Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-06-05
cLIFEDALE.
KMBLE, Co., TEXAS, May 30th, 1885.
Ed. SoUrm KENTUCKGAN:

give you It few hints about these
remarkable descendants Of the tribe
of Cashmere.
Now rest assured that you are
reading solid facts as l have more
than year been associated entirely
with them and have had ample time
to learn their lore. In the beginning
will say that being descendants of
Cashmere is sufficient guarantee to |
be admitted into their order and that
their individuality is so plainly in
deXed by their long and tine-neeced
hair that "pretender" is soon "sin-
gled out"
Doubtless some Christian or Todd
county boy viii become indignant at
even the mention Off cowboy simply
because he was refused a membership
in the order while in Texas; and now
in explaining why his petition wasn't
granted | will have an opportunity
to give you the traits or make up
of cowboy.
The aspirant to knighthood in the
days of chivalry was required to be
brave, courteous, generous, truthful,
obedicnt, and respectful to this supc-
riors, in age, or rank, and respectful
to the ladies; now when this is all
embodied in boy, then is he quail
fled admitted into the order and gains
his coveted title, cowboy" The
home of the cowboy is situated on a
small heavy built pony where you
will find him provided you come
by "All points compass" his house
only has one room and that only has
room for one, but is elegantly furnish
ed weighing when finished % h and
costing S35, while the horse or the
foundation costs S25, (but it's rock
foundation "don't forget it'O-the
furniture is simply lasSo, branding
iron, branding book, (this book is
carried along to distinguish each
mans brand and should calf be
found his owners brand is stamped
on him) and the roof of his house
which is ">licker,' which is a do
nestle coat saturated in some kind of
tenacious oil after which rain can't
penetrate it.
Now don't know that | haven't
exaggerated because who but a cow
boy would put up with such an out
fit? Aud after having told you that
this boys hardship have only been
half odd as the Queen Of Sheba said
Of Solomon, you will more than agree
with me when | say even thus far
is too far forChriStian's or Todd's boys
to venture, myself included. | don't
pretend to say that we Kentucky
boys are not brave, courteous, gem
erOus, respectful TO the ladies, which
must necessarily be the component
parts in the make up of cowboy,
bat that only thus far are we quail
fled, now for example what could we
do with a wild steer even should we
make lucky throw with the lasso !?
again what would we do should the
curtains Of night be dropped when
alone on desolate prairie ? The echo
answers, what?
a single cowboy will when he
desires to brand an animal ride up to
a herd, "single out his steer, throw
and secure him with his lasso and
in few minites have his owners
name stamped or written on him and
should darkness oyertake him ten
miles from home he builds him fire,
hobbies or stakes his horse and so far
as he is concerned the world is left to
darkness and TO "some one else.
Once every year however he takes
a few holidays-this is in the spring
when all cattle men on certain day
disperse their boys over all the sur
rounding country to gather all their
cattle to what they call the general
round up; where afterwards they
all 90 to get and brand their yearlings
and where they sometimes make sales
of them to dealers-some old farmer
may ask himself the question how
came the cattle to be scattered over
so much country? So | will leave my
subject little further in order to
accommodate him and say that the
reason is this: this immediate country
known as the Divide "a high plain
between two .rivers) contains l,600
square miles without fence; so now
place few hundred dollars in your
sons pocket and start him out here
as this land Is being rapidly taken ur,
but still can be purchased at $500 per
acre.
Now these boys collect together, all
being of "a feather" at these general
round ups and "just such a time"
with them) has never been known
in history. The long fleece is now
sh0rn and scattered to the four winds
while many stories are relatcd-how
that | put to fright some "tender-foot
from the States" Gas they say) with
my lengthy locks or how another
"has broken the handle of some mans
name"-TeXas is thronged with Coils.
Gems. Drs. i. L. DIS. NJ. P's. etc, who
come under the close observation of
a cowboy especially when they try
"lording it over them" or look with
pity or scOrn upon their shabby per-
sons. The cowboy revenges by the
lightning glare of his eve and con-