The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-15
HAMLIN GARLAND SPEAKS
WESTERN AUTHOR GUEST OF THE
IRVINGTON ATHENAEUM.
He Described the Dangers, the Dis
comforts and the joys of 'FoI-
lowing the Trail"

The last meeting this season of the Irv-
ington Athenaeum was held last night in
the Athenaeum hall at Butler College. A
financial report was read, showing that
after all expenses had been paid there was
a large surplus in the treasury. 1t was also
announced that the first speaker next year
will probably be Hamilton w Mabie. Mr..
Mabie had been engaged to speak before
the club this season but had TO cancel the
date. The first meeting next season will be
in October. The officers of the club for the
coming year were reread by President
Brown, as follows: President, Thomas c.
Howe; vice presidents, Grace Julian Clark
and Charles w. Moores; recording secre-
tary, William j. Karslake; corresponding
secretary, Will D. Howe; treasurer Robert
Hall; board of directors. Julian Graydon
Jameson, Oscar Helming, Rollin Kantz,
Jacob D. Forrest, Christopher B. Coleman,
Scot Butler, Hilton L. Brown, Demarchus
c. Brown and Clarence Forsythe. The re-
ception committee last night consisted of
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. Dorsey Forrest, Mr.. and
Mrs. Demarchus C. Brown and Mr.. and
Mrs. Alexander Jameson.
The guest of the evening was Hamlin
Garland. The subject of the lecture was
the authors favorite theme, Joys Of the
Trail" Mr.. Garland is known for his
stories of Western life. His early days
were spent in the West where he worked
on a farm. Several years ago he took
trip through the Yukon valley, being on the
trail six months. Among Mr.. Garlands
best works are Main 1T, Travelled ..sle T Roads
the Gold Seekers The Eagles Heart,
Her Mountain Lover" and Captain of the
Gray Horse Troop" The latter book which
n "a ne viz
life in the Western army.
Mr.. Garland began by describing West
ern trail. AS a thread it weaVes it's way
through the mountains, forests and plains.
1t is narrow, winding, long. The usual
width of a trail is twelve TO fourteen
inches, allowing only man and horse to
pass in single file. In latitude the trail is
Insignificant as a thread; in longitude it
is apparently aimess. But it has design;
1t reaches its destination. In some Of the
Western States 1t is the only means of
communicable between the towns. To-
day, however, it is gradually fading away
under the progress of men until the trails
that remain the trails of the poet.
They are the product of the generations of
men-mcsty red men. They unlike the
roadways and railways. a trail crosses by
the easiest and not the shortest way. 1t
loves the grass and the cold streams, hur-
ries through the barren plains and takes
it's leisure beside the waters. In the Rocky
mountains the trails become more beautiful
as they mount. Arising among the arid
cacti they end among beautiful flowers and
shady hooks A trail pushes autumn into
spring. Mr.. Garland thinks the older the
trail the better.
In stormy weather the trail ceases to
WOO: it threatens. Every stream is a
river, every river a roaring torrent The
steps are dangerous and difficult. Progress
along the trail is slow. The miles are
not very definite. Much depends upon the
animal under the saddle. Travel with
burro is called going by hand" and is
a speed of about twenty miles a day. Mr..
Garland said it was very hard TO judge
distances, but when an Indian told him
it was far, he believed it. The cowboy
accomphshes about seventy or eighty miles
over the trail, while the mountaineer, al
though he pushes hard on the plains. goes
slow through the mountains. The lecturer
related mere an incident Illustrating how
the Indians can ride over the dangerous
trails He said that a mountaineers little
boy was sick and there was no doctor with
In fifty-five miles. An Indian offered TO
go the distance for medicine, and leaving
at sunset was back with the medicine at
sunrise. having covered one hundred and
ten miles in one night
HORSE MOST IMPORTANT.
The follower of the trail must carry
with him his house, his board, his belong
ings Everything goes astride the pack
horse. A horse is the most important thing
on the trail. Mr.. Garland said that he
always made his own comforts secondary
TO those of his horse. A cowboy will "cuss"
his horse roundly, but he will sacrifice his
blankets and his comforts 10 the beast
There are many difficulties that beset
one on the trail. but much depends upon
the attitude OF mind toward them There
are storms and rains to sleep in, swift fords
10 cross. dangerous rocks TO pass and a
thousand other annoyances. But always.
in the end, there is joy and brightness and
memories that leave their print upon the
soul To lie In the woods at night and
hear the winds wall. the wild coyotes crv
the wolves howl is a JOY never TO be for
gotten.
The trail Is world of its own II IS the
sign of things vanishing. Even now IL is
found only among the mountain peaks. that
iOstle the stars. No tramps or milllonalres
mar it's way. Those who follow It's beaten
path grow thicker OF hand and tanned OF
brow But although IL strengthens a man.
-. life also coarsens him. He learns a
vivid vocabulary of profanity and becomes
| negligent OF his body. Mr.. Garland told OF
| his partner on his trail travels. He said
| that the man could go anywhere. He used