Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-10-02

baking powder biscuits and butter
That was the menu TO be disposed Of
in silence and in haste. The Chinese
suggestion that to enjoy a meal, do
not look into the kitchen. was appli-
cable at the meal stations. Men were
generally the cooks, ano hey we're not
the neateSt in their habits.
Modern" Conveniences
There was tin wash basin for the
use Of the travelling public. and a COM
mon towel.
The stations were placed a regular
distances apart with no attention be-
ing paid to beauty Of location. A few,
CHANGING to be in canyons, we're shell
tered from the terrific winds which
sometimes swept the plains. There
were also trees. bushes and running
water making the site more attrac-
tive. Two buildings-the station and
barn-together with numerous hay
stacks, often repeated, diversified the
landscape along the road from Utah
into Montana. They were not attrac-
tive judged by the ordinary standard
these stations-but in pioneer days
they meant brief period of rest.
The meal ended, there was a rush
for the coach, and the first one reach
ing it, unless by special arrangement,
could ride with the driver. Only those
who had journeyed by stage, knew
this was by far the best seat, and CO.
veted it. When the driver had the
reins in his hands, and the restless
team under control, the man or wo-
man who aspired to the drivers seat.
climbed aloft; the man with no as
sistance rendered on the part of any
one; the woman aided by the drivers
hand. Once on top and safely seated,
with the great leather boot buckled
tight about one and reaching to the
waist, the driver swung his long whip
with resounding snap. and the coach
was off.
While there was more exposure to
the weather on the outside of the
coach, it was possible to see the road
and brace ones self for the frequent
jolts and added to that, 1t was more
comfortable seat. There was one draw
back, however to this seat, due to the
impossibility of catching a wink Of
sleep, and after night on the out
side, warmed by the rising sun, it was
almost impossible to keep awake.
Inside passengers tried to forget
their misery in different ways. Many
found forgetfulness in a flask, pro-
vided no women were abroad. Stories
were told: questions of the day argued,
and when everything else failed, they
tried what virtue there was in song.
In this connection there is story
Colonel Sanders told, of stage ride
from Virginia City to Helena. There
were no women in the party, which
consisted of a number Of white men
and one chinaman. The Nordics had
had their innings as songsters, and
exhausted themselves, and all the mel
odies they knew, when seeking diver
sion, the Chinaman was importuned
to contribute to the hilarity Of the
ocassion At first he was reluctant
but at length broke into lugubrious
wall which shocked the night, and the
ears of his audience. Patiently they
listened as the time passed, and John
showed no signs of exhaustion. Would
he never stop? And what was it all
about, anyway?
Say, John, hold on a minute? What
is the meaning of your song?" in
quired one of the Caucasians. The wall
momentarily lapsed, as John strove to
explain.
You save it all same you here !;