Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1894 — ARTISTS OF THE ROUND-UP. [ARTICLE]

ARTISTS OF THE ROUND-UP.

Old-Time Texas Cowboy* Different From Those ot To-Day. The old-time cowboy is no more, aayv a writer in the Dallas New*. He pas* ed in his checks with the free,grass custom. The big pasture has introduced a new order of cowboys, who sleep in a house and "obey orders” or quit. The old cowboy was the companion of his bos* and shared his pleasures and his hardship*. No manager in his big headquarter rock house reminded him of his inferior rank in society, nor did any of the modern ranch accessories mar the common dangers, the pleasures end the freedom and equality of the whilom cowboy and cowman. But the ranch in. the olden time was a cotton-wood log house to cook in, and for root and protection from the weather the slicker wae used, and Mother Earth supplied their beds. The broad range and overhanging sky answered for house and home. A round-up in 1867-1880 was not bounded by wire fences, but the boy» galloped out of camp after breakfast, made a wide sweep and all then drove toward a common centre, and lo! directly at that point was gathered a herd of stock cattle of all brands, ready for the cut to begin. The high-toned man was tabooed. I remember such a man appeared at the ranch of J. T., in Shackleford County, in 1869. He was a city fellow, and would say “thank you" and such like. His intense politeness and hightoned nonsense Aggravated the boys mightily. Jim B. In particular (poor fellow) was especially fretted by his nonsense, as he called it, and tried to ridicule it out of him, but in vain. At last bia resentment ripened Into genuine hatred, and it vras hard to keep the peace bebetween them, for the city fellow had grit, too. Weil, one morning in 1889, at Mountain Pass, in Taylor County, long before any one lived in that section, Jim got awfully mad and gave the city feller a cussing, whereupon a row resulted! and bloodshed was barely prevented there and then. We got the city fellow to ride off and it looked like peace had returned, but ono hour later Jim B. and his amiable enemy met off at one side of the round-up. 1 happened to be near. In a flaah the city ohtip raq before Jim, dismounted, leveled his gun on him and demanded au apology or death. Jim jerked out two six-shooters, but said nothing, and instantly the city fellow fired. Poor Jim rolled off his horse a dead man. I got to them just as Jim fell, lie died instantly, shot through, the heart. His slayer mounted his horse and “lit out.” AVo buried Jim and went on with our herd, two men short, but. with no discordant eloment among us. Buoh was the old way. The boys were courteous and kind, they were generoa* and brave, industrious and honest, but they would not stand any high-toned' nonsense. A new era has set in. Which Js the better wo cannot say, but one thing ia sure, with all his faults, and they were many, the old-time cowboy was a man to be trusted in peaoe or wax and was the very soul of honor.