New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-02
RANCH LIFE IN WYOMING.
SOME OF IT'S DELIGHTS PICTURED BY A
GOVERNORS DAUGHTER.
MORE CoNGENIAG ~ SOME WAYS THAN OFFICIAL.
EXISTENCE IN THE MORE PRETEN
Trors EXECUTIVE MANSION.

wyoming,
which up TO the present time has ms State had
but four Governors including DE Forest Richards
Just Installed in office Francis r. Warren. tho
present senior Senator from the State Of Wyoming
and It's first Governor. held the office four times
twice by election. Governor Osborn, who followed
him. was an appointee. William Richards was
the second Governor elected by the votes OF the
people.
These men ore mostly ranchmen. for herling IN
wyoming is It's chief feature. and Miss Alice Rich-
ards draws a graphic word picture or me advent o'
their family in their present home.
Il have never "A true story about ranch Ire
in my State" she said. "out Of the many that
have read and so | will do my best to give you an
idea OF Il az II really Is.
I'VE travelled from California By wagon camp
ing out al night cooking own meals by the
campfire. and suffering all the rest OF the neon
veniences Incidental 10 early overland travel bu'
II great and never enjoyed trip 80 Huch
In my life We had a 'mess-box' at the back OF
the wagon where we kept all our dishes. or. to be
more exact our tin plates tin cups ETC. our cooking
utensils and provisions enjoying squatter SOY,
ereignty' at meals. as We all sat on the grouhd
while dining The weather was delightful. as 1t
generally is during the summer months In that part
OF the country AMI We took in enough ozone on me
journey To have very much improved the atInos-
phere Of the Capitol building here. had we been
able to transmit It to Congress. along with our
various petitions and memorials, at that time, when
we were only a Territory.
I'VE took a leisurely trip and after many enjoy
able days arrived at our destination a square
log cabin quite respectable In appearance, was to
be our future home. II had been erected on the
side OF gentle slope with grass that seemed m
usually green fringing each side Of beaten road
way Of the exact color of the deep red sandstone III
the vicinity. ana you can imagine how bright TINS
contras, made the place look. The soil there Is
positive red. that the name Of our ranch home
Red Bank is well taken. but vegetation is quite
as lixurlant there as the regulation black loan
just beyond MS The place looked most picturesque
as We approached. but oh, what a descent the
aesthetic sense had when We entered!
The ranchman who built the house. after the
usual manner Of men who drift beyond the pale o.
woman's influence had contented himself with just
as little az he could make answer to save his
labor. IL was q one-room house. about twenty
feet SQUARE on the entrance side was door and
on the opposite window. This would have secured
ventilation ut least but for the fact that the house
being without chimney. the window must be
utilized as a fue also the cook-stoye being placed
in front OF It. with the pipe projecting through
section from which the glass had been removed. A
short pole was planted in the centre 20 keep the
roof from cavng in. there were no beams, l.
being made Of clapboards, with the fat side down
ana the round side top chinked with mortar. the
same as the round logs which formed the walls.
The whole spread with mortar. inside az Wei
LAYER Of me red earth. packed down hard which
made it exceedingly heavy. There no floor In
the house and moreover. the dirt floor was not
hard, and the dust rose in clouds every time any
thing brushed across f..
.'Onc end Of the house was our bedroom. and the
bed was built on the wall, something after the
manner Of berihs in steamboats,. without their fin
lsh There were no sh". t. and the bedclothcs fur
ushrd We could not use 81 course bat We were
amply provided In our camping OUTFIT This was
Fortunate had TO stay there that first night
without further improvements. The table was
made Of Of the boards smooth side up
placed on a stand ~ strong pegs cat from sap
lings and driven firmly into the ground. and we
had movable benches Of the same material 10 SIT
on. But alas the architect Of this mansion De-
Heved I'm that seductive but mos mistaken phi!oSo-
phy that the easiest way j. always the bosi, ana
had built his cabin the slope. without IevellinS
the ground IN the least and | sat AZ table on
the lower side OF this incline | became the usual
victim OF this easy going philosophy. as my bench
turned over with me n the very first meal. spiiing
me aad my tin cup of cone" indscrimnately upon
the noor making a fine mixture Of coffee. dust and
girl. ard returning me 20 my dust ancestor ra'hFr
prcmaturely Notwithstanding this mishap. | do
not remember to have ever enjoyed mel so much.
as did all the others. FOR our trip had given us me
appctites.
.'The next day" said Miss Richards continuing
her narrative We pushed on to the home ranch.
as II was called here we were 10 stay until ours
was made little moro possible residence for
civilized beings. and where wOmans influence had
resulted in a home even in that wilderness. We
stayed there q coupe OF weeks. while father and
his men remodced and somewhat improved Our
Red Bank cabin. Two chmneys were built. so that
we could have base-burner stove in the parlor
end Of our composite residence. TO meet the rigors
Of winter for although We had brought fine cook
stove In our train we had to wood for fuel, and
the cookstovc required too much feeding. level
door ha Srcen laid around the centre post. and sta
tionary table. and the post was nicely papered
though the made ducks and brakes or
that as far up a. she COLD reach Tor me table
built near the post. ana pussy always pe.ame
gornewhat excited at meal-time and clawed at the
post because We would not le; her claw at us.
Tho walls were lined with unbleachrd muslin
naiied securely TO them; curtains were hung at the
window also in front NJ the bed. which was now
,loubc-deckor with an upper berth for vs. children
= cloth spread upon the table and the print
had brought with us. though these were not UNI
packed in time TO say mo from downfall mall mr. M
irsi dav. and. altogether our one-room mouse De
society in the locality was not in an advanced
foundation was somewhat lacking. went 10
bali one night and there wcre eishyinve n men
counting myself. child Of ten The men were
bovs OF hat period there were some o the
nned men while the Wild. free NE had strength
oned their characters mere city life can. We
had the pleasure OF entertaining many Of them. for
in wyoming there is a cod, Of courtesy TO suit our
"nvir9nmenis Towns are few and there are
roadside hostleries. where man and beast can OBJ
lain shelter. cv@ry traveller there can walk In
ana take his scat with the family at table. b. az
signed n bed II there Is one. and. II not, sleep I'm
front ~ the fire pallet If IN" weather be
cool or under the stairs n II be warm; and he
can STAY without charge ~ long "a he likes.
domestic help cannot be obtained for lov6 or
money on these ranches so. az we have 10 do our
own work with men to aid in the heavy part. such
as laundering. scrubbng. etc. the task OF enter
ininlnc is made much lighter when the guest T.
coneenIgl While my mother was III. father ana !
together did all the cooking and IT little
irving TO me- I confess when. lust "a We had fin
ishcd a meal and cleared everything away In would
walk some uncOuth cowboy OF the conventional
order and would have 10 70 10 work and do II
all again
4 went TO a roundup once. and never had
much Fun a. on that occasion. -Four other girls
were with me- all mounted ponies. and
helped the men round up the herds. even holding
one small drove while the cowboys brought the
~ no md is n