The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-09-18
BY Martha Edgerton Plassmann
. AM often asked, GLOW did you

oiiiNiSN yOaloNlF(o hiAAS OtOCo
ing the Plains wasn't it terribl,
monotonous?" And to this, | has
ten to reply, 1T was monotonous
and for that very reason, those whc
took the overland journey, provid
ed their own amusement"
Our mode of travel was SO ex
ceedingly slow that one noticed BIT
little change in the scenery from
day to day, or even from week tC
week. We bumped and rattlec
along at the leisurely rate of ter
miles a day. Our springless wa
CONS were not intended for greater
speed if the comfort of those who
rode in them was taken into con
sideration.
Because of the slow gait of the
oxen that drew the wagons, ample
opportunity was afforded for
walking, and this was n of Our
amusements. Strict orders were
given never to go out of sight of
the train, but on the winding roads
through the mountains, this order
was often disregarded, although
there we were in greatest danger
from Indians.
When walking, we kept close to
the road, but found entertainment
of a kind, even there. Many
strange flowers grew by the way
side, to be plucked, admired and
thrown away. Some of these flow
ers were fragrant like the sensi-
tive plant found in Nebraska most
of them, however, were without
odor, but of gorgeous hues.
Someone had told us that beads
could be found in almost any of
the countless ant hills we passed.
We had no use for beads, but we
spent hours hunting for them, and
never found one. Our informant
evidently supposed the Indians
showered beads over the country,
and the ants mistaking them for a
new variety of sand, used them in
constructing their hills.
We collected quantities of cur
ious pebbles, just by way of am
usement and on our return Jour
ney east, near Fort Bridger,, we
picked up a great number of beau
tiful agates, which did not share
the fate of the pebbles, but were
carried to the end of the journey.
The queer little horned toads
were an endless delight to the
children, who liked to stroke their
heads and see them close their eyes,
they invariably did when they
were treated in this manner.
Only two or three of the men
hunted, and these generally to no
purpose except for amusement.
Fishing was a sport in which most
of the party INDUCED, yet few fish
were caught.
Almost every day some one of
the women or children rode our
sure-footed Mexican pony,
their being a side saddle provided
for the women. No women of that
day, but squaws, rode astride, and
ladies wore long riding skirts,
which made riding the more dam
gerous, and walking impossible TN
less the skirt was carried over the
1t was needless to say that
our women wore no such costume
On the Plains, but rode in their or
dresses and protected their
faces with sunbonnets.
Another one of Our amusements
vas the daily reading from Dick
ms. My father was the reader,
md as many as the wagon could ac-
,ommodate were willing listeners.
Humphreys Clock was
completed before we entered the
Mountains, where the roads were
90 rough to admit of much read
ng. Now, after the passage of
many years, l cannot open the book
Without recalling a sultry July day
the Plains in 1868. I see what
ppears to be an interminable level
tretch Of dusty, yellow road,
which crawls a small wagon
the canvas coverings grey :
nth accumulated soil. On either
and are acres of tall sagebrush
living off a pungent aromatic odor, I.
nder the compelling rays of the
OF sun. Where it encroaches on i
ne road, it reaches out gnarled
ranches that tear the drivers
rousers, and make them swear.
Dotted over the plain are hillocks, /
ach with a prairie dog on guard. '
straight and soldier-like they t
ose, and yelp derisively at pass
I