The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-09-25
POW-WOW DAY
CONVERSATION
By Marco Polo


Overheard at the general pow
WOW, Labor Day: 1st Washing
tonian-I tell you, old man, it's
fierce. Talk about your discipline,
why you can't-!'
End dltto-Aw-cut it out Jimmie,
you're sure the grouchiest gink ev-
er. Here you are kicking abou:
discipline, why, its the best thing
ever happened to you. It's really
protection to you. Surprising you
were allowed to shoot off that
fresh trap of yours to whom you
pleased here. How long do you
think it would take one Of these
guys to lam you one?
1st W. And then look here is win
ter coming on again. Gee, but it gets
cold here, and its just why I wish
we were in Dixie.
Ha, ha, ha! In Dixie, hey? Say.
femme tell you. In Dixie. just
little bit south of where we came
from here, they have big phosphate
holes and turpentine woods. For
forty-fve cents they'd sell you to a
big, raw boned cracker for whole
year, and that gent would haul you,
and others in the same fix as you.
way out to the piney woods; hun
dred miles from nowheres, where
you wouldn't ever hear choo- choo
in the distance, and that, you know,
Is some comfort at times. Ever
hear of a stockade? No? How IN
nocent you are-what are you do
ing here anyway? Well, that would
be your home while being enter
tanned by the native son who owns
you for the period of one calender
year, at forty-fve per. Nice pros
poets for you, hey? And by the
time they put the cumfumux on
your legs, SO that you couldn't
walk faster than the guy that es-
corts you to the woods before the
moon is down in the morn, and
then bit that beautiful feather
board bunk. while you are fastened
to the bull chain for the night,
you'd begin to sigh softly to your
self-ah, Minnesota. Oh! you three
warm meals a day; warm clothes,
medical care, overtime money and
the rest of the goodies. Just about
then: Hey! you niggahs! Roll
out! Comegetyarbreakfas'p' Jim,
you get fine, juicy, fat slice Of
SOW belly, and by the time some
other poor devil has managed to
build fire, you hunt yourself a
silver and go to toasting it. Then
comes ole Cap: Say, you niggahs,
eff yer don't do yer task by three
CLOCK today. I'll heave some leather,
We bet We! Come, get out!'' And
out you go under the impulse of
this encouraging promise. Hike in
the dust, with the driver urging
you on, faster, faster; all the while
the consumed cumfumux on your
legs tripping you up; the sandy
dust almost achoking you. Fine,
Jimmie, fine; and long ways off in
good old Minnesota the fellows are
just getting out of a nice, soft, warm
bed, with the prospects of fried ba-
con, fried taters, coffee, and all IN
warm dining room, with real tables
to sit down at; take as many help
ings as you want. Huh! Then to
nice warm shop. to work that will
teach you something that will he of
service to you when you go QUIT
you decide to do the right thing
when you are free and don't for
get, Jimmie. payday comes once a
month, too. So, you'd rather be in
Dixie, hey?'
I admit it's tough, as you paint
it, Bo, and I've heard it before, but
there are other places"
"Oh, surest thing. you know,
there are. Ii you like the change,
let me give you brief list of them:
Try old Belem Prison in Mexico
City. That's that place where they
lock you up and throw the keys
away. If they'd ever find them
again and decide to let you see
Gods daylight again, they chuck
you into one of the patios (yards)
with the blue heavens as your only
roof, and there you stay day in and
day out, and tussle with the ola
(earthenware dish of half cooked
red beans and chunk of mouldy
gamuza (black bread) that they