第15章

Brogan。MistherClu-r-r-k！

TheClerk。ThegentlemanfromNewYork。

Brogan。Irisetoapointofordherundertherules！

TheClerk。Therearenorules。

Brogan。ThinIobjecttothem！

TheClerk。Therearenorulestoobjectto。

Brogan。Oh！[nonplussed；butimmediatelyrecoveringhimself]。

ThinImovethattheybeamendeduntiltherear-r-re！

Thedeadlockwastedious；andwehailedwithjoysuchenliveningincidentsastheabove。

Duringmythreeyears’serviceintheLegislatureIworkedonaverysimplephilosophyofgovernment。Itwasthatpersonalcharacterandinitiativearetheprimerequisitesinpoliticalandsociallife。Itwasnotonlyagoodbutanabsolutelyindispensabletheoryasfarasitwent；butitwasdefectiveinthatitdidnotsufficientlyallowfortheneedofcollectiveaction。IshallneverforgetthemenwithwhomIworkedhandinhandintheselegislativestruggles，notonlymyfellow-legislators，butsomeofthenewspaperreporters，suchasSpinneyandCunningham；andtheninadditionthemeninthevariousdistrictswhohelpedus。Wehadmadeupourmindsthatwemustnotfightfirewithfire，thatonthecontrarythewaytowinoutwastoequalourfoesinpracticalefficiencyandyettostandattheoppositeplanefromtheminappliedmorality。

Itwasnotalwayseasytokeepthejustmiddle，especiallywhenithappenedthatononesidetherewerecorruptandunscrupulousdemagogues，andontheothersidecorruptandunscrupulousreactionaries。Oureffortwastoholdthescalesevenbetweenboth。Wetriedtostandwiththecauseofrighteousnesseventhoughitsadvocateswereanythingbutrighteous。Weendeavoredtocutouttheabusesofproperty，eventhoughgoodmenofpropertyweremisledintoupholdingthoseabuses。Werefusedtobefrightenedintosanctioningimproperassaultsuponproperty，althoughweknewthatthechampionsofpropertythemselvesdidthingsthatwerewickedandcorrupt。Wewereasyetbynomeansasthoroughlyawakeasweoughttohavebeentotheneedofcontrollingbigbusinessandtothedamagedonebythecombinationofpoliticswithbigbusiness。InthismatterIwasnotbehindtherestofmyfriends；indeed，Iwasaheadofthem，fornoseriousleaderinpoliticallifethenappreciatedtheprimeneedofgrapplingwiththesequestions。Onepartialreason——notanexcuseorajustification，butapartialreason——formyslownessingraspingtheimportanceofactioninthesematterswasthecorruptandunattractivenatureofsomanyofthemenwhochampionedpopularreforms，theirinsincerity，andthefollyofsomanyoftheactionswhichtheyadvocated。EvenatthatdateIhadneithersympathywithnoradmirationforthemanwhowasmerelyamoneyking，andIdidnotregardthe“moneytouch。”whendivorcedfromotherqualities，asentitlingamantoeitherrespectorconsideration。Asrecitedabove，wedidonmorethanoneoccasionfightbattles，inwhichweneithertooknorgavequarter，againstthemostprominentandpowerfulfinanciersandfinancialinterestsoftheday。Butmostofthefightsinwhichwewereengagedwereforpurehonestyanddecency，andtheyweremoreapttobeagainstthatformofcorruptionwhichfounditsexpressionindemagogythanagainstthatformofcorruptionwhichdefendedoradvocatedprivilege。Fundamentally，ourfightwaspartoftheeternalwaragainstthePowersthatPrey；andwecarednotawhitinwhatrankoflifethesepowerswerefound。

