The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-02-07
PASSING or THE-GOW- PUNGHER.
Going the Way IF His Predecessors,
the Indian and the Buffalo.
Civilization Is Gradually Destroying This
Potent and Picturesque Feature of
American observation-disclosures
Of the West No Longer.

practically past. OIFItIZatIOD Is grad uaily
destroying the picturesque features OF his
life. Mile after mile of ranch and graz
ing lands are being fenced IN, and with
each advance IN this direction the COW
boy becomes more superhuOus.
Some Of the largest ranches now are
equipped with electric lights and tele-
phone connections, and this still more
diminishes the demand for the cowboy
services.
American literature and drama Of the
melodrama order viii lose one of their
potent features when this unique char
actsr is effaced.
Notwithstanding the fact that he still
adheres to his monstrous methods Of COS
tuning himself, the cowboy is no longer
the terror Of the western plains that he
used to be.
The rough life OF the west has sim
mered down until it is little different to
rough outdoor life anywhere, for poor
LO no longer raises his tomahswk 10 bar
the cow-puDcher's way with his herds
across the wilderness.
Wild animals are scarcer even than In
dians now, and taken altogether the COW
boy has to manufacture most OF the ex-
element that centers around his person
atty. This he manages to do occasion
ally when he goes to the small town near
est mis- ranch, and after filling up with
some viIlainous rum commences to en-
Hyen things with his revolver. Even this
elementary form of sport seems to have
fallen away considerably, for the faro
bank proprietors are calling out bitterly
about bad business and the sherifs are
literally without business at ali.
The cowboys life brought down to the
prosaic lines Of existance to day is not an
exceptionally enviable one. although to a
steady gated young man there are
chances of saving and opportunities for
getting ahead fully equal to those offered
IN denseiy crowded cities where dollar
is generally spent before it is earned.
On the plains it Is literally impossible
to spend money before it is earned. "Once
a cowboy always a cowboy" is a we'll
grounded axiom. Few care to leave the
Bedouiu- like existence when once they
have become accustomed to it. True, the
life is one Of incessant hardship. Who
ever followed the restless beef in a fall
roundup of early SHOWS and rains with
out having an experience that would beg
gar description? Up at o'clock in the
morning, swallowing hasty cup of cot
fee, If any happened to be ready, with an
enormous herd OF nervous cattle to hold
IN leash. Then comes the crash of thun-
der, some dazzling flashes of lightning
and the maddened animals break away,
two or three thousand strong. Right in
among that mad, onrushing horde is the
cowboy, slashing and driving and dashing
ahead of the mass to try to turn it in !
the direction it should CO. Sometimes
he succesdes-if not it is a long trail to /
be covered till sun-up before he will get
his bacon and hard tack breakfast
Then he is ready to face the elements /
or whatever else there is to be met until (
nightfaH or after.
The pay of the cowboy is about 81 day /
OF from 50 to $50 per Month, exclusive Of !
food and lodging. Foremen receive as /
much as from 500 to $50 per month, &C /
cording to the size Of the ranches on
which they are employed. Board and !
lodging is always included and free med |
ieal aid, as a rule. The food Is coarse,
but substantial, and, when one is &C
customed to it, not at all distasteful
1t includes Mexican beans, bacon, Oat-
meal, coffee, -four, molasses, dried fruit
and canned tomatoes and corn, with oc-
casionsl variations The ranch owners
consider 81 a week viii feed a person
satisfactorily.
Unfortunately the hardships Of COW
boys life make him a hard liver ali
around. As rule he drinks Ike fish
when the opportunity presents itself-be
CANDLES Ike silver or copper king, and
is very promiscuOus IN his loves. 1t
generally takes him about three days to /
dispose Of his earnings during the year.
II be fails, as seldom is the case, to ride I
to the door Of the general storekeeper I
when he enters the small town to which 4
he HES as soon as he ends the fail round 4
up. be viii have to wear his old seedy /
and patched clothes to the end Of the
year, for he viii surely spend every cent
whea he reaches the gambling den or
other vicious animal.
If be only would defer these visits IN /
til some four or i've years had elapsed or
would do without them altogether, the
cowboy might have a good start in life. I
Five years Of self denial would be suf-
fcient to give him his beginning as a
stOckgroWer.
There are proofs Of what can be done
BY those who are thrifty scattered over