Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-06-28
FROM THE FAR WEST.
CARSON CRY, NEv., June -, 1897.

Since writing you the last time at
Sacramento, Cal, have been down
with malaria and chills SO have neglect
ed writing when ought to. After | had
had one chill and a fever got some ma
laria cure and it knocked it higher than
"Gilroy's kite I'M three days, land it
never came back" Before leaving Sac
ramentO witnessed IN event that pro-
baby you have never had All oppOrtllni-
ty OF doing and in all probabilities /
shall never have that pleasure again. 1t
was the Scots games and dances at the
twel,ty-frst annual gathering Of the
Caledonian Club at East Park. The day
was q warm one but the temperature
was tinucll modified by the fact that
quitest breeze was blowing from fire
north, making it much more comfort
abs.
ThNiads aud lassies We're there in
abundance, many of them i'll kilt and
tartan, showing the different clans met
in peaceful contest and in much less war
like array than in the days OF Roderick
Dhu,and Rob Roy. There was still
plenty OF the Drawn and sinew that
made the Scots OF the days of Wallace
and Bruce enemies not to be despised,
but it was turned to il different purpose.
The hammer, the light aud heavy shot
aud the caber had taken the place OF the
targe and clAymore and peaceful vic
tories We're won among good natured
badinage and applause of each others
deeds. sat on the raised SEATS with a
thousand others watching the games
through the long programme which was
Rot finished till the sun was low in the
,Se4t. have seen better records made
than was made there but general good
work was done 1T all the heavy athletic
contests. think the most attractive
part Of the programme for me was the
dancing oil the different parties in their
native costumes. The Reel O'Iuloch,
participated in by twenty or more
young lads and lassies was very anus
ing to me and provoked storm OF APP
plause from the rest of the spectators, as
did the Reel O'Tuloch for men and the
Highland Fling and Sword dancing. |
presume most of the readers of the News
know the dresses of the Scots and as to
the dances | shall not attempt to eX-
,1.,s,~ A0
OF the participants were very graceful
and very light on their feet and all the
dancing is done on the toes. All the
music was furnished by their own race
on the bag-pipes, six or seven in number
Yon have heard one alone and know what
a horrible noise that makes SO 1T will not
be necessary for me to tell you what. a
racket all seven playing ut once will
make. Prizes We're given for each and
every game or dance by medal or money.
| noticed some Of the dancers wore a.
great many medals OF different sizes and
designs. The last but not least ON the
programme and the one which created
special prze OF $40. for the best Irish
Jig dancers, by lady and gentleman az
the same time. The first to appear On
the stage was an old lady abont fifty
years old with siIvery locks and Il yonng
man about thirty five. Ii only
could have seen her feet | would have
thought she was young lady for she
danced and believe she felt that she
was ''as young as she used to be-"
Three other couples danced afterwards
at different times. The last couple that
danced carried off the money, but /
thought 1t an unfair decision. 1t was a
lucky thing for that young couple that |
was not one of the Judges, for if had
been that old lady would surely have
had zone end of saw-buck' to carry
home with her.
The next day attended bicycle meet
ait Oak Park where they have one OF the
finest tracks in the United States The
grand stand and bleachers was thor
ougly packed with people. they knew it
was going to be a grand affair as many
of the fastest riders in the world were
going to be there and they were not dis
appointed in coming as two worlds
records were broken. Otto Zeigler broke
the worlds professional competitive
record and IL local rider broke the worlds
amateur competitive record. All the
races were rode with determine ton to
make the best possible time. | think the
most interesting races were the handi-
cap races where every man pulled for all
he was worth from start to finish. One
very interesting featlre OF the affair WAS