Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-17
MINISGC CAMP WIT AND HUNOR
Abundance Of Material for Writing
Some of the BEST Sellers"
CRUEL FAKE OF ELECTION NIGHT
Collection of characteristic Incidents
Observed Above and Below the
GrOund - Shakespeare
Painted Ouf.

AS the human types OF the mining camps
have changed under the influence OF ad-
vancing civilization. there have been
changes in the types of the wit and humor
Of mining camp life, but many OF the
original characteristics remain, for the
American gold digger al heart IL stil more
than half child: he still retains his serious
ness OF purpose. his contempt for convert
tionality. his reckless bravery. his tender
sympathy and his reverence for the female
Of his species. His sentimental regard for
womankind might lead him even at this
late date 70 repeat the incident OF Eugene
FIELDS "Th~ree-FIngered'' Hoover. who
pulled his gun in the theater and ordered
Armand 10 desist in his struggle with
Camille. A search OF latter~dAy mining
camps would reveal more than one 'casey's
Table dth9te."
There Is less perhaps OF the grim type
OF humor depicted in the story Of the
miners who lynehed the wrong man and
apologized to his widow by saying. the
laugh is on u.s. but il has not been many
wears since a miner from LeAdviTle, where
Cinnamon are not allowed, on q trip to
the Black Huis Of South Dakota, shot
a Chinaman to crafty his curiosity to see
n Chinese funeral
That there are few. IL any, latter-day
examples OF mining camp humor worthy
OF comparison with the earlier work Of
Harte. Twain and Field may be due rather
TO a lack Of humorists among western
writers than to a lack Of materiaL~T There
was one mining cafp incident Of com
paratively recent date that needed but the
pen OF a true humorist TO produce another
masterpiece. II happened on the night of
the national election OF 1895 In q little
camp tucked away In the mountains Of
southwestern Colorado. where the only
meaks OF communication with the world
was q single. uncertain telegraph wire and
a single. more uncertain telegraph operator
Naturally, only the merest scraps OF cleo
ton news reached the camp, but before
the certain news OF McKinleys election
could have been got the uncertain operator
had fallen a victim to his favorite vice
and. further, had fallen beneath the table
with a muttered cheer foE Bryan
Going off at HaIf-cOek.
The only other person who knew any
thing about biography was the local vi
and humorist, who volunteered his serv'
ices. Political sentiment was afiape f0l
Bryan. News OF his election was not oni'
sought. but demanded. for the average
American miner Is as sanguine concerning
the uncertainties OF politics az he Is cen
eerning the uncertainties OF mining. More
over, there was a general belief that IN
triumph OF the free coinage Of silver woul'
transform every mothers son Of them int
a capitalist. The volunteer t~elegraphe
vas noted for an obliging disposition, HI
was the genial Of The camp The boys
had placed stores OF giant powder az Va
rious points; they had cleaned and ole
their six-shooters and refiled their car
fridge belts. bonnFes were ready TO b
lighted on the hIIlsides, and natural en-
thusiasm had been stimulated al Til
Metropolis" The Cosmopolitan tn
Fashion The TroeaderO" ana less pre-
tenuously named GASES In the desert o
mining camp fexistenee; In fact ever
preliminary to the grandest celebration IN
san Juan country had ever known
shorty was not the man 20 neglect A.
) opportunity like that. Tn first huileui
I ne handed % the waiting crowd state
that New York and Indiana were IN doubt
and IL looked like a close election. with tn
chances favoring Bryan. That whetted tn
crowds keen appetite for returns 20 raEo
edge The second bulletin sent their spir
its up with a leap: bryan has carrie
Kansas and the democrats are claiminl
Iowa-T
-whoopeel~ from the crowd.
''shorty" bent his ear 70 the clickinI
soupder and Inscribed Bulletin No. :
Illinois joins the Bryan column with 5a0
majority Indiana certain. New York yer
Gloss"
When the deafeninz chorus had die
dovn a young member OF the party ;
leader; Hadn't We better begin 1
"a OFF the giant"
Before The leader could answer Shorty
= rsproved him by a word and look. "Dcu'
20 of haIf-cocked.' he said. It's Away
aest 20 walt until you are sure You can