Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-05-30
Nevada rlerriment Taking.

Shoshone Reservation, Nevada, giving
description, apparently, Of the first
dance she attended in the woods. 1t
was sent to us by Mrs. L. W. Quimby,
who tells us the girl was thirteen years
old. We publish it as, an evidence of
what education and schools are doing
for the Indian boy and girl:
The flurrying snow flew by, or the placid Pacific
coast
And the woods against a stormy sky their giant
branches tossed,
And the heavy clouds hung dark, the hills and
When a band of dancers boarded Il sleigh on the
wild Owyhee's shore.
Now as the conqueror comes, they, the light
hearted came,
Now with the shrieks from big tin horn, sweet
strains of the milk pan tame:
Just as the flying come, with shouts and many
cheer,
They shook the depths of the winters night
with kiss and lets make up, my dear.
On and on we rode, over sage-bush,
fording small streams, scaling mountains
and winding through the valley until
about nine o'clock when was informed
we had reached our destination. The
sleigh suddenly stopped before little
log school house of one room, which
was to be the scene of so much gayiety.
| was a sort of a wanderer IN strange
land, so made no comment on the ball
room, the absence of toilet rooms, nor
did [ laugh outright when | saw that
what l had supposed to be Pickering
gas light was only the uncertain fame
of a spurm candle.
The simple entertainer of this country
look ever at life's silver lining, nor do
they see or care to see the dark and
gloom beyond; they live in ignorance
and contentment, over hundred miles
from the railroad, and number of the
socalled "young ladies have never seen
a train or been in town. Imagine
white and civilized people in such
ignorance. One fair daughter of Eve,
Daisy, as she is commonly called,
boasted that a number of years ago she
had lived in the east and said that the
western girls were so far behind the
styles. "It takes so long for them TO
catch on to anything" she continued.
''Lots of 'em don't know Annie Rooney
and I've knowed it for over month.
Did you ever hear it?" | took the
disguised compliment at it's par value
and told her I had heard it. After
proving to me, to her satisfaction, that
she was superior in many ways to the
other fair maidens of the, west, Daisy
clung closer than brother the entire
evening, talking necessarily, entertain
ing, as she supposed, by asking very
personal questions about myself, my
friends, my family and the friends of
the family.
After we were all warm and chatting
gally together my escort, who has been
very appropriately nick named Bill
Nye, came to me and said "Hev We met
the other gals?" another sleighing party
having just arrived. | was first intro
duced to "Mollie" a tail, slim, red
haired and freckle faced maiden of,
possibly, Is, who wore her variegated
locks as her mother had worn hers
some forty years ago. "Cal' was
next presented. She said "Miss
Few-clothes, tee-he-tee-he-he." The
Humorist led me along the long rows of
dusty benches making his characteristic
witty speeches, and introducing me to
the "blue bloods'' of this country. Last
but not least came gentleman who at
first glance l thought was the husband
of an elderly lady who proved to be his
mother. Bill Nye said to me There's
one more feller and then you've met
'em ALL He led me to the aforesaid,
slapping him on the shoulder, turned
to me and said "Miss Few-clothes, we
call this fellow whiskers." every
appropriated l replied as Whiskers
stroke his flowing brown beard and
bowed gallantly, his knee joints squeak
ing from the exertion and his arms
hanging at his side as if they were
from the orchestra Ia harmonican and a
small boy came floating to our ears,
and Nye, as floor manager, entertaining
committee and everything else, led me
to our place on the floor and began:
"All to yer places and straighten up
yer faces"
"'Dress yer Pard.'
"Allie nun left"
| did not know the figure and was
quite at loss but looking around saw
the girls were being whirled about by
just then, siezed by pair of strong
arms whirled about, and dropped as
suddenly as l had been taken up.
Laughing, loud talking, te-he's from the
te-he girl and sweet strains from the
orchestra made the scene gay. Nye,
with nasal wang, continued:
"Jay bird right and hammer
left" grand right and left.)
l complied with this request, met my
partner at tie opposite side of the
room when to my dismay he fairly
shouted
Elbow home.''
In a few moments my sides were
aching with pain. | saw this was no
uncommon request and that both youth
and maid were well skilled in the art of
elbowing.
Dress yer Pard.'
"Allie mum left
'tRacoon chase and the possum race"
-I,,+ 70 Il 70