Toplaythedemagogueforpurposesofself-interestisacardinalsinagainstthepeopleinademocracy，exactlyastoplaythecourtierforsuchpurposesisacardinalsinagainstthepeopleunderotherformsofgovernment。AmanwhostayslonginourAmericanpoliticallife，ifhehasinhissoulthegenerousdesiretodoeffectiveserviceforgreatcauses，inevitablygrowstoregardhimselfmerelyasoneofmanyinstruments，allofwhichitmaybenecessarytouse，oneatonetime，oneatanother，inachievingthetriumphofthosecauses；andwhenevertheusefulnessofanyonehasbeenexhausted，itistobethrownaside。Ifsuchamaniswise，hewillgladlydothethingthatisnext，whenthetimeandtheneedcometogether，withoutaskingwhatthefutureholdsforhim。Letthehalf-godplayhispartwellandmanfully，andthenbecontenttodrawasidewhenthegodappears。Norshouldhefeelvainregretsthattoanotheritisgiventorendergreaterservicesandreapagreaterreward。Letitbeenoughforhimthathetoohasserved，andthatbydoingwellhehaspreparedthewayfortheothermanwhocandobetter。

ThoughIhadpreviouslymadeatripintothethenTerritoryofDakota，beyondtheRedRiver，itwasnotuntil1883thatIwenttotheLittleMissouri，andtheretookholdoftwocattleranches，theChimneyButteandtheElkhorn。

ItwasstilltheWildWestinthosedays，theFarWest，theWestofOwenWister’sstoriesandFredericRemington’sdrawings，theWestoftheIndianandthebuffalo-hunter，thesoldierandthecow-puncher。

ThatlandoftheWesthasgonenow，“gone，gonewithlostAtlantis。”

gonetotheisleofghostsandofstrangedeadmemories。Itwasalandofvastsilentspaces，oflonelyrivers，andofplainswherethewildgamestaredatthepassinghorseman。Itwasalandofscatteredranches，ofherdsoflong-hornedcattle，andofrecklessriderswhounmovedlookedintheeyesoflifeorofdeath。Inthatlandweledafreeandhardylife，withhorseandwithrifle。Weworkedunderthescorchingmidsummersun，whenthewideplainsshimmeredandwaveredintheheat；andweknewthefreezingmiseryofridingnightguardroundthecattleinthelatefallround-up。Inthesoftspringtimethestarsweregloriousinoureyeseachnightbeforewefellasleep；andinthewinterwerodethroughblindingblizzards，whenthedrivensnow-dustburnedourfaces。Thereweremonotonousdays，asweguidedthetrailcattleorthebeefherds，hourafterhour，attheslowestofwalks；

andminutesorhoursteemingwithexcitementaswestoppedstampedesorswamtheherdsacrossriverstreacherouswithquicksandsorbrimmedwithrunningice。Weknewtoilandhardshipandhungerandthirst；andwesawmendieviolentdeathsastheyworkedamongthehorsesandcattle，orfoughtinevilfeudswithoneanother；butwefeltthebeatofhardylifeinourveins，andourswasthegloryofworkandthejoyofliving。

Itwasrightandnecessarythatthislifeshouldpass，forthesafetyofourcountryliesinitsbeingmadethecountryofthesmallhome-

maker。Thegreatunfencedranches，inthedaysof“freegrass。”

necessarilyrepresentedatemporarystageinourhistory。Thelargemigratoryflocksofsheep，eachguardedbythehiredshepherdsofabsenteeowners，werethefirstenemiesofthecattlemen；andowingtothewaytheyateoutthegrassanddestroyedallothervegetation，theserovingsheepbandsrepresentedlittleofpermanentgoodtothecountry。Butthehomesteaders，thepermanentsettlers，themenwhotookupeachhisownfarmonwhichhelivedandbroughtuphisfamily，theserepresentedfromtheNationalstandpointthemostdesirableofallpossibleusersof，anddwellerson，thesoil。Theiradventmeantthebreakingupofthebigranches；andthechangewasaNationalgain，althoughtosomeofusanindividualloss。

IfirstreachedtheLittleMissourionaNorthernPacifictrainaboutthreeinthemorningofacoolSeptemberdayin1883。Asidefromthestation，theonlybuildingwasaramshacklestructurecalledthePyramidParkHotel。Idraggedmyduffle-bagthither，andhammeredatthedooruntilthefrowsyproprietorappