Mower County transcript., 1893-12-27
A PRAIRIE NEW YEAR
HOW THE COWBOYS CELEBRATE ON
THE WESTERN PLAINS.

Social Grades Are Unknown, and "Store
| Clothes'' Confer No Distinction-Wild
Turkey, Roast Shote and Possum at the
Midnight Feast-Dancing the Fandango.
A few days before New Years prep
&rations are begun for the big dance
which inaugurates the seasons festiv-
tiles on the western plains. The ranch
where the ball or ''faniango" is to be
held is literally given over to the boys
for the occasion, and they never fail to
make the most of it. Invitations are sent
out over the neighborhood within ra-
dius of 20 miles, and nearly every one is
accepted, for ride Of 20 miles to one
accustomed to spending 10 or 10 hours
day in the saddle is mere nothing.
Besides, this is the one opportunity of
the year to spend money lavishly for the
sake of a good time. An extra cook or
two are hired, and supplies enough laid in
to feed q small army. It is the privilege
of every cowboy on the place to make
out a list of eatables that he feels his
constitution demands. And several days
beforehand the great wagon is hitched
up and trip taken to the nearest town
to get provisions.
A more heterogeneous mixture of edi-
bles Can scarcely be imagined-raisins
nuts, candies, canned meats and fruits,
pickles, crackers-anything kept and
recommended by the obliging and neigh
borly grocery man.
In addition to the store bought delica-
cies for the feast, tho ranch cook dis
tinguishes himself in the way of barbe-
cued shote, game, ''possum an taters,"
pies and cakes and the like. For week
or two before the feast all hands lend
their aid to the capturing of game and
the finding and saving of eggs.
| AS for the fandango, the preparations
are few and simple. Beds and other
! space consuming pieces Of furniture are
removed from the rooms intended for
the dance. The bare floors are sand
secured and fecked with fine shavings
of sperm candles, which soon, under the
many gliding feet of the dancers, form a
thin, sleek coating, delightful and seduc-
tive to the feet. On two sides of the
room, close up against the wall, row of
chairs is set for the accommodation of
those not dancing.
! By 6 o'clock in the evening the guests
begin to arrive, the boys having gone
after the girls, on horseback generally,
some of the ''tony" couples coming in
buggies, the high seated "piano boxed"
vehicles Of the west, with their double
teams and general air of smartness
The girls have their party dresses
| tucked up under their black calico riding
skirts, some Of them bringing waists,
gloves and white kid slippers, done up in
bundle, to be put on after they arrive
And merry hearted, merry faced set
they are-cheeks glowing and eyes spark
ling from the exhilaration of the ride
in the wind and the expectation of the
unwonted frolic.
I The music is furnished by negro fd-
dlers, whose repertory Of old fashioned
"breakdowns" is never improved upon
nor ever falls short of its early charm
and infection upon its hearers.
Perhaps you never saw cowboys
fandango. Their style Of dancing is
peculiar to themselves. Like their horses
build and gait, it is made for hard and
long service. It is a solemn, rhythmic
sort of posing, the heels rarely leaving
the floor. as much dancing being done
with the arms as with the feet It is a
motion which seems unconsciously to
partake of the 1nonotony of the prairies,
suppressed, intense and inexhaustible.
There is almost no distinction of class
es or social grades in the west. Years
ago. in the formative time Of cattle
ranching, the cowboy was a sui generis.
His father and grandfather were cow
boys, "day wranglers,'' "nighthawks'
and t'cow punchers." His language was
"bloody," and his figure and mind were
uncouth. Today he may be graduate Of
an eastern college. a theological student
or the youngest son Of an English lord.
The western woman or ''gal" is more
typical. She may be the ''boss'" daugh-
ter, educated con east;" the "renter's''
daughter, with only 3 s.nattering educa-
tion from the free school, OF the ''hired
girl,' plucky, independent and good as
her betters."
In the same ''set' there may be one
man with ':store' suit on; another in
his regular suit, consisting Of blue flannel
overshirt and leather belt, buckskin
leggings or cottonade overalls.
The boys laugh loud. clap each other,
hang their guns on the wall while they
are dancing, steal behind the house for
their drink between sets, but they treat
the girls like queens. No matter how
rough their clothes, they generally have
white hands and small, we'll clad feet.
They will wear boots, but they have them
made with high heels, Of fine leather,
pointed toes and often red tops.
They revel in dancing. They are grace
full, natural, muscular and active. Dane
ing to them is horseback riding in good
company, under shelter and to the tune
Of a fiddle. It gives free play to their
untiring, restless bodies and at the same
time satisfies and delights their love OF
women's society and good fellowship.
These holiday dances last all night,
their only breakfast being at 10 o'clock,
when eggnog is served, and at 10, when
the big supper is eaten. Then, with re-