Among the defunct institutions of a past era in the state's history, is that of the country grogshop, which was known in those days as "the cross roads grocery," a name derived from the enterprising spirit of the keepers of such places to locate where the roads crossed, in order to catch more "trade." Many of these country saloons became notorious resorts. These places were the rendezvous of the rustics of the hilarious type in those far-off days. These rude trysting places were the weekly scenes of coarse sports, gross hilarity, and of rough-and-tumble fights. Hither the rowdies gathered from a wide region, drank freely, yelled vociferously, and fought not a little. The monthly muster of the militia was usually in connection with one of these rural institutions, and hither would come "the boys" for an all-day frolic. While squirrel guns and old flint and steel rifles were used in the drill, these would never be brought into requisition when the combats would usually ensue. Shooting and stabbing were far less frequent then than now, the test of manhood being in agility, strength, and the projectile force of the fist. There were bullies, not a few, and when one got sufficiently under way to raise a yell like a Comanche Indian, it was regarded as a defiant banter. This species of "sport" would usually come as the last act of the tragedy of the day. Among the diversions of the day was that of test of marksmanship. The stakes were usually steaks, or, to use the terminology of the time, "a beef quarter." To be able "to hit the bull's-eye," as the center of the target was called, was an ambition worthy of any rustic. A feat so remarkable made one the lion of the day, and his renown was widely discussed during the ensuing week. No greater honor could come to one than to be able to win a quarter, and "the grocery" was alluded to as a place of prominent resort throughout a wide community. There were also "racing days," which was applied to foot races as well as to horse racing. There was a track for each hard by "the grocery," and in the foot races the runners would strip bare to the waist, pull off their shoes, and run the distance of several hundred yards. Brace after brace of runners would test their speed during the day, the defeated contestant having always to "treat the crowd." This was varied, in turn, by horse racing day. Two parallel tracks were always kept in order by the grocery keeper for this equestrian sport. Scrawny ponies that had plowed during all the week were taken on the track on Saturday, betting was freely indulged in, the owners would be their own jockeys, and amusing were many of the races thus run.