The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-09-19
By Martha Edgerton Plassmann

: ing the Plains ; WASH II teIIlDl,
1 monotonous ?" And to this, | has
) ten to reply, 1T was monotonous
and for that very reason, those wht
took the overland journey, provid
ed their own amusement"
Our mode of travel was so ex
ceedingly slow that one noticed but
little change in the scenery from
day to day, or even from week tc
week. We bumped and ratified
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 one 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 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 installing 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
who liked to stroke their
heads and see them close their eyes,
as they invariably did when they
we're 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
If the party INDUCED, yet few fish
we're caught.
Almost every day some one of
he women or children rode our !
-entle, sure-footed Mexican pony,
heir being a side saddle provided
or the women. No women of that
ay, but squaws, rode astride, and :
aides wore long riding skirts,
yhich made riding the more dan {
erous, and walking impossible I'm !
,ss the skirt was carried over the :
nm. 1t was needless to say that q
ur women wore no such costume
n the Plains, but rode in their or s
mary dresses and protected their :
aces with sunbonnets. ,
Another one of our amusements e
as the daily reading from Dick I
rs. My father was the reader, !
Id as many as the wagon could &C :;
were willing listeners. 4
[aster Humphreys Clock was =,
before we entered the |
ountains, where the roads were n
10 rough to admit of much read u
g. Now, after the passage of G
any years, I cannot open the book u
ithout recalling a sultry July day
l the Plains in 1868. I see what -
'pears to be an interminable level in
reich of dusty, yellow road,
ong which crawls small wagon al
ain, the canvas coverings grey "a
18th accumulated soil. On either to
and are acres of tall sagebrush ca
wing off pungent aromatic odor, SO
lder the compelling rays of the IN IN
IT sun. Where it encroaches on in
e road, it reaches out gnarled
-anches that tear the drivers ia
and make them swear. m m
otted over the plain are hillocks, re
oh with prairie dog on guard. wi
traight and soldier-1ike they tn
'se, and yelp derisively at pass 10