Huntsville gazette., 1894-05-26
M,NING CAMP EXPERIENCES.
Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson Tells Some
Episodes of Her Early Western Life.

Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson Tells Some
Episodes of Her Early Western Life.
Once, long time ago, Mrs. Robert
Louis Stevenson lived out in western
mining camp. That was before the
brilliant English essayist and novelist
saw her and fell desperately in love
with her, but even then she must have
possessed some attractions for the
stronger sex, since she was the recipi-
ent of frequent presentR These gifts,
which were of a simple but touching
character such as red apples and sage
hens" were always made anonymous
ly, and, try as she would, Mrs. Steven
son never succeeded in surprising one
of the donors in the act. Although the
white men in camp were thus gallant,
she received rather bad impression OF
the courtesy of the noble red man, as
may be guessed from the following in
cident which Mrs. Stevenson relates
with considerable enjoyment:
II had always been led to believe
that the Indians called their wives
'squaws,' that their conversation was
principally Ugh! ughr and that first,
last, and all the time, they demanded
'firewater.' Instead of this, the un-
sophisticated savages with whom
came in contact shuddered at the taste
of spirits, had fair command OF En-
glish and called their wives 'mahalas
and themselves 'hombres. My
cousin Ben, remarka bly, handsome
youth, whose few years came to an un-
timely end in that forlorn country,
was always very good in helping Inc
with my household tasks, much to the
disgust of Shoshone Jim, an Indian
who often came to the cabin. He re-
garded with extreme disfavor the
spectacle of Ben washing dishes.
"Nvhy you wash dish?'" he de
manded.
'Oh, the mahala makes me, - waf
the careless reply.
"'You mahala?" inquired Jim.
"Ben replied in the affirmative
whereupon Jim rose, walked out of the
house and disappeared on trail lead
ing to the distant hills. Late in the
evening he returned, greatly fatigued
with his long tramp, carrying young
sapling carefully peeled and denudec
of its leaves and branches Stick,
said he, offering it to Ben. You whir
YOU mahala; no good hombre wash
dish
ellis face clouded at Ben's refusal
then frightened with hope as he said
in a most insinuating voice, You like
whip?'
my first last, and only dinner party
in camp was an occasion of much tribu
lation We had no vegetables, but, as
there were plenty of cattle, | made
roast beef the piece de resistance, while
of calf's brains, sweetbreads and
tongue l made presentable vol al
vent. Vegeta bles there were none,
but made an imitation plum pudding
which did very well.
''In the pride of my heart | refused
all help in my preparations for the
dinner party, only allowing Ben in The
kitchen aftw erything was well I'M
der way. AS / opened the door for hin
to enter, 4 hen that had long been my
bane futtered in between his feet
This hen belonged to a gang Of China
men, who were fattening her for THEN
coming New Years celebration. | hac
several times found her in the house
doing more or less damage, but was
afraid to complain to her owners
She began Topping about in the
idiotic manner of hens upsettine
dishes, and utterly refusing to go ou,
of the door we had set open for hel
exit. Never was a creature more exas
perating than that hen. Finally she
pumped into a pan of dough ! had SCI
to rise. Ben let fly a hatchet he had
picked up from the hearth; it went
straight to the mark, and the hen wa:
decapitated. 1t was good throw, but
the result filled us with CONSERVATION
We closed the door, shot the bolt, drew
the curtains and sat down in council tc
consider the question of what we should
do with the body of the hen. A fowI
in Reese River was an article of untold
value. Its price might ruin u.s. Ber
suggested installments.
land become bond slaves to China
for the rest of our lives, returned l.
Besides we found that neither of us haC
the courage to confess the deed and say
like George Washington, Il did it will
my little hatchet.' Burning in tn,
kitchen stove would not be safe, for tn,
odor of burnt feathers might betray us
Time pressed and we had come to M
decision. Steps must be taken,' CRIED
Ben, and catching up the fowl he but
toned it inside his coat, snatched Ii,
his hat, and disappeared. IN shor
time he returned, unbuttoned his Goa
and produced the fowl plucked ant
| ready for roasting.
"Into the oven with it. said he. :
had meant to shy it down that olt
shaft behind the house. but hadn't tn,
heart to waste the good meat. 1t will
look we'll at your dinner party, an,
guests do not ask questions
"'But the feathers and the rest?'
asked, doubtfully. No danger, re
turned Ben. I lay down behind a biz
boulder and plucked it into my hand
kerchief: then put in a stone, tied U,
the handkerchief, and flung it to tn,