The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-09-02
CBy MRS. M. E. PLAssMANN)

IT is astonishing how the popular fan
CIV in movie and fiction clings to the
cowboy period of Western history.
This has been exploited to such an
extent that what is told OF IL mas pc
come almost legendary, n a 1lXed y
is evolved. which bears but the 1alnCesC
resemblance to what it purports to rep
resent. Not only that, it continues 10
hold the interest Of the reading pupHc
and movie fans, with no sign OF weaken
inc. although relieved at times by STORIES
Of holdups with their sherln heroes.
Reside the trappers and fur traders OF
our earlier history, h cowboy dWInales
into comparative inStgn1tlcance' "mSn
will this be universally r~ecogn1zedF Inc
trapper's life, although not prlShCeHeu
and elevated by visiting school-nta anIS'
was not void of romance. Many OF ChenA
took to themselves Indian wives, remain
ing faithful to them, and educaClng CneL
children. They encountered dangers
manifold, with which the COWBOY Wa
no more fitted to contend than any ON
er "tenderfOot," to which IaICeE cIaso CnJ
cowboy belonged. Scarcely a Gay pass"
for 3. trapper without some thrllllng ePI-
code. il might be a fight with Indians
or a grizzly. He could outgamble,. I
swear and outdrink any coWpuncner-
and ride? His days were a perpetual To
deo when he was not forced to go a1ooI.
In the matter of pictureSqueneSs, trapper
and cowboy could not meet on equat
terms. Sombrero and chaps,
into insignificance beside the dress o!
the mountain man, especially II ne nao
q sol1aW to decorate his apparel. why
&C Il then. the trapper does not rank
higher in the estimation OF n puptc!
will answer this. In my opinion inns
condition of affairs is du to the pup1cs
Ignorance of pretty much every Inlhe
connected with the lie Oh a CraPPeL.
Still there are faint indications JnaC
the pendulum Of interest is beginning
to swing in b trapper direction.
When our next president OF the OnlCeo
States. elects to take his summer ouClng
in Yellowstone OF Glacier park, it is TO
be hoped a Oh our Pr9ni inHaat
citizens will wait upon him, and invest
him, not with the toga OF the statesman
hIIt the fringed and a buckskln
shirt girded with a scarlet sash, a nsner
cap. leggings and moccaslnS, nkeWISe
beaded, an a gay kerchief to Tie apouC
his neck. For weapons, there would be
a hunting knife and revolver-t a gun,
then a cartridge belt might take the
place of the scarf.
He could fish, if he chose, but with no
fancy tackle or flies. he uses 10
this line. would necessarily be the WorK
of his own hands. He should sleep in a
tent, a tepee, or on the ground, with the
starry heavens as a canopy. His meals
should be cooked at a campfire, ana Oh
an evening, beside this same camp1re
he will hear tales OF Ine OAu, OuO O"JS
like some that follow.
A Virginia boy ran away from home
and by wagon. horseback, or on loot
ultimately found his way to st. Loul
where he heard wonderful stories OF the
Far West. of encounters with wild ami
mails and almost as wild men; Of for
tunes to be gained by trapping beaver
and the freedom to be had out there
from all the restraining influences o.
civilization. 1t was an aIlur1ng plcJur'
this. when viewed from the standpoint
of an adventure-loving youth OF nine
teen.
William Sublette, Of the Rocky Noun
tain Fur company was then in st. Louis
buving supplies n drumming up re
cruits. To him went the boy, and asked
to Join his company.
you will be killed before you are half
way there" was Sublette's reply to tn
callow youth before him.
Then I can die" retorted the boy.
This answer made Sublette form a Ia