The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-20

with his WIFE, two grown sons ana SIX
grauddaughtcrs I'm a one-ro0m one-stoFy
frame house. After supper the thb.e
is stacked up I'm corner and long
straw mattress Is unrollea the fun length
Of the room: on this is laid straw bo.s-
tor and each member of the family mas
SGT Of blankets and they are appor-
Toned out There are extra blankets loi
visitors. for there arc many strangers
crossing tho plains who are allowed 10
spend tie night. f was one of these, and
when the big roil of blankets was handed
me / held on 90 Il and watched and Won
dercd. Presently heard the signal "Al
Ready" and the lamp was extlnguished
and the noises indicated tfat the FAMILY
wore retiring J had been located az the
extreme end of the bcu foD wh.ch ! was
grateful / did MOI get much ecp tnaf
night rr had removed he outer gar
ueufs ike the "tfuderfoOt was, ana
was afraid OF the dawn. While IL wac
vet dark ] heard the head Of the house
with emphatic caths arousine the house
hold. As they arose ! discovered ihat
some az the men had not even remove
thei~ boots. making compiet" toic' hy
r--tttrr on tfc'- sYmhroros. ! begged that
The lamp which had been lighted would
bo nut out urtil dressed. which boon
WAS granted by the kind motron with
natrouizing afr We ate breakfast by
iamulight hut J never ate a meal with
ereator relish The food was nlain but
well cooked. and everything was clean
and abundant Tire owner Of the ranch
IS looked up 20 as one OF the leading men
IN the community. tie owns fine horses
and vehicles and many thousand head
of cattle and sheep.
bellies OF THE PLAINS.
HIS daughters are the bellies Of the
plains and much admired Ivy the sur
rounding settlers. They are the gar
deucrs and do the chores for the ranch
besides the domestic work, including the
washing They eyed my friend and zee
furtively. having very little 10 say, but
did not apuear 10 be difident in the east
am reliably informed that this primi-
tive life IS not uncommon on the western
plains IL is the most conclusive argu-
mont possible that comforts as well as
haupincas are relative. These people are
unaccustomod 90 any other mode of life
and are therefore happy with theirs
There are other things. however. about
which they are f8stdiOus. For instance
the sons are very particular about ther
riding horses and saddles. possessing the
finest OF each 90 Doe had anywhere and
they shone IN striking contrast 10 the
drol untdy appearance OF the riders.
The manner of the native painsman
IS as uncouth as his mode Of life. All OF
them swear like sea cooks Ii is not
vice with them. simply a custom. i was
astonished To find that the presence Of
ladies did not always deter them I'm this
habit. While the latter did not ever I'M
du'ee. they did not appear at all shocked
Behind an OF this. however. the yeomon
Of the plains possess hearts Of oak and
are true 20 friend and foe. with all OF
their coarse manner they possess warm
generous. hospital natures and the
stranger. however humble or needy. may
share without cost their home and their
goods.
on the Colorado plains there are no
churches and Few school houses and sun
day IS not q welcome day TO the native H.
calls IL the "long day and truly it seems
10 be- for they get impatient waiting for
the end. they grow tired 81 the idenes5
and the Observance OF the sabbath is a
form of civilization which to them is be-
coming more and M r unpopular and VIII
some dav. n doubt, fall into disuse. OF
course. nearer the railroad lines where
there is a show Of civilization there Is
less disregard for Sunday. but that reVer-
ence for the day which is part OF the
East and Fastener is not here to DE
found.
The p'ainsmen are not welded 10 Bryan
ism to as great an extent as is supQosei
bv the Fastener. There seems 20 be less
devotion TO the cause than there is IN IN
cities. The Colorado farmer and stock
man seem to be perfectly willing % 'let
well enough alone" as one Of them eN-
pressed IT, II IS said that the real strength
Of the silver cause lies with the foreigners
working in the mines Of Colorado. De
spite the press reports. Bryan's recent
visit created comparatively little interes
and ut one Of the places az which he
sroke-Boulder- his audience disappointel
his admirers A conservative leh Il D. tnal
Bryan's majority IN this state, IF he IS
again the nominee. viii be reduced one
half.
A GAME BEAST.
The gamcst wild beast on the Colorado
prarics SIS the antelope pronghorn ami
nal intermediate between the deer and
the goat The upper part is mostly
yellowish brown; the underparts, The
sides Of the head and throat and buttocks.
are white. The most striking feature OF
the animal is fits large. beautiful soft
brown eyes. which renders 1t somewhat
Ike a gazelle. As might be expected,
they have a wonderfully fine vision
which. combined with almost miraculous
oifactory powers. render them worthy OF
the steel of the most skillful hunter. The
plains hundreds OF miles from the noun
tains are pentifully supplied with this
game which IS the finest meat for man
to be had anywhere. But for the great
cunning Of the antelope he would have
been extermnated long ago. 1t takes an
experienced hunter and fine Winchester
a.,
The herds are rarely TO be found In
gulchts or ravines except on dark nights
In daylight they keep on the elevations,
and If the view in any direction Is Oh
s,ructed the buck occupies nearby ele-
walton. doing duty as a sentinel. Nhen
he observes the hunter a mile or TWO III
the distance he runs Off. never In the
direction OF the does he Is guarding lie
goes at first I'm an opposite direction IN
order 10 mislead the hunter. Keeping me
while out Of the range Of the best guns.
Their instinct informs them Whe'her
YOU arc after them or not. frequeitF
when YOU are following the tran OF o'her
missions and without gun, they look az
you for awhile. then resume ther reed
ing I'm the most unconcerned manner
The old hunters declare that ihey hno"
when YOU are hunting them ana IL docs
look that way. There Is very niue use
10 give them chase. for they are as S"n'
as bird OF prey. In sections "here
there Is timber or bushes the chances
OF ambushng them is good. ana ihey
are deserving these sections Tor the open
and treeless plains. where 'hey nave
thriven greatly. ~,
GALLANT PROTECTOR.
2