St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-07-19

York ambulance surgeon. Nor are
the women at all behind the men IN
participation of either cause or effect,
Tor they rival Dahomeyan Amazons
i'll feats of proves Snuff rubbing IS
universe Men, wOmer, and chill
dren are addicted to the practice.and
a native without a snuff-stick would
be local curiosity.
Or religion and REVEALS they know
little. At long intervals some timer
ant preacher will announce divine
service "at early candle-llght' on a
particular evening in some one OF the
sparsley-scattered log school-houses.
At the close of of the exercises col
lection is taken for his benefit, and
he moves on to the next stopping
place-a modern example of the old
time circuit-rider.
School is held for forty days each
year, so that the younger generation
is able to read and write Gan accom-
plishment rare among their parents)
with more or less facility. The value
placed upon education may be estl-
mated by the fact that taxes levied
on native and stranger al1ke-lt so
be the latter is there when tax collec-
ton begins-arc, for roads two dol
lars per capita, and for schools seven
cents.
Marriage is contracted early, but
occasions little of the interest usual
" shown in such events in more CIV
ilized communities, except 1t be IN a
case like that related recently by
traveller who. while riding through
the country, met on theroad party
consisting of a young woman and
number of men armed with rifles.
On inquiring the reason of the gath
ering, he was informed that the
woman had that morning been mar
ried to a man contrary to the wishes
of her father, and they were escort
ing the young couple home Ito
smooth matters with the old man. y
The popular speech, or pato1s,
when heard for the first time, sug-
sests the need of a phrase-book.
For instance, on riding up to cabin
to inquire how far it is to some dis
tant point, the response is quite like
ly to be in language like the follow
ing: Lite, stranger; git shet of your
anamile. No? Wall, it's a right
smart piece, allow, where you be a
going" Answer Of this kind is often
the staple and only information
vouchsafed in reply.
The famed Virginian hospitality
certainly does not exist among these
mountains, as the price of meal at
any house is to a neighbor ten cents
while the stranger is required to pay
quarter for like refreshment
Charges on persons in transit, like
those on goods in railroad convey
ance, are usually all that the "traft,
will bear" On one occasion having
been of some slight assistance to
young woman whom the refractory
mule she was riding had deposited or
the road, the writer was invited tC
call at her home when he CHANGED tc
be in that neighborhood. Happen
ing soon afterward to be near tht
cabin he stopped, and being cordial
ly urged to take supper, accepted tn
invitation On leaving he was fol
lowed from the house by the host
who casually remarked that tn
guest lowed him a quarter for tina
ere supper" The quarter was paid
but to the ruin of all further socia
ambition.
Of books and papers the peopl
have very few. The election of
constable is of far greater importanc
in their eyes than the party afflll
ations of the chief national magis
trate. Their sole entertainments AT
the dances given at different house
during the winter, on which occas
, ions ignorance of fashionable salute
ton is amply compensated by enei
CIV and enthusiasm. The one even
,, of week is the coming OF the meagr
! mail, which is eagerly waited for b
, all, although not one in ten ever r.
ceived a letter in his life or coul
read it if such an unexpected even
, should actually occur.
Content with himself his horse
e and dogs, the West Virginia moul
: taineer is quite willing to remain
ignorance Of the busy world whlC
, lies beyond the hills that surroun
!. his home. He is fitting subject fe
the labours of educated, self-denyin;
:. laborious home missionaries. u
q der the influence of such men tt
a dormant possibilities OF the NATIVE
, NAV be called out into intense an
: benehcent activity.-lJ. Y. Wheat
, in lions Herald.