Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1902-07-24


went, was also the principal house in
the settlement. The first rains had COM
menced. The windows were open, fol
the influence of the southwest trades
penetrated even this faroff mountain
mining settlement, but oddly enough
there was fire in the large central
stove, around which the miners had
collected, with their steaming boots
elevated on a projecting iron railing
that enoiroled it. They were not at
tracted by the warmth, but the stove
formed a social pivot for gossip and
suggested that mystic circle dear to the
gregarious instinct Yet they were de-
cidedly respondent group. For some
moments the silence was only broken
by gasp, a sigh, a muttered oath OF
all impatient change of position. There
was nothing in the fortunes of the set
Element nor in their own individual
affairs to suggest this gloom The sin
gular truth was that they were one and
all suffering from the pangs of dys-
pepsia.
Homogeneous as such complaint
might seem to their healthy environ
ment-their outdoor life, their daily
exercise, the healing balsam Of the
mountain air, their enforced temperance
in diet and the absence of all enervat-
ing pleasures-it was nevertheless the
incontestible fact. Whether it was the
result OF the nervous, excitable tempera.
ment which had brought them together
in this feverish hunt for gold; whether
it was the quality of the timed meats
or half cooked provisions they hastily
bolted, begrudging the time it took tc
prepare and to consume them; whether
they too often supplanted their meals
by tobacco or whisky, the singular
physiological truth remained that these
young, finely selected adventures, liv.
ing the lives of the natural aboriginal
man and looking the picture of health
and strength, actually suffered more
from indig 5stion than the pampered
7wellers of the cities. The quantity OF
patent medicines, " "bitters, pills,
"panaceas" and ''lozenges'' sold in the
settlement almost exceeded the amount
of the regular provisions whose effects
they were supposed to correct. The suf
ferers eagerly scanned advertisements
and placards. There were occasional
runs on new "specifcs, and gen
-eral conversation eventually turned in
to discussion of their respective mer
its. A certain childlike faith and trust
in each new remedy was not the least
distressing and pathetic of the symp
toms of these grown up bearded men.
"Well,. gentlemen, said Cyrus Par
ker, glancing around at his fellow suf-
ferers, "you kin talk of your patent
medicines, and I've tackled 'em all,
but only the other day l struck suthin
that I'm goin to hang on to, you bet !"
Every eye was turned modify to the
speaker, but no one said anything.
And 1 didn't get it outer advertiser
ments nor off Of circulars! 1 got it
outer my head, just by solid thinkin, :"
continued Parker.
''What was it, .Cy?' said one unso.
phisticated and inexperienced sufferer
Instead of replying, Parker, like a
true artist, knowing he had the ear Of
his audience, dramatically flashed a
question upon them:
"Did you ever hear Of a Chinaman
havin dyspepsy?" :.
"Never heard he had sabe enough t,
hev anything" said scorner.
'No, but did you?" insisted Parker.
"Well, no!' chorused the group
They were evidently struck with the
fact ...
''Of course you didn't TIP said Parker
triumphantly. Zoos they amt. Well,
gentlemen, it didn't seem to me the
square thing that pesky lot of yellow
skinned heathens should be built differ