The Globe-republican., 1895-11-28

was as fair a way of the sale as could
be effected.
But the big blizzard of sc afforded
an opportunity for many of the big
cattle companies togo out of business
with balanced accounts. The money
invested in many of these companies
was foreign capital in officially or
panied companies, under the pre-
tense of the big dividends of cattle
raising by q more prudent and eco
nomical system.
Many depleted cattle ranches were
capitalized on the "range count" and
the blizzard wiped out whatever was
left covered the deficiency between
the actual number and the Grange"
or capitalized count.
In the organization of these cattle
companies there were one or more
salarled officers who had Offices in the
cities, and who lived in a style be-
coming the Importance of the Office.
Much of the cattle business was con-
Quoted on an extravaganza principle.
The dividends were paid promptly on
a fictitious principal but the vestige
of this principal was showed under"
by the blizzard aforesaid. The cattle
days, however, will be long remem-
bered as something eventful in plains
life.
~
The "tenderfoot' is term applied
to strangers in new land. 1t is of
Western origin, and has not found it's
way in the dictionary. The name was
suggested perhaps, owing to the con
dition of the weary traveller after his
long and tedious march over rough
roads to the place in seeking. The
name of "tenderfoot" does not always
belong to the individual with the YER
dant aspect; and yet it is applied to
some smart people who are unaccus-
toned to the ways of their new abode.
The term may be considered slangy
and used only by the frontier, but it
means much and it ought to have
place in polite literature.
The initiation of some 'stenderfeet"
was bitter but perhaps wise expert
ence in Dodge City's palmy days-of
riotous and luxurious living-in the
sights, where the callow youth ex
pended his talents in the devious av
enues opened to him. Other than the
adolescent were lured by the attrac
tions in the dance halls and gamb-
ling dens. The wise and sage and
exalted were willing victims to the
deceitful charms of the dance hall
and the fascination of the gambling
table. Men who had standing at
home in church, business and society
often took in Dodge City by gaslight.
They were the least of the unsophis
ticated. Sometimes they would get
into serious trouble shooting scrap
perhaps how to hush up the es.
capade was a part Of diplomacy of
friends to keep the account of the af-
fray from reaching home.
The "tenderfoot" if he had money,
was treated royalty, and if he was of
a bibulous or hilarious turn he was
allowed to spend his money in bis
own way; but if he did not indulge in
Dodge's excuses, there was some de
vice, some secret play, put in opera
ton to abstract his hard earned du-
cats. The confidence man was one OF
the hangers on in this delectable city,
and his operations were not always
confined to means of deceit: there are
instances when robbery was practiced
if the victim was 10th to "cough up"
his greenbacks in the intrigue of the
confidence game.
"Hold ups" during period Of the
city's existence, were quite common.
Many times it was unsafe to 60 alone
south of the railroad track after night
fall-the "dead line" it was called
for the sandbagger and robber was
vigilant. But these things were only
incidental; and the ''tenderfoot' soon
! learned to avoid them.
fro BE CONTINUED.