnbaD in iiaI.f,A.r'l t-afr.t-,i,,a