The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-12-30
A PRAIRIE NEW YEAR.
How the Cowboys Celebrate On the
Western Plains.

Z
festivities on the western plains. The
ranch where the ball or "fandango" is
to be held is literally given over to the
boys for the occasion, and they never
fail to make the most OF it. Invitations
are sent over the neighbOrhood within
a radius Of % miles, and nearly every
one Is accepted, for ride Of 20 miles TO
one accustomed TO spending 10 or II
hours day in the saddle Il mere
nothing.
Besides, this is the one opportunity
of tine year to spend money lavislily
for the sake OF good time. An extra
cook OF two are hired, and supplies
enough laid in TO feed a small army.
1t is the privilege Of every cowboy ON
the place TO make on; a list OF eatables
that he feels his constitution demands.
And several days beforehand the great
wagon Is hitched up and q trip taken
to the nearest town 10 get provisions.
A more heterogeneous mixture of ed
ibles can scarcely be eimagined-raisins,
nuts, candies, canned meats and fruits,
pickles, crackers-anything kept and
recommended by the obliging and
neighbOrly grocery man.
In addition to the store bought deli
cacies for the feast, the ranch cook dis
tinguishes himself in the way of barbe-
cued shote, game, ''possum and taters,"
I pies and cakes and the like. For
week or w o before the feast ali hands
lend their aid to the capturing Of game
and the finding and saving Of eggs.
As for the fandango, the prepara-
ton are few and simple. Beds aud
other space consuming pieces Of furni-
ture are removed from the rooms in
tended for the dance. The bare floors
are sand secured and fiecked with fine
shavings of sperm candles, which soon,
under the many gliding feet of the
dancers, form thin, sleek coating, de-
| lightful and seductive to the feet. On
two sides of the room, close up against
the wall, row of chairs is set for the
accommodates of those not dancing.
BY six o'clock in the evening the
guests begin to arrive, the boys having
| gone after the girls, on horseback gem
orally, some OF the tony" couples
coming in buggies, the high seated
"piano boxedr vehicles Of the west.
with their double teams and general
air of smartness.
The girls have their party dresses
tucked up under their black calico rid
ing skirts, some of them bringing
waists, gloves and white kid slippers,
done up in bundle, to be put on after
they arrive. And s. merry hearted,
merry faced set they are-cheel1s glow
ing and eyes sparkling from the exhil-
aration of the ride in the wind and the
expectation of the unwonted froIic.
The music is furnished by negro fd- !
dlers, whose reper;ory OF old fashioned |
'breakdowns" is never improved upon
nor never falls short of It's early charm
and infection upon its hearers.
Perhaps you never saw q cowboys |
fandango. Their style Of dancing is
peculiar to themselves. Like their
horses build and gait, i; is made for
hard and long service. 1t il solemn, /
rythmic sort OF posing, the heels rarely /
leaving the floor, as much dancing be
ing done with the arms as with the |
feet. 1t is a motion which seems un- |
consciously 10 par;ake of the monOt-
ony of the prairies, suppresse intense
and inexhaustible.
There is almost no distinction Of |
classes or social grades in the west
Years ago, in the formative time of cat
tie ranching, the cowboy was sui |
generis. His father and grandfather
were cowboys, day wranglers," |
"nighthawks" and "cow punchers."
His language was bloody" and his
figure and mind uneouth. To-day he
may be graduate OF an eastern col
lege, theological student or the
youngest son of an English lord.
The western woman or gal is more
typical. She may be the 'boss'
daughter, educated "on east" the
renters" daughter, with only smat-
tering education from the free school,
or the ''hired girl" pluclsy, indepent;-
ent and good as her be.ters.p
In the same ''set" there may be one
man with ''store" suit on; another in
his regular suit, consisting OF blue fan
mel overshirt and leather belt, bucksl;in
leggings or cottonade overalls
The boys laugh loud, clap each other,
hang their gums" on the wall while
they are dancing, steal behind the
house FOR their drink between the sets.
but they treat the girls like queens,
No matter how rough their clothes,
they generally have white hands and
small, well clad feet They will wear
boots, but they will have them made
with high heels, OF fine leather, point
ed toes and often red tops.
They revel in dancing. They are
graceful, natural, muscular and active.
Dancing to them is horseback riding
in good company, under shelter and to
the tune of the fiddle. 1t gives free
play TO their untiring, restless bodies
and at the same time satisfies and de
lights their love of women's society
and good fellowship.
These holiday dances last all night,
their only breakfast being at 10 o'clock,
when eggnog is served, and at IL,
when the big supper is eaten. Then,
with renewed vigOr and spirits, they
return to the floor. The fires burn low
in the great chimneys, the kerosene
lamps flicker and smoke, the fiddiers
doze and play on mechanically, the
girls languiSh, and even the cowboy
himself feels the force aud strain of
protracted, time measured motion.
But the dance goes on.
Not until the dull red glow of sun
rise creeps over the dun prairies does
the music stop.
Then after breakfast of "cOld bits''
and strong, hot black coffee the girls
go to rooms prepared FOR them at the
ranch, or mounted on feet footed
bronchos 20 gallopiug over the prAi-
ries, the fresh. wild wind in their faces
and the thrilling memory of sweet
,.rnt,,i...s In, fl...ir