The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-01-01
(By MRS. M. E. PLAssMANN)

THE MONTANA WOMAN, the or
gan Of the club women Of Mon
tana, has initiated a valuable
movement, in calling upon it's mem
bers to collect, and send to it his
torical data regarding Montana. If
there is anything like the response
to this appeal that it deserves, much
will be learned about this states
early history it would have been i'm
possible to have obtained in any
other manner The veritable pioneers
have most of them passed away, and
it will not be long before the rest
must follow.
Information concerning the man
ner in which the pioneers amused
themselves while crossing the plains,
and in their new homes at their
journeys end having been requested,
I will attempt to contribute my re-
collections on this subject.
Amusement is derived from seeing
as we'll as from doing; and those
who for the first time undertook this
pilgrimage, did not need to complain
because Of lack Of novelty. Every
thing was new. The sky clear, and Of
an intense blue unknown in the
East; the sun, moon, and stars shOne
with new brilliance, so much so in
fact, that it was noted with surprise
print could be read by moonlight,
sometimes, if the print was large.
The flowers we found along the
way after leaving Omaha, were I'M
like any wild blooms with which we
were familiar. We delighted in the
sensitive plant which showed it's re-
sentiment to our touch by curling up
it's leaves, but did not deny us its
fragrance. None of us were bOtan-
lists, it is true, but we were all flow
er lovers, and my mother was ex-
travagently fond of them. 1t is not
surprising then that we found en-
iOyment in gathering them; carrying
them to our wagons where they were
kept for a short time, and then al
lowed to perish.
The country we passed through
was a revelation to me, at least. The
plains, for the most part level and
desert-like in appearance, were a
marked contrast to the heavily wood
ed hills and rich agricultural lands
of northern Ohio. Occasionally there
! might be seen bluffs along the Platte
= growing more numerous as we near
ed the mountains. We liked the
t bluffs, although no trees clothed
: their rugged sides. They helped tC
5 furnish the variety said to be the
''spice of life" Some. of them haC
, historical associations, or provided
!, landmarks for travellers. Two o.
these are often mentioned; Chimney
= Rock, and ScOtt's Bluff.
g n - - G-TT--~AI H. -
. Of the Platte where it was very wild;
and shallow, it's waters thick will
yellow sand, while underneath
treacherous quicksands lurked. Mum
: erous wooded islands dotted it's sur
! face, and were often mistaken b.
those who attsaRptad to ford the riv
er, for the main land they sought
For either drinking or bathing thi
water was unfit to use until it haI
settled many hours, yet it had t.
serve us for both purposes, unless W
CHANGED on a spring, OF clear flOwini
tributary stream. The Platte Dor
slight resemblance to the Little, o
greater CuyahOga, the rivers of m
Eastern home, and for this very rea
son it was the more interesting.
In the early part of our trip, W
tried bathing in some Of the SINAI
rivers near which we camped. Flo
this recreation we did not don tn
bathing suit of the present semi-nud
periOd-far from it. Our widest i'm
aginatiOns could not picture such
costume, had they done so it wOul
have caused us to blush. Not eve
the modest ankle-length blOOmeT
with half long skirt, which togethe
with some kind of waist attached
was the bathing costume of the Easr
had been recognized so far west a
Cleveland. We wore some kind {
washable gown made in the prevail
ing mode, which was then, it wi
be recalled, a long full skirt wit
a tight-fitting waist. The skirt, nc
being weighted, was difficult to mar
age until it was thoroughly drencheC
Not very satisfactory according I
the standards Of today, it answere
the purpose for the women. The me
bathed by themselves, probably j
swimming pool fashion.
Several times a mirage. appeare
with it's alluring picture of fair Lake
and clustering trees. This was VOL
derful in our eyes, and made Us rea
ize that we we're in the Sahara
the West-the Great American De
ert of which we had often read.
The prairie on either hand W;
covered with the earth eruption dI
to prairie dog holes. On the
mounds sat their occupants, yappiI
shrilI definance at us as we passed
or fat little owls near the hole
blinked at the light they failed
--Ic-eAn~I Ouo~hooE Tho Arrwlr,
buzzards drifted lazily, searching (