The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-04
The Life and Times of General
Christopher Carson.

As is somewhat less than adequately
indicated in its title. Kit Carson DdBs
by EDWIN l.. SABIN CA. G. McClurg and
Company Chicago) is pretty evenly
divided between the man and the times
The result is describable as either too
diffuse biography or "A too biographical
history. The biographer, seeking far
and wide for his materials" has wisely
depended for the most part on contem-
porary records. His method Of dump
ing into the pot pretty nearly every
thing he can find is not artistic, his
dates and statistics are not uniformly
reliable, hut his book Is unpretentious
and lively.
II is perhaps regrettable that the
rougher qualities OF pioneers, INSOFAR
able II may be from the hard and peril
Gus lives necessarily led by those who
open up new country, the vanguard Of
civilization, explorers preparing the way
for cXploiters, should be permitted TO
opsoure their substantial politico- social
services and achievements; hut as nat
ural and as easily applicable as II Is re
gre:table. Men like Daniel Roone,
David Crockett and Christopher Carson
| inevitably become heroes of the books
| for boys; and the boys growing older,
more critical and less romantic. dis
! carding the toys and Joys OF boyhood
lay aside, along with other boy things
the hoy heroes. 1t is most unjust to the
| heroes. because they are celebrated only
partially in juvenile literature; Dan1
Davy and Kit were not merely prOdi-
giles of valor in the forest and on the
! frontier, but important contributors to
the framing of the national destiny. A
| host of bold spirits matched their skill
and courage in exploits on trail and
| prairie; yet II is no favoritism OF for
tune but a fair reward OF merit that
preserves their few, immortal names
while the others seem to have been
born to die"
| The real Kit Carson is neither the
slashing. daredevil hero Of fiction nor
the mere frontier guide of maturer view
DO you picture him tall, brawny eagle
eyed and fierce OF front dashing over
the prairie on pranCing steed glossy
black, with arched neck and thunder
ing hoofs? The flashing eye is said to
belong in the picture; but II was gray
| in peace" and had a twinkle, while IN
battle II 'flamcd to steely turquoise, -
"blazed like rattlesnake's": fear
some. respect compelling orb. Mrs.
Fremont described him as "a perfect
Saxon" in coloring: what she called
baby hair" the exuberant DR. Peters
wrote of as SANDY. combed back Ia
Franklin Missouri mode" lie stood
about five feet eight and his weight ran
normally about l45 pounds. Finish the
picture with short, DANDY" legs, and
compensate for the lack of height and
heft with sinewy agility There is Kit
Carson, mountain man, plalnsman, trap
per, scout, Indian fighter and Indian
agent, veteran OF the civil war, Colone
OF volunteers, brevet Brigadler- General
! His favorite charger" is an ordinary
yellow plains nag, a PAGER. lie would
like pipe, preferably an old seasoned
clay dudheen; he will play a modest
game of poker. beans for chips; N
ardent spirits he takes a very little, and
that drowned in water
His voice Is low and guarded. that nt
the plainsman in whom caution is in.
grained; his laugh "a half swallowed
chuckle. His words are few, but 10 the
point He does not show off we'll. hut
In select company will spin yarns with
the best A story is told OF him which
does not suffer in the least from It's
attachment TO other frontier names. Ar
old trapper told II 10 the author out I'm
San Diego Carson is supposed to he
on the veranda of an Omaha hotel, some
time in the Cos. he died in IS \
travelling man begged story. The
General drawled;
Wall, TT, tell ye. war down on
the plains, an the Comanches got after