The Washington herald., 1907-01-06
BONES FIRST ROUGH RIDER.
Washington IrVing's Character, says
Writer, Was Not Good Citizen.

" ash tDgfOn irVinE's Character, Says
Writer, Was Not Good Citizen.
Editor The Washington Herald:
A gentleman came 10 me the other day
with this question: 4 have observed, 20
lie, that two men have recently been ap-
pointed to positions Of great Importance
in the government. Both Of these gentle
men are said 60 have been RoHgh Riders
Further, in recent speech in the Senate.
Air Scott. of West Virginia. used the
same term / wish to know what is meant
by the term Rough Rider?"
/ made little investigation, and sub
NIT the result. From the supplement 10
Webster's International Dictionary
quote:
Rough Rider-A soldier Of a United
States volunteer cavalry organization. au-
thorized by Congress. for service during
the Spanish war Of 1895"
For those who are content with sim
pie definitions this statement may be sufi-
cicnt, but for those who seek the origin
Of things it may be well to go back OF
1898 In the production, so familiar to
every school boy and girl, THE Legend
Of Sleepy Hollow" Washington Irving.
the prince Of American prose writer's.
graphically portrays the rough rider.
and furnishes the origin of this oft-used
term.
Brom Bones. the leader Of his gang
Of rough riders" was the founder Of
this numerous progeny. nearly "a hun
Gred years ago. Irving described him so
accurately that he and his gang may
not b. mistaken He viii need no civil
service examination, for his qudlihca-
tons viii be apparent at first sight.
Let us have ITVings description of
Br0m Bones: He was broad shouldered
and double jOinJed. The surrounding
country. that is 10 say. the country adj
jaceHt 10 TarrytOwn. y. y, in the region
Of Sleepy Hollow. rang with his feats
Of strength and hardihood" He had
short, curly, black hair. a bluff coUate-
nance, and an air OF fun and AFRO
gance-" He had a reputation for
great knowledge and skill in horseman-
ship lie was Il leader at ali races and
cOck-dghts,' and as a result Of the
strenuous life ne led he was the umpire
IN all disputes" He set his hat on one
side OF his head, and gave his decisions
with an air and tone that admitted Of no
gainsay or appeal
fight or a fr0lic' with all his over
bearing roughness there was strong
dash of waggish good hUmor at bottom"
He is said 10 have had several "boon com
paniOns Of his own stamp. who regarded
him as their model. and with whom he
attended every scene Of feud or merri-
ment in the ueighborhoOd- IL is said
that when the people at a country gath
ering, deserted. at distance, this
registering blade" bedecked with - fur
cap, surmounted with "a Haunting fox
TAIL and accompanied by his gang OF
rough riders. they always stood for a
squaU Some times at the still hour
Of midnight his crew would dash along
past farm houses with wh0op and halIoo.
like a troop OF COssacks. and call forth
from the aroused sIumberers lhe remark,
there goes Brom Bones and his gang"
The description need not be continued
Our readers viii recognize the progenit0r
OF The modern Rough Rider. and Will.
opine, observe several things
J. BrOm Bones. the originator of the
rough riders" OF Sleepy Hollow, whom
Irving has so graphically portrayed. is
dead. and 50 presumably are his imme-
diate descendants.
3 While Brom Bones was successful,
for the time in capturing from his love
competitor. the Yankee schoolmaster the
fair ddmSel, who turned the heads and
fired the hearts Of all the young men Of
the EeighborhOOd. Katrina Van Tassel;
and while he was popular IN the pioneer
ueiShbOrho0d. yet his r0ughness and dare
devil qualities would hardly commend
him as "a model 10 be followed in modern
times and in refined fife
8 While ordinarily like begets like.
IL is greatly 10 be hoped that the modern
Rough Rider is a manifest improvement
upon his historic ancestors. 'BrOm Bones
and his gang for. while there is no
pride Of ancestry, there would De 10 weep
ing if there should be no hope Of progeny.
J. PRAISE RICHARD.
washington y c. In : lg.-