News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-12-28
A PRAIRIE NEW YEAR
HOW THE COWBOYS CELEBRATE ON
THE WESTERN PLAINS.

Clothes Confer M Dtstiuction-hud
Turkey. Roast shote aud Possum az the
Midnight Feast Dancing the TandanEo.
A few days before New Years prep
arations are begun for the big dance
which inaugurates the seasons festiv-
ities on the western plains. The ranch
where the ball or "fandango' Is TO be
held Is literally given over to the boys
for the occasion, and they never fail TO
make the most of 1t. Invitations are sent
out over the neighbdrhood within ra-
dius of 90 miles. and nearly every one IL
accepted. for ride OF 20 miles 10 one
accustomed 10 spending 10 or ~ hours "A
day in the saddle Is Il nere~nothing.
Besides, this is the one opportunity OF
the year 10 spend money lavishly for the
sake of good time. An extra cook OF
two are hired. and supplies enough laid in
to feed small army. II is the privilege
of every cowboy ON the place 10 make
out list Of eatablcs that he feels his
constitution demands. And several days
beforehand the great wagon is hitched
up and trip taken 10 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, the ranch cook dis
tinguishes himself in the way Of barbe-
cued shote, game, ''possum am taters."
pies and cakes aud the like. For n week
or two before the feast all hands lend
their aid 10 the capturing Of game and
the finding and saving Of eggs.
As for the fandango, the preparations
are 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 llecked 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. a row OF
chairs is set for the accommodation ot
those not dancing
By @ o'clock in the evening the guests
begin to arrive. the boys having gone
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 upin
bundle. to bc put on after they arrive.
| And a mtrry hearted. merry faced set
| they are cheeks glowing and eyes spark
| linz from the cxhilaratiou of the ride
I'm the wind and the expectation Of the
unweuted frolic.
The music is furnished by negro iid.
dlers. whose rvpcrtory of old fashionc,
"breakduwns" j. never improved upon
nor ever falls short OF its early charm
and infection upon its hearers.
Perhaps Won never saw = cowbc
fandaugo. Their style of dancin
peculiar to themselves. Like their hai-se.
build and gait. it j. made for hard an,
long service. II is solemn. rhythmic
sort of posing. the heels rarely leaving
the floor. as much dancing being done
with the arms ~ with the feet. IL is %
motion which seems unconsciously e.
partakc Of the mouotony Of the prairies
! suppressed intense and iuexhaustible.
There il almost mo- distinction of class.
cs or social grades in the west. Years
ago. in the formative time Of cattle
ranching. the cowboy was - SUI generis.
His father and grandfather were cow
BOYS, "day wranglers," ''nighthawks'
and "cow punchers.' His language was
''bloody," and his figure and mind We're
uncouth. Today Inc may be graduate of
an eastern college. q 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 ION east" the ''it. a~'s'
daughter. with only smattcring eduy.-
ton from the free school. or the "hired
girl" plucky, independent aud good n
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 cottouade Ovcralls.
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. well clad feet.
They will wear boots. Int they have them
made with high heels. Of fine leather.
pointed toes and often resi- tops.
They revel in dancing. They are grace
full. natural. muscular and active. Dane
ing 10 them il horseback riding ia good
company, under shelter and 10 the tune
of a fiddle. Ii gives free play TO their
untiring. restless bodies and at the same
time satisfies aud delights their love Of
women's society and good fellowship.
These holiday dances last all night.
their only breakfast being AZ 10 o'clock.
when eggnog Is served. and at u. when
the big supper is eaten. Then. with re-
newed vigor and spirits. they return To
the floor. The fires burn low in the
great chimneys, the kerosene lamps flick
er and smoke. the iddlers doze and play
on mechanically, the girls languish aud
even the cowboy himself feels the fofce
and strain Of protractcd, time measured
motion. But the dance goes ON.
Not until the dull red glow Of sunrise
creeps over the dun pr',iries does the
music stop. .-
Then after a breakfast of "cold hits"
and strong. hot black coffee the girls go
60 rooms prepared for them at the ranch.
or mounted on feet footed bronchos 20
galloping over the prairies. the fresh.
wild wind in their faces aud the thrill
ing memory of sweet words or sweeter
promises in their wholesome. simple
hearts. New York Herald.
What chinese children Celebrate.
When do YOU suppose the Chinese
children fire OH torpcdoes, skyrockets
and powder cracscrsy II YOU do not
know. YOU could never guess In all the
world. SO Won NAV as well be told right
away. They fire them on un New Years
day! And when YOU are told why they
celebrate New Years day M II IL We're
Fourth Of July. you will Ice still more
: surprised
You know the Chinese hnvca different
religion from ours. aud because OF that
! they believe many things which we dc
not believe at all. New Years day the
firecrackers are set of to keep evil spirit,
) at a distance. The night before the new
: wear there are special services 60 TN,
r Chinese deity. and at bedtime pot ol
rice is left upon the table. covered with
+ cypress leaves
r New Years day there are social visits
dinners and family games. Aud all daS
long the Chinese youngsters are expect
ed 20 keep up firing Of fireworks of al
! kinds to keep off evil spirits.--NeN
= York Ledger.
Happy New Year to our readers.