The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1895-03-02
TWO YEARS
"ARKINSAW. 7
CHAPTER VII.

When my term Of SHOOT was ended
which was three months, accompanied
by my brother and two others, I hiet
ME over to the Arkansas river, pattern
ing after the majority of my scholars
and their parents although l was mo-
exactly looking for job of picking cot.
ton. But as there was nothing what
ever to be done iE the mountains ex.
cept coon and fox hunting. and as I was
not an enthusiast on these occupations,
thought l would 60 to section of the
country where there was little more
progressive spirit. At this time the
Little Rock & Ft. Smith railroad was in
process of construction, nearly parallel
ing the Arkansas river and people came
for miles TO see the road bed, long befo
the rolling stock was put Oh, or even
the ties and rails were laid and it was
amusing TO hear their remarks about
what they saw.
In partnership with two others, I
bought saw mill and settled down for
the winter and it was here that be-
came initiated into the mysteries of
Arkansas dancing, I don't think ever
in my life saw people more fond of
dancing and although not very thickly
populated there was seldom q night
during the winter that dance could
not be enjoyed by walking or riding
two or three miles. The Arkansas i'd
dler is well known character in every
state in the Union, at least by reputa-
ton. Seated on an up-turned barrel at
one end of the room, he will saw away,
stamping his foot in time with the mus
ic, and keeping it up as long as the peo-
pie want to dance, about the only in
terruption to his music ~ being when
he tunes his fiddle, which he does for
every tune he plays, splitting on the
keys to make them stay in place.
The room occasionally was lighted BY
tallow dips but much oftener by blazing
pine knots. The only dances were CO.
tillions and when the dancers get on
the floor they dance every change the
caller knows before they stop, not three
changes as they do in more civilized
countries and the way the young men
brace themselves back and do the
double shuttle is amusing in the ex-
IRENE. An introduction is not neces-
sary in order to secure partner for one
of these dances. III person had to
do was to walk up to any disengaged
young lady in the room and tell her
you wanted to trot her through the
next set and it was not once in fifty
times she would refuse, as to do so is,
in their estimation, mark Of extreme
i'll breeding.
In the spring | returned to this mount
aims and was engaged to teach another I
term of school in the same district in
which had taught the previous sum-
ner- l had by this time become ac- {
to the people and surround {
ngs until could eat piece of corn {
bread and drink glass of buttermilk :
Without making wry face but l drew t
he line at roast coon and possum. e
Soon after my term of school COM /
nenced | received word from newly '
appointed Justice of the Peace in the 8
'recinct in which my brother lived t.
hat he had three or four cases of dis s
urbing the peace to try on certain il
sy and asked me to come up and act il
8 clerk of the court. complied with b
is request and next day after getting a
ONE repaired to the ball of Justice, Y
'hich in this case was log cabin, the ii
esidence of the aforesaid J. P, about f
2x20 feet in size. The ]. P. was one of a
hose who believe in the scriptural in. ST
motion BE fruitful, multiply, and re- b.
lenish the earth" and was the father
numerous progeny, ranging from pl
Re babe in arms up to boy of fifteen tt
ears, and consequently the space for T
gliding court was somewhat limited. al
here being no constable my brother fl
as deputized to make the arrests and hi
de all day and part of the night after th
is men, not because they were at such b,
distance but because they were hid pr
e ont. They had never been arrested le
'fore and didn't know what to expect. ar
bout two O'Clock in the morning he tn
ought in his last prisoner aud we ed
oceeded to business. One Of the par in
IS pleaded guilty, another was tried wi
I'd found guilty, which left the two til
incipal prisoners, Budd Hubble and
ION Ross, yet to be tried. The newly th
pointed j. P. not having as much co
nfdence in his ability as Justice as he in