What things does the Saturday night dance tell about the character of the migrants?

This chapter illustrates the society within Weedpatch, showing how information goes from the elected leaders to the camp residents and how they maintain order. The interaction between the residents is fair and orderly; the hierarchy that has emerged among the various heads of committees and residents is one based on mutual respect. The committee leaders do not issue orders; at most, they offer advice and counsel to the residents.

The migrant workers looked for amusement wherever they could find it, whether in jokes or stories for amusement. They told stories of heroism in taming the land against the Indians, or about a rich man who pretended to be poor and fell in love with a rich woman who was also pretending to be poor. The workers took small pleasures in playing the harmonica or a more precious guitar or fiddle, or even in getting drunk.