Evening star., 1897-03-06
SHEPHERDS OF CALIFORNIA.
Many Seek the Calling ns Cure for
Consumption.

| From the san Francisco Cali
The California shepherd is an individual
almost entirely unknown to the rest of the
world Even the residents of the state
| hardly know of his existence. while the
| cowboy las a worldwide fame. Ii is be-
cause the men different in almost every
way. particularly in disposition. And. after
all. the difference is to a large extent,
caused by the animals they care for.
The villanous cowboy. who would rather
fight than eat and thinks that the noblest
things in the world are forms of iissipa-
ton. can get no satisfaction for his nature
IN caring for such gentle creatures as
sheep. He wants something that he can
swear at like vicious steer. that would
| be only too glad to gore him to death If he
would let him. He wants to dash wildly
over the range on 4 pony as vicious the
steer. or himself. for that matter. and ride
through small settlements like a demon.
the beasts in his care are not easily hurt.
| and he can abuse them much as he feels
like. by laSsoirg them, throwing them
| down and branding them. There is moth
ing gives a cowboy much pleasure as
branding a bull that has given him consid
cradle trouble. He likes to see the creature
slurn in agony as he presses the hot iron
into his flesh To kill one that is demoral-
iZng TO the herd is the height of his de-
light
In marka,, contrast to this individual is
the Sceep DaTGe!. ttldl Is. ine majority Oh
sheep her1ers To be sure. there are some
almost d $ bad as the cowboys, but hey are
for the most part men who are employed
by ranchers for 50 much a month. and are
delegated to the work they might be to
any other work the ranch. But they
don't like il. The real sheep herder. and he
is largely in the majority. is the man who
follows it in preference 20 anything else
A man who is attached to the work would
rather watch sheep on the hills than be the
president Of bank.
Another class Of men who watch sheep
are those who do it for their health. DoZ-
ems Of lnen claim to have been cured of
consumption simply by putting in several
months at watching sheep. The work gives
wat is most required in the deadly dis
rdse-plenty of fresh air. moderate exercise
and employment that is not wearing on lhe
brain, but is still enough to keep it "ccu-
pied and prevent nervousness. Or course.
If maa has plenty of money he can get
these things without hertlire sheep. but
there are many men who need them lady
who have no money. and all who have
taken advantage of this knowledge nave
surely been benefited. A number Of men
who have taken up sheep herdins rave be-
come SO fascinated with 1t that they have
stuck to it long after they got over the
trouble
OF course. It is rot an easy matter to get
employment Of this kind. but if ehe owner
of the range knows the applicant he will be
almost to give him work. as he knows
he is likely to get good service. The pay is
small. about 80 month and provisions.
which the man must cook himself. except
when the sheep are close to the ranch
house. But this does not happen often. 1t
is no matter whether the sheep herder is
an old or new hand. the work expected
of him will be the same under any circum-
stances.
Sheep ranges in California are scattered
all over the state but the greater number
of them can be found in the foothills of the
Sierras all the way from Siskiyou to Teha-
chapi. and on the other side of the noun
tans The work of looking after them
lasts all year. although more must he done
at one time than another.