RANCH LIFE
Ranch life on the open range may be somewhat wild and lonely, but it is
as free and independent to the rancher as it is to his unfettered
cattle that roam at will over a thousand hills. As a place of
residence for a family of women and children it is undesirable because
of its isolation and lack of social and educational privileges; but
for a man who cares to "rough it" it has a rare fascination. Its
freedom may mean lonesomeness and its independence monotony, yet it is
very enjoyable for a season. Like anything else it may become wearing
and wearisome if continued too long without a change, but its novelty
has a charm that is irresistible.
Ranch life is untrammeled by social conventionalities and is not
burdened by business cares, but is an easy, natural life that is free
from all kinds of pressure. It relieves the tension of an artificial
existence, and worry and vexation are forgotten. Time loses its rapid
flight and once more jogs on at an easy pace; and its complete
isolation and quiet gives nature a chance to rest and recuperate
"Away from the dwellings of careworn men."
The environment of ranch life is highly conducive to good health. The
scenery is delightful, the air pure and bracing, the food wholesome and
nutritious, the couch comfortable and the sleep refreshing. Walking
and riding furnish the necessary exercise that nature demands. Indeed,
there is no better exercise to be found than riding horseback to
stimulate sluggish organs, or excite to healthy action the bodily
functions. It stirs the liver, causes deep breathing, strengthens the
heart and circulation, tones the nerves and makes an appetite that
waits on good digestion. An outdoor life is often better than medicine
and is a panacea for the "ills that human flesh is heir to."
The ranchman, if he is in tune with his surroundings, finds a
never-failing spring of pleasure. If he is company for himself he is
well entertained and if he is a lover of nature he finds interesting
subjects for study upon every hand. His wants are few and simple and
the free life that he lives develops in him a strong and sturdy
manhood. He is the picture of health and is happy and contented as the
day is long.
However, such a life does not suit everyone, as individual tastes
differ. Prejudice also exerts an influence and is apt to estimate all
western life as crude and undesirable, being in a transition state of
change from savagery to civilization. Be it even so; for, if the
savage had never existed to furnish the ancestry that civilized man
boasts, civilization would not have been possible. It is only natural
that this should be so as, in the order of nature, evolution begins at
the bottom and works up.
There is perhaps no condition in life that can be called perfect, yet
of the two extremes we choose to believe that civilization is
preferable to barbarism; but an intermediate state has the advantage
over both extremes by avoiding native crudeness upon the one hand and
excessive refinement upon the other, both being equally undesirable.
Happiness, which we all profess to seek, exists in some degree
everywhere but we are always striving to acquire something more. In
our constant struggle for improvement, progress undoubtedly is made in
the right direction. With refinement comes increased sensibility and
an enlarged capacity for enjoyment. But, such a state in itself is not
one of unalloyed bliss, as might be supposed, since it is marred by its
antithesis, an increased amount of sickness and suffering, which is the
inevitable penalty of civilization. In such a progression the
pleasures of life become more, but the acuteness of suffering is also
increased. The mistake lies in the fact that in our eager pursuit
after the artificial we forget nature and not until we acquire a
surfeit of that which is artificial and grow weary of the shams and
deceits of the world do we stop and think or turn again to nature to
find the truth.
In the early days the frontier was the rendezvous for rough and lawless
characters of every description. That time has gone by never to return
in the history of the nation, as the rustlers have either reformed and
become good citizens or long ago left the country by the lead or hemp
routes. The change in the times has been such that never again will it
be possible to return to the conditions that existed in the early
settlement of the west which gave to desperadoes a safe hiding place.
The people now living on what is left of the frontier will, as a class,
compare favorably with those of any other community. There may be
small surface polish, as the world goes, but there is much genuine gold
of true character that needs only a little rubbing to make it shine.
The population being sparse there is comparatively little opportunity
or inclination for wrongdoing. Whatever anybody does is noticed at
once and everything that happens is immediately found out. The
favorite haunt of vice and crime is not in a sparsely settled
community, public opinion to the contrary notwithstanding, but in the
centers of population, in, our large cities where temptation to do evil
is strong and dark deeds find ready concealment in the mingling and
confusion of the throng.
