Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-08

the roofs to prevent its wa;o,,. sa,,ag
ing the ilsnt frame structures, and
they cut and pile up enough ice from
Mirror lake to supply the demand from
thousands Of visitors during the sum
mer. The womeii find plenty 10 occ,,nv
them in their household affairs. the in
struction OF the hitler children and in
caring for the comfort of the men
while at their rough work in cold and
snow. Evenings they gather t, cossip
of the happenings of the dav ana the
cold. clear Sabbath mornings find some
OF The families joining in the simnIe
services of their faith
Life j. simple with tho vrintar dwal.
lers in Yosemite, but ii is not altogether
without us exciting features. Wild an
iinaiS III NUMBERS seek the shelter Of
the heavy timber at the base of the
towering cliffs and lynx hunts with
dogs supply furs which are tanned and
sold To tourists In summer. An occa-
sional glimpse OF big gray wolf or
the tarcks OF a prowling California lion
will sometimes startlc the little com.
munity, though the latter beast is too
wild and shy to permit himself to be
seen and has long Since abandoned the
vicinity as q regular hunting ground.
When the thunder Of n landslide re-
verherates along the cliffs the guard
ian OF the valley pushes his big black
hat off his brow, rolls the cigar butt
in his teeth ana speculates on its loca-
ton ana the probable extent of dam
ase to timber or trails that has been
done. and. ii weather and roads permit.
he investigates and plans the repairs
to re made in the spring.
The guardian is tall, wiry Scotch
'Irishman named John Stevens. who has
spent lifetime on the plains and in
the mountains as a stage driver, first
On the old Overland in the days when
the desperadoes. Slade and Jules,
bossed and terrorized the tough, horse
thief" divisions from Fort Kearney to
the Rocky mountains, and later he
made a reputation on the business
seats Of mountain stages in California.
stevens Is n noted wit in the noun
Rams ana the long winter months are
greatly frightened for thoEe about him
by his genial spirit and ever ready
joke.
In the category Of winter events Of
Importance to this self-exiled commu-
nifty there must be given a place near
the top to the semi-weekly visits of the
mail carrier with his budget of news
Of the foot-hill settlements, who is the
only link that binds them to the out
side world. His coming is eagerly
awaited and in the early dusk of the
evening Of mail day little crowd
gathers at the guardians Office 10 get
their mail and hear the talk.
The carrier OF the yosemite mail has
a position franght with much hardship
and some adventure, He takes up his
work when the stages that have car
ried the mail ill summer stop in
December. and he is out of 4 job when
the first regular stage goes over the
road in the spring. lie and his Tough
little pony travel n hundred miles twice
every week. through drifted snow and
mountain storm. to deliver the precious
pouch Of letters and newspapers and to
fill the temporarily sidetracked and
news-hungry deniZens with talk OF
things he has heard and seen since his
last visit He distributes parcels. pack.
ages and verbal messages 10 the wo-
men, for he does all their little trading
for them in the town.
y development OF winter that is
watched with rever-abating interest is