The Monticellonian., 1902-09-04

what he was doing when he put that irrigation business through-and say, talking about Roosevelt, you ought to
 hear what the wild and woolly west thinks about him. didn't see a cow boy out there who hadn't slept side by side with Teddy when he was rough ing it.
 "I don't know what I expected of Casper. Maybe thought ii was made up of tents canva.-top wagons. yell- ing cowboys and dirty Indians. If I did I was disappointed. When l first set foot in the place I thought I'd got turned around and was back in Chicago. Honest! Lively? It has three big hotels brimful all the time; three department stores doing a rush. ing business every day in the week; a whole block of saloons that are roll ing in wealth and working overtime; two banks, two newspapers and S32 inha bitants. every one of whom tends to his business so actively that he con stahtly keeps the air stirring violently around him. That must be why it's so windy in Casper. Going out on the
 
 the Masonic Temple at home here.
 T had prepared myself to do with out bath until my return to civiIiza- lion. What was my astonishment to find modern bathroom. with all at taehments, in my uncle's house-run- ming hot and cold water He also had telephone in the house Youcan ob of Ho1a +-s lights. and Uncle Charlie is even talk ing of installing a hot water heating plant in his house this fall. How is that for frontier town in the wilds of Wyoming?
 There isn't poor man in Casper. l wouldn't mind living there It's the same altitude as Denver. and sick person is a curiosity The name of the masculine element is Charlie. This includes horses, dogs and China men. Occasionally you find Bill Anyone with a more high-how front name Is looked upon with suspicion. l didn't tell them that mine is Alger- non.
 The native masculine costume of Casper consists of & pair of boots. So.5o hat sand 75-cent pair of over nlls-'bout $1.25 for shirts, I guess. I didn't see many cowboys. They call 'em sheepmen now. Every things sheep out there. Casper isn't stock yards, but once in awhile bunch of cattle went by the house, and once l got mixed up with bunch of sheep If Mary's little lamb smelled anything like it l don't wonder that the teacher objected.
 "The native Casperite is not mod est man. His voice is large. and when he talks you don't have to ask him twice what he said. if you happen to be standing mile across the prairie away from him. He is partial to ex- the truth His children are the finest, his wife the best cook, his ranch the biggest, his crops the largest. his sheep the most numerous. | his state the best, his politics the only kind in the whole union He wouldn't | change shoes with Pierpont Morgan not.on your life, He's honest and big l hearted and open-handed. l like the | native Casperite.
 "The woman of Wyoming votes. 1 She wears divided skirts when she | rides horseback, so you may know that | she rides in the fashionable attitude. | She doesn't powder her face and frizz | her hair. She's big and buxom and | healthy. and when she laughs it isn't | a windy giggle. She can hit a rabbit | on the jump with a 45, and she knows l how to fry sage chicken and bake | rabbit pie. She rears a numerous and | husky progeny, and to express it mild y. she rules the roost.'
 Fruit ia scarce out there. and ba- | nanas are 90 cents a dozen, so they buy | em by the bunch. The Casper taste | runs to bananas-bananas for break. | fast bananas for dinner and bananas | for supper. And say-talk about | feed. Maybe you don't think they | feed a fellow down there!"
 "l don't see that you're any fatter," nterposed the Managing Editor.
 "The bronco did that" mournfully | returned the Tenderfoot. "I lost 20 | pounds in precipitation, epidermi. and | fatty tissue. And say-I ain't just a tenderfoet any more-Im tender all | over now"
 Well. l guess you'd better go to work and get tough again. You can give us story of your western ex- periences as a starter. Go on now, I'm busy" commanded the Managing Editor
 "All right" grunted the Tenderfoot, IS he laboriously prepared to lift him. self into d standing position. You'll | excuse my moving gradually for a day or two, however. l ought to have an- other week to rest up in"
 Guess you don't want to go west again in hurry. hey?"
 Don't I!' said the Tenderfoot. 'Next time 1 go I'll stay there. too. I'll buy half dozen sheep and ge mp | in the lovely cool mountains and roost with my gentle baabaas, and get rich in a couple of years. Say. you can buy and for 90 cents an acre out in Wyo- of water on it, tool"
 "Where?" demanded the Managing Editor.
 "On the river bottom" serenely re- piled the Tenderfoot, as he limped hastily out of the Managing Editors '. |. | T