Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1892 — An Important Difference. [ARTICLE]

An Important Difference.

Americans laugh at the Frenchman, who hoped his hostess would be “pickled, ” when he meant “preserved, ”, without considering that they live in a glass house and should not throw stones. This is such a large country that the niceties pf language are not comprehended outside of a comparatively limited range. - A young man from the Eastern States went to Montana to grow up with the country, and with every prospect of making his mark. ' He was young and healthy, bright and energetic, and in addition, fully aware of his own worth, an accomplishment which is of special value in a new country. The first town he struck was on a “boom,” and he was in his element. He threw himself into the thick of the crowd at the leading hotel, and before he had been there fifteen minutes he announced loudly: “I’m a rustler, I am.” To his surprise, the landlord looked at him sharply, and said.coldly: “Is that so?”

Two or three men in the room also glared darkly at him. But he did not directly connect these demonstrations with his speech, and repeated the expression more than once that evening. In the morning, after breakfast, he lit a cigar, and was starting on a stroll, when a tall, grim-faced man drew him to one side, and then said gravely: “I understand that you are a rustler?” . “Yes,” replied tho young man, promptly. The other, regarded him for a moment with a puzzled look, and theD asked: “How long have you been in Montana?” “Three or four days. I came straight through from Vermont. ” “Oh,” said the grim-faced man, “] thought there was some mistake! My boys have been getting worked uj over your talk, but I allowed all along you were just a simple tenderfoot, and didn’t know what you were talking about.” “Why, what have I said?” asked the young man, in some alarm. “You’ve been going around saying you were a rustler.” “Well, what's the harm in that?” “The harm is in the mistake. You meant to say hustler. A rustler, young man, is a cattle-thief, and it isn’t good sense for one of them to shoot oil his mouth when there’s a hundred cowboys in town. You had better look up your dictionary before you talk in strange company.” The young man from the East said he would, and probably did there, after.- One lesson of that kind was enough.