Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-08-12
HosO the Late
6OdS Established
[Original.l


When 4 first went into the ministry
/ chose for my field of labor the min
ing camps of California. 1t occurred
to me to "chime in" with the miners,
secure their confidence. and thus be
the better 24le to influence them.
always fouhu them ready to listen to
me, and l effected great deal of
good.
/ was told that mining camp bear
ing the name of Scalp Gulch was the
worst in the region. There was no
semblance of law or order, every man
being a law unto himself. All dis
putes were decided in accordance with
rapidity of draw and accuracy of
aim. l determined to go there and see
If l could accomplish any reform. |
was told that l would never come out
of the place alive, but my idea Of a
soldier of the cross Is that he must
at times be real soldier, so l went to
! Scalp Gulch.
l found there people who differed
from other people only in this: They
had drifted completely away from all
restraint | attributed this condition
to the fact that there were no women
in the camp, for l have observed that
any body of men living without the
refining influence of women will grad
ually sink to the level of the brute. |
resolved to make my beginning with
these desperate fellows by promising
them that if they would reform
would return to civilization and ship
them car load Of wives.
I gathered them together In q clear
ing, mounted stump and made them
an address. Instead of holding up
their wicknedness to them simply as
wickedness l pictured their condition
aHentirely untitled for the introduction
Of any refining influences. Their moth
ers would scarcely dare to come among
them in their present condition. After
drawing picture Of home life at
which l could see number of them
were visibly affected, l expatiated on
the superior delicacy of woman. her
tenderness and devotion. "Now," l
said at last, there are many young
women who would be glad to come
here and turn your cabins into homes
for you. If you will pull yourselves to-
gether, will go and bring a number
of them myself, making sure that
those l select are good and true wo-
men,"
My last words produced an instanta-
neous effect when you goinT' was
shouted from dozen threats.
Just as soon as you convince me
that you are fitted to receive your fu-
ture Wives" replied.
"Parson," said one of them, "you go
long and bring the gals. We promise
you to be reformed before you get
back"
There was such unanimity In this re-
quest that assented and the next day
took my departure. From several insti-
tutions where girls were taken in and
kept till they were able to go out and
make their own living l selected some
twenty volunteers, who, relying upon
my representation, preferred the role
Of wife and mother to factory work or
the duties of servants. l chose none
except Of good character and such as
were recommended for their piety.
put them all on train and took them
to the station nearest to Scalp Gulch.
From there l sent word to bring over
the teams for further transportation.
The population met us In an open
space at the foot of the gulch. / could
see at once that every man had got
himself into the best presentable shape,
and all were on their good behavior.
l made them little address, present
ing the girls and admonishing them to
deferential conduct. l had arranged
before my departure that number Of
cabins should be erected at one end Of
the settlement for the reception Of the
newcomers till they should be paired,
and as soon as the reception ceremo-
MES were over the teams were driven
on, the men walking beside them, and
before the girls reached their cabins
every one Of them was bespoken-
feared trouble among those men who
failed to secure partners, but gave out
that l would bring enough for all.
One of the first things that were re-
ported to &le after my arrival was that
during my absence they had built q
house which was to be used for a
courtroom and church. My cargo
was delivered on Saturday. and was
requested to hold service the next day.
At 10 o'clock in the morning | gath
cred my flock. the men budding on
one side OF the room, the women TAX
Ing seats on the other. After q very
short service-the miners were not yet
ready for long one-I addressed my
congregation on their coming relations,
admonishing the men to be kind to
their wives and the girls to remember
that their husbands had been so long
without feminine restraint that they
must be lifted out Of barbarism grad
ually. Then called on one, Mexican
Jim, leader among them. to give
some account Of what progress they
had made. He arose and addressed
the united assembly.