The ranchman deserves to be correctly judged by his true character and
not by any false standard that is artfully designed to misrepresent him
or to unjustly bring him into contempt. He may have a rough exterior,
not intending to pose in a model fashion plate, but in real life where
he is tried there is found under his coarse garb a heart that is honest
and true which responds with sympathy and kindness for anyone in
distress; and his generosity and hospitality are proverbial and stand
without a rival. Men from every position in life, including college
graduates and professional men, are engaged in ranching and whoever
takes them to be a lot of toughs and ignoramuses is egregiously
mistaken.
The strength, virtue and intelligence of the nation is found in its
large middle class of laboring people that is largely composed of
farmers and mechanics, men who work with their hands and live natural
lives and are so busy in some useful occupation that they have no time
to think of mischief. In this favored land of freedom all of our great
men have been of the common people and struggled up from some humble
position. A life of toil may seem to be hard, but it conforms to
nature and natural laws and favors the development of the best that is
in man; and he who shirks toil misses his opportunity. Whatever tends
to wean men from work only weakens them. Luxury and indolence travel
on the downward road of degeneracy. They may make pleasant temporary
indulgence, but are fatal to ultimate success.
Locomotion on a ranch consists almost entirely of horseback riding as
walking is too slow and tiresome and wheeled conveyance is often
inconvenient or impossible for cross-country driving. When the
ranchman mounts his horse in the morning to make his daily rounds he
has a clear field before him. He is "monarch of all he surveys" and
practically owns the earth, since his neighbors live many miles away
and his road leads in any direction clear to the horizon.
The average ranch is not intended to furnish luxuries, but to serve the
best interests of the business in hand, that of growing cattle. It is
usually a "stag camp" composed entirely of men who occupy a rude cabin
near some convenient spring or stream of water, where they keep house
in ranch style and live after a fashion. No money is ever expended in
unnecessary improvements, but every dollar spent in repairs is put
where it will do the most good. The house furnishings are all of the
plainest kind and intended to meet only present necessities. The
larder is not supplied with luxuries nor is the cuisine prolific of
dainties, but there is always on hand a supply of the necessaries of
life.
Every man has his particular work to perform, but unless it be on some
large ranch where the force of men employed is sufficiently large to
require the services of a chef, he is also expected to assist in
keeping house. It is an unwritten law of the ranch that everybody on
the place must share in this work and if anyone shirks his duty he must
either promptly mend his ways or else quit his job. It is seldom,
however, that this rule has to be enforced, as the necessities of the
case require that every man shall be able to prepare a meal as he is
liable to be left alone for days or weeks at a time when he must either
cook or starve.
The equipment of the cowboy is his horse and reata. They are his
constant companions and serve his every purpose. His work includes
much hard riding, which he greatly enjoys if no accident befalls him.
But dashing on in heedless speed while rounding up cattle he is ever
liable to mishaps, as his horse, although sure footed, may at any time
step into a prairie dogs' hole or stumble on a loose rock that is
liable to throw both horse and rider to the ground in a heap. He is,
indeed, fortunate if he escapes unhurt, or only receives a few bruises
and not a fractured bone or broken neck.
His work consists in riding over the range and marking the condition of
the cattle; line riding to prevent the stock from straying; looking
after the springs and water holes and keeping them clean; branding
calves, gathering steers for market and assisting in the general work
of the round-up. Every day has its duty and every season its
particular work, yet there are times of considerable leisure during the
year. After his day's work is done he repairs to the ranch house, or
to some outlying camp, whichever happens to be nearest when night
overtakes him, for every large ranch has one or more such camps posted
at some convenient point that furnishes temporary shelter and
refreshment, where he rests and eats his frugal meal with a relish that
only health and rough riding can give.
If he is at the home ranch in winter he spends the long evenings before
an open hearth fire of blazing logs and by the light of the fire and
the doubtful aid of a tallow dip lounges the hours away in reading and
cogitation; or, if in the company of congenial companions, engages in
conversation and pleasantry or any amusement that the party may select.
At an early hour he turns in for the night and after a sound and
refreshing sleep is up and out with the dawn. After breakfast he
mounts his horse and in his striking and characteristic costume of
broad sombrero, blue flannel shirt, fringed chaperejos and jingling
spurs he rides forth to his work a perfect type of the gallant
caballero.