Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-05-31
THE AMERICAN COWBOY
NE fs Always PIetur-.qaa and the Perss.
alton OF Healthy Freedom.

NE IL Always Picturesque and the Psrse@r
alton OF Healthy Freedom.
Imaginative writers and illustrators
portray the Texas cowboy as wholly ro-
mantle and half ferociosls. Long-haired
and wiry, astride diminutive pony,
with revolvers stuck ostentatiously in q
leathern belt or crimson sash, he is de-
picted rs domineering over the weak,
using inoifensive citixe ms rs marks for
unerring pistol practice, drinking, gam
bling and raising q row" generally.
Such is the ideal-better suited to the
flliterate Mexican herder and the FROM
tier trough, /. than 10 the. class It pre-
tends TO delineate.
The real cowboy presents . more In
teresting figure. He 10 ever picturesque
whether In groups. riding over the
ranch, or flying full speed after straying
cattle, or standing alone on some stretch
Of prairie, watching n train fash by--a
visible message from distant civilixs-
ton. Tall and strong. with bronxed
cheeks in which the prairie breeze
brings color. he Is the personation Of
healthful freedom.
He wears the broad -brimmed hat
necessary to prairie life, of light-colored
felt, banded with heavy silk cord, I'm
ished with acorns or balls; or perhaps
the silver snake Of Mexico Is twisted
about it, and an eagle and cactus en-
broidered on the side. His breeches are
buckslTin, fringed down their seams. or
with only double stitching. His fam
mel shirt loose in the throat, rolls over
Q bright neckerchief. His short, open
Jacket shows belt aud pistol bolster.
His Winchester and coiled lariat are
slnng from the pornmel Of his Mexican
saddle. His untiring mustang Is swift
of gait; united, 1t stands like statue,
awaiting its masters call. IL knows his
every tone and obeys his every word.
and the cowboy loves u rs part Of him
self.
Many gcntleman's son adopts ranch
life; sometimes for his health. often for
the exhilaration attending perfect free
dom. They become strongly attached
TO their horses and cattle, to the long
level stretches Of country, TO the glow
ing days and soft mysterious nights,
when the fire-fiies swarm in the grass
and the cattle lie cool and quiet in the
dew. The stars are brighter. and Heaven
watches tenderly as the cowboy, wrapped
in his blanket, slumb bers on the breast
OF his Mother Earth.
They are, as q class, gay and full OF
life; gambling Is the exception, and no
rancher employs an habitual drinker.
Whisky and cards being banished, there
Ia no small temptation for disorderly
conduct; but after drive. on reaching
city and off duty, then the mischievous
propensities OF a free, untrammeled life
assert themselves, and they indulge In
. genuine spree.
But even at their worst these men
are chiyalrous, yielhing q beautiful
homage 10 women; nor will they counte-
nance imposition on the weak. This
trait seems inherent In their character
las much part OF their moral nature
as IL Is of their phyaical to have small
feet IL is seldom that o genuine
Texas cowboy is seen without this dis
tinguishing mark, and he Is proud OF
It. He will deny himself pleasures.
even necessaries; wear .dilapidat-
ed headgear and shabby garments.
but his boots must be OF the
best and neatest MAX ke the country af.
fords-high heel and curved instep, a
fne upper and fiexibl Q sole. fitting like
glove and showing tp perfection every
beautiful line of the foot One can par.
don him the vanity, for 1t In pleasant to
look upon.
Nothing else is small about them-fog
their faults do not belong to the vicious
nor mean They are bold. fearless and
generous; skiliful an 4 daring riders; G
careless, warm-hearted, manly set who
believe In being steadfast friend OF
deadly foe.
His life is not one Of hardship. The
ranch owner furnis hes every thing
meets every expense, sees that ''tht
boys" are provided With the best, and
pays good wages baside--asking only
that hts cattle shall not stray and his
lines of fence be kept In repair-for the
cowboy Is expected TO note and mend
every break In the Lin es of barbed wirs
which now surround most ranches.
The round-ups take place twice yeal
Cor branding purposes, and the drives Il
market but once in twelve months. Sc
the rdqHcro, as the Afexicans call him
leads his careless, cbntented life, fres
ss the birds of the dir, ready to danes
as to fight. 10 lasso bull or court
pretty girl; always picturesque and al
ways, every inch OF him. man and |
most manly man at that-Lee c. Hardy
in Once Week.