Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-15
COWBOYS FINsRY EXPENSIVE.
Practically No Limit to What He May
Pay for an Outfit.

When the city man gets his bills
for his new fall suit. his f0ssy
eopcoat with the latest style stock
collar. his velvet hat. spats and gloves
Ire is apt TO think With some COM
pIacency thai he has done al that
money can DO TO clothe the outer man.
His tailor is the most expensive ne
al find. MS fabrics ere al imported,
md he conternplates his fancy waist
coat with the awe that comes with
realization that tie buttons alone
cost 81 each.
The same man would be considerably
surprised if anyone told hiIa thar
there was an establishment IN the
West Bottoms that deals exclusively
with stockmen and cowboys where
nat costs anywhere from Si2 to see
and a pair OF trousers from So up TO
almost any figure, A cowboy with
roll and proper sense of the fitness
Of things can safely match taiiors'
bills with tae most fastidious city
dresser.
Several skilled workmen viii spend
weeks making a saddle, hand carving
it with artistic designs and mounting
II with as much silver and other
precious metals as the purchaser de-
sires to pay for. And when stock
man or cowboy wants saddle he
wants it right. 1t not infrequently
happens that his saddle costs more
than the horse under it. Regular
stock saddles, not made TO order, cost
as high as SIS, and if the purchaser
wants to go in for something fancy
they take the lid clear off.
Take spurs. for instance. 4 good
everyday, knockabout pair Of spurs
can be had for SIS, but of course it IS
not contended that they are anything
more than a rough and ready article
for heavy roadwork A silver SOUR,
such as would set off a stamped patent
leather boot, with monogram on viii
come higher of course. In making an
estimate on q complete outfit. it would
be well to play safe and put spurs
down at $40.
Chaps" is something every cowboy
has to have Chaps is the trade
name for those wide affairs that go
ON like a pair of overalls which are
seen in all faithful portrayals of life
in the Wild horsy West Sometimes
they are of leather with long fringe,
| OF II the IiutI wants " lboFN IeA-tit
ularly devilish they are of goat skin
with the hair unbarhered. Chaps
cost anywhere from SIS to $25
But the two articles that the cow
| boy who wants to shine really turns
| himself loose on are hats and saddles
| A hat can be made a wondrous thing
when price is not diseouraging con-
sideration Of hand-stamped leather
with silver filigree and buckle it can
be made to weigh several pounds and
cost several dollars a pound. 1t seems
that no cowboy would consider himself
| dressed UP without az least five pounds
of hat As to what cowboy thinks
When he starts in to buy an outfit
he buys the saddle first and gets just
what he wants. and then if he has
any money left he buys the other
things he needs.
There are fifty pounds of leather in
q real cowboy saddle, fifty pounds of
leather wonderfully, carved, stamped
and befrineed. 1t is as big as a ham
mock with a pommel like the orna-
mental sternpost of ship and a back
like q rocking chair. There are more
rings. straps. thongs and holsters de-
pending from it than a layman could
count without irving To learn their
various uses This saddle is a five
room nat fun Of furniture to the cow
boy. he eats. works, loafs and sleeps
In it-Kansas City star