Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-05
THE TEXAS COWBOY.
An Elaborate Defense of a Much-Ma.
ligned Individual.
NOT A PICTURESQUE BRAVO,
But Highly Educated. Refined and Chiv'
alrous Gentleman.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ADJUSTMENTS

There is probably no class about which SC
much pure fiction has been written, and be-
lieved, as about the Texas cowboy. say
Texas cowboy, because it was the Texas
cowboy who first made the name famous.
The Eastern and remote periodicals have
illustrated him as a person going about
with Winchester slung to his back, four
huge revolvers in his belt, and a long
bowie knife in each bootleg regular
walking arsenal. The artists have fitted
him up in clothes which would make an
ancient Comanche warrior ashamed of his
lack of picturesque savagery in dress. This
Eastern cowboy picture, or Eastern picture
offs Texas cowboy, always has hat with a
brim as large as the dome of the Mormon
Temple, WOODEN overshirt, opened in front.
with fancy flowers embroidered on it, and
twilled silk cord in lieu of buttons and with
tassels at the ends.
Now, the truth is, the Eastern man would
not recognize Texas cowboy were he to see
one even out on drive, not to mention if
he were to meet one in town. was trav-
cling correspondent for an Eastern paper
down in Texas and Mexico for over 15years,
says writer in the Chicago Tribune, and
never saw q single cowboy like those had
always read about and seen illustrated.
A SCHOLAR AND A GENTLEMAN.
To begin with, he is frequently scholar.
1 remember in 1874 to have examined the
diplomas of 63 young men out in Wise,
Clay and Hardenan counties, Texas, out
of 102 cowboys. And those diplomas were
from such universities as Harvard, Yale,
Princeton, the University of Virginia and
the leading institutions of the land. These
young men had gone out to try their for
tunes, some with ample means to start for
themselves when they had learned the busi-
ness, for it must be thoroughly learned to
attain success; some of them for their health,
and many to get start. And at the cattle
mems conventions here I meet many of those
same cowboys of Is years ago who are now
cattle kings and known as men of culture
and wealth, and who are sought after So
cially.
The Texas cowboy is almost always gen.
tleman. I do not mean that he always has
the polish of Chesterfield or the acquired
suavity in modo of an Admirable Crichton.
mean that he is gallant, quick to respond
to every appeal for assistance the avowed
slave and defender of a woman's name and
honor. Aud ne is not so awkward in a
draYiRg room as one would suppose, as he
goes there more frequently than some of
those who would caricature him.
HIS MANNER OF DRESS.
On the trail the cowboy is rough of dress.
Going through brush and thorns and out in
rain and storm as he has to do, the cowboy
needs clothing which will not tear and will
turn water and keep out cold or heat. The
hide of cows and horses and goats, dressed
with the hair out, serves both purposes, and
the Texas cowboy adopted this as kind of
overalls to put on over his trousers. He
wears a broad-brimmed hat so as to pro-
tect him from the sun and rain. He
doesn't wear tremendous spurs at all.
Sometimes he doesn't wear any. If he
does, they are small pair with short rowels
and seldom used. He pre- ers his Mexican
quirt, small, plated riding whip with
fancy knots and twists made on the handle.
His boots are the most unique thing about
his appearance. And when he is off duty,
and in town on what might be called dress
parade, these boots mark out the Texas cow
boy more than any other part of his attire,
except, perhaps, his diamond rings, or pins,
if they might be called attire. These boots
are made to order and are never cheap. The
conspicuous part of them Is their heels.
They have high and small heels, which are
slanted forward till they almost reach under
the middle of the foot.
The Texas cowboy is not shooter of
men. He carries six-shooter when he is
away out on the trail where the professional
cattle thieves and the Mexican and Indian
rebbers hold full sway But he
never carries it in his belt when he goes into
a city or town. The cowboy carries a
Winchester rifle on the trail, but it is slung
under his right stirrup in a leather "scab-
bard" True, once in a while cowboy does
go into town, get drunk. and shoot
around, maybe shooting through window
or doing some other damage. But he doesn' t
hurt anyone, and he is almost invariably
arrested, his companions helping to turn
him over to the authorities and paying his
fine next morning, and then they give him
a ''cussin' for being such fool. This kind
of cowboy is an exception.
HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
It is in his skill with the lasso and his
horsemanship, as well as his accuracy of
aim with pistol or rifle while going at full
gallop, that the Texas cowboy is pre-emi-
nent. And 1t Is his proficiency in these
which has aided in giving him the terrible
name he bears, no doubt. The romantic
name of the Aztec as a horseman and a
thrower of the lasso pales before the accom-
plishments of the Texas cowboy in
those feats. He carries his lasso coiled
ready for instant use, and fastened to
the horn (pommeD of his saddle with
buckskin string so looped that a slight JERK
loosens it and puts it in his hands in one
movement. This is more to be feared than
his six-shooter, as his aim with it it abso-
lutely unerring. have seen him catch a
steer, going at full speed, by any foot he de-
sired. He can do this nine in ten times.
A So 3hie nnrn1ad NTH h;o bo.eavoor
ship, which is part of the art of throwing
the lariat (lasso), which makes the Texas
cowboy so famous.
He can ride anything in the way of q
horse. He lassoes wild horse. claps sad
die on him, blinds him and mounts, strips
the blinds off and then calmly sits on the
pony's hurricane deck while he pitches all
over the prairie trying to unseat the rider.
As soon as the pony is bridle-wise he is
trained to help in the lasso throwing. This
consists in teaching the horse to run after
straying members of herd until be sees the
lssso shoot out in front of him, and feels a
pull-a slight pull-on the bride, when he
must suddenly stop, throw himself on his
launches, and brace his fore feet in front
with all his might. This brings the steer to
the ground, as the lasso is made fast to the
horn of the saddle, and is as firm as if tied
to post when that little pony braces him
self SO.
HOW HE AMUsEs HIMSELF.
The cowboy sometimes amuses himself in
this wise. He gets on his pony and has an
other well trained one ready and induces
some city man who thinks he is a rider |
from "wsy back" because be has attended |
an equestrian school, to mount. Then he |
gives the stranger a few lessons in lasso |
and they start out after 'beef,"
that is driven from the herd. The ponies |
give chase, and the tenderfoot manages |
finally to throw his lasso over the head Of |
the flying steer. As soon as the trained |
pony sees the lasso fix itself over the head |
of the recalcitrant steer he knows it is
time for him to do his part. and he does it,
too. Quick as lightning he stops, throws
his forefeet out in 'front.' draws his hind
feet under him and his career OF 80 miles an
hour is suddenly reduced to . halt Not so
with his astonished rider, who keeps right
On and shoots over the head of the astonished
nonv who In amazad kn soc his rider fivinO