3gB BARBOUR COUNTY, KANSAS. 



raiio-e. and live with their families, in the railroad towns. This 

 stock is usually in the care of persons who have a share in it. 



A DUG OUT. 



These men live in what are called dug outs. That is, a 

 hole dug in the hillside, with poles and brush over the top, on 

 which is piled dirt in the place of shingles. A door on the 

 lower side of the hill is used for the double purpose of entrance 

 and a window. A fireplace is dug in the earth wall and a few 

 sods placed around the top, on the outside, finishes the chimney* 



FURNITURE. 



The furniture is of the simplest order, and consists of one 

 or two nail kegs and a cracker box. A few of the ranchmen 

 make a bedstead of poles, but generally a few blankets piled 

 in one corner is the only place of rest. 



THE COOKING 



is also done in a very primitive way, and the utensils consist 

 of an iron pot, in which meat and vegetables are boiled ; a 

 skillet and lid for baking, a frying pan and a coffee pot, com- 

 prise the outfit. The table is furnished (only the table has not 

 come home yet) with a tin plate and cup and a spoon to each 

 person. 



The saddle and bridle are lying where the pony is stripped, 

 and the horses are leisurely feeding on the wild grass, not far 

 from the dug out. These men have no corrals or pens of any 

 kind, but when they wish to brand or blab, they drive their 

 stock to the pens of some permanent ranchman, and use his 

 shutes and corrals. All hands eat with the owner. When the 

 work is done and the stock started for home, the "boss herder '* 

 rides around and says, "if you pass our way, call. Good day.'* 



THE GENEROSITY 



of stock men is so universally known that they often feed entire 

 strangers. In the counties on the north and east, known as 

 herd law counties, there are numbers of farmers who are poor. 

 During the season they can not work on their farms they go 

 into the Indian Territory to cut and haul cedar posts to the rail- 



