Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-15

cleanly in their dress than would naturally
be supposed. The woman who sawed the
wood wore a calico wrapper, somewhat
faded, but fairly clean. She wore no bonnet.
Water front women are not afraid OF the
sun and wind and when they are tanned,
they don't rush to the druggist for cosmetics.
Paint and face powder are unknown along
the water front.
One old man, who appeared to be the pa
triarch Of the colony, sat on log reaching
out in the water He had nothing to do
and seemingly found great pleasure in look
ing at the river He said he had lived on
the water for twenty years and that it was
the best place he could find THE breeze
is always good down here" ne said.
The parallel of these people exists in
every metropolitan center. A study OF them
shows that the water has some strange
infatuation. They cannot explain it them
selves. They only know that they would
rather live there than elsewhere. Many of
them would not exchange their shacks for
palaces in fashionable residence streets.
few OF them, perhaps a very small proper
tion, own the ground upon which they are
located, but the large majority are squat
ters. Their shanties are built so that they
can readily move them if the owner of the
land interferes and many Of them have
selected building sites that will probably
never be questioned on account OF proximity
to the water The paint brush has never
invaded the territory. The natural bright
ness OF the yellow pine is good enough.
In some respects these groups look very
much like Taney county village. Taney
county Is the widest bailiwick in the Ozark
mountain country Of Missouri. The people
there do not believe in house paint and
their buildings are of about the same dl
mensions and general character as the
shacks that line the western bank OF the
Missouri river in Omaha.
North Of the East Omaha bridge there
are a few houseboats, but they are not good
form" any more and are becoming unpop-
ular. The greater number OF houseboats
are on the Iowa side of the river.
River Front Dances.
Sometimes there Is revelry OF nights in
these humble homes. dance-the natives
call it a "rag'-is the highest form OF
amusement On these occasions beer is
bought by the keg and the master of GER
emonies draws it and passes it around. On
these occasions the old-fashioned fiddler is
in his element. He rubs his bow with
rosin and plays THE ArSansaw Traveller"
THE Irish Washerwoman" "Rouser" and
other old-time rag music The young
swains swing the river front lasses with
great galantry. while the "caller off, yells
out: Swing your partner" Balance ALL"
First lady pass" and so on. 1t Is fire.
quently early in the morning when these
dances are finished AS general rule they
are free from disorder and the typical river
dweller gives the police comparatively little
work.
Among these people dollar has great pur-
chasing power. But little money is made
and but little is needed, for tastes are sim
pie and privation is accepted without know
ing It.
The observing student Of people and things
may find much material in afternoon
stroll along the river bank and he will be
treated kindly by men, women and children
and dogs, unless he asks too many leading
questions.