Cheryl Native American

To have the desire to quit in the face of despair is not a new story. As long as time, people have wanted to give up when something hindered their progress. But such adversity is sometimes the right time for people to become acquainted with themselves. It has been written that a smooth sea does not make a skillful mariner. The storms of human life, like those of the seas, awaken us to sharpening our abilities and strengthening us to overcome these present storms to the point where we seldom have to face them again. Most of living is a lesson, and the sooner we learn to study and develop the sooner we are rid of the teacher. But in the words of Jeremy Taylor, "It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his Helper is omnipotent." And it is impossible for people not to progress if they acknowledge their Helper in the most minute details of their lives. Prepared for the worst? Forget it! Only worry prepares for the worst. If problems come to you, meet them with courage when they arrive. And worry has never produced courage. Faith produces courage, and keeps us from crossing all those unnecessary bridges. In fact, we cross bridges that have never been in existence, and have no strength except that which we give them by constant preparation for something that isn't good. Promise yourself to cross no bridges this day except those you find immediately before you. And nine times out of ten they will lead only to happiness.

Cooperation is said to be the essence of success. Without it confusion and chaos are the ruling factors and in harmony the main thought. Cooperation is a result of excellent leadership, the ability to build a team of loyal players who can follow instructions or think for themselves, whichever is for the best of all concerned. A team is a group with specific parts to play. In all wisdom they know a little about every part, but they play their own positions with precision and efficiency. Every player cannot be captain, and every person cannot play quarterback. The part may be small, but if it is played with fairness and dignity and to the utmost of ability, then it will be as important to the successful outcomes or results as the biggest job in the team. The practical view of cooperation is vivid in John Dickinson's words, "By uniting we stand; by dividing we fall." We are only as strong as the weakest, only as cooperative as the spirit in which we work.

𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗, 𝗦𝗗, 1877. The Custer Trail Via Bismarck was at the top of the illustrated sign at Northwestern Express, Stage & Transportation Co. They sold tickets to All Points In Europe. A cubical sign at right promoted Meals At All Hours. Click image to improve clarity if using a PC.

After Col. George Custer’s 1874 Black Hills Expedition publicized the discovery of gold, immigrants flocked to land that had been granted to the Sioux by the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. Within three years of Custer’s announcement, Deadwood’s population had boomed to 10,000 .

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The signs grabbed my attention. T.B. Tarpy Blacksmithing & Wagon Repairing and NW Transportation Co. had signs for their Fairbanks scales. Fairbanks patented the first platform scales with mechanisms below ground level. Prior to this invention, loads had to be lifted to be accurately measured. The sign at far right for Snow Flake was presumably advertising the soap used by the laundry.

There was mud on the wagon wheels. Frank Jay Haynes made the capture in late 1877. His glass-plate negative required several minutes of preparation and then immediately after the shot had to be processed in a dark environment before the negative’s noxious collodion coating dried. The camera’s slow shutter allowed blur from motion of the men and animals, but focus was sharp and lens distortion was impressively low.

The buildings in view were likely less than four years old. At least two were built with hewn logs, but had front faces of dimensional lumber for a more ‘upscale’ appearance. A fire in 1879 would destroy 300 buildings in Deadwood, perhaps including these. This and 9,000 other negatives by F.J. Haynes reside at the venerable Montana Historical Society. Prior to arriving in Miles City, famed Old West photographer L.A. Huffman had worked for the Haynes Studio. -Gary Coffrin

"Laughter - that is something very sacred especially for us Indians." --John (Fire) Lame Deer, ROSEBUD LAKOTA– Laughter is mental, laughter is emotional, laughter is physical and laughter is spiritual. Laughter helps us find balance. If we get too angry, laughter will turn that emotion in a balanced direction. If we have a mental picture of someone who is too strong, laughter will help ease the tension. If the body is stressed, laughter will release natural relaxants into our muscles and our nervous system. Laughter often changes our attitude. We need to lighten up and laugh more. Great Spirit, teach me to laugh.