The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-02-11

played In 155 games.
OF assuming command of the Cont
mental army. Did you folks ever see
one? Well, this che was shinglej
with three huge capes, the smallest
one containing IL yards, while the
body Of the coat held 80 yards Of the
finest b~roadcloth that ever crossed the
ocean. 1t is a solemn fact that the
coat, capes and buttons weighed $50
pounds. One day mother and an aged
seamstress, and likewise spinstress,
concluded that there was tco much
cloth going to waste, and that I need
ed a dress coat. After much trouble
and many conferences the coat was
built. 1t was like Noah's ark-noth-
ing like it was ever seen before or
since. It was what might be called
q clipper swallowtail. The ends
touched my heels, and at the points
were about an inch across, with a
big brass button at each extremity.
From behind the outfit resembled a
pair of long and slim scissors.
"The lady artist Ov~er-reached her
self in blocking out this marvel for
she located the hind buttons at a
point but an inch or so below my
shoulder blades. She showed her gen.
erous spirit, however, when she map
ped out that collar, and did not stint
the cloth, as it spread out TO the
point of my shoulders and would have
extended to the bottom of my vest,
providing / owned such a garment,
which / didn't. The whole affair was
set off with large, shining brass but
tons, about the size of a trade dollar.
"Now, you see, the dance was to
come off just as that dress coat was
ushered into my existence, and so I
had to go to the festivities in order
to show off my toggery. My folks
were bitterly opposed to such gath
erings, so when the all-important
night came, it found that coat safely
slowed away in the COW shed, which
furnished me as a dressing room for
the occasion.
"Just previous to this time l had
been presented with a 30-cent Kos
suth hat. If you remember, those
tiles sported a feather; some more
gaudy than others. Of course, the
finest feather didn't go with a 30
cent hat, but it was a feather, just
the same. At last / dressed, and you
can imagine the appearance I made.
OF course there was the hat and
coat, of which / was justly proud.
Then / had on a hickory shirt and a
pair of homespun trousers, the latter
held IN place by a suspender that went
slOnchwise across my body. These
constituted my wardrobe. Some folks
might have thought l had on shoes,
but that was the color of my feet.
| must acknowledge, however, that
they more resembled swapping turtles
than pedal extremities. / have often
been asked by newspaper men to give
an account of my greatest feat, but
invariably overlooked these affairs of
my boyhood days.
"The dance was down at the
Swamp two miles away, and / felt
light as a feather as l tripped along
over the ground. l soon got there,
but my courage leaked out, so l
stood for a lcng time outside listen
ing to the music Of a fiddle and a
banjo, and the shuffling Of the dane
ers' feet. At last I mustered up cour-
age ard went in.
IA hall passed through the entire
length Of the building and about the
center a flight Of stairs led to the
dancing hall above. At the bottom
Of the stairs and on the partitions
were large iron hooks 60 hang TIE
garmen@ Of the dancers on. I edged
along and ct last got into the hall
but as ! didn't know how to dance.
stood near the head Of the stairs and
among q crowd Of men and boys, non.
dancera IKE myself. By degrees !
Igained my usual selk-posaession and
soon ws standing il the front rank.
of the spectators chs center az at.
Traction. Of eourse I auellsa VIII
pride IS tAe seusnkoa my