CABIN FEVER

IN THE MOUNTAINS IN WYOMING THERE IS A PARTICULARLY
BLEAK TIME OF THE YEAR DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WITH
THE INTENSE COLD AND GREAT QUANTITIES OF SNOW. DURING
THIS TIME, THE NATIVES WILL WARN YOU OF "CABIN FEVER,"
WHICH REFERS TO THE STIR-CRAZY ATTITUDE ONE CAN GET
DURING THIS TIME. ONE FEVER STORY CONCERNS TWO LOGGERS
WHO WERE SENT UP INTO THE TIMBER IN THE EARLY AUTUMN
AND TOLD TO COME DOWN WHEN THEY HAD CLEARED THE AREA.
THESE TWO MEN QUARRELED RIGHT ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE
CABIN FEVER TIME AND QUIT SPEAKING. WEEKS WENT BY AND
THE TWO MEN CONTINUED TO WORK OPPOSITE ENDS OF A SAW,
SHARING BED AND BOARD, YET NEVER SPEAKING TO ONE
ANOTHER, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE AROUND
TO SPEAK TO. THEN, ONE DAY AFTER ABOUT SIX WEEKS OF
THIS, THEY FINISHED THE JOB AND WENT INTO DUBOIS TO
CELEBRATE. THAT NIGHT THEY ENCOUNTERED EACH OTHER NINE
TIMES IN THE BARS AND EACH TIME THEY HAD A VIOLENT
FIGHT. TOWNSPEOPLE WILL STILL POINT OUT WINDOWS THAT
WERE BROKEN AND WHERE BLOOD WAS SPILLED. AFTER THIS
RIOTOUS NIGHT, THE TWO MEN SHOOK HANDS AND WENT
BACK TO THE HILLS AGAIN. CABIN FEVER WAS OVER.

Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

James Callow Keyword(s): BOREDOM ; LONLINESS ; WILDERNESS

Date learned: 00-00-1964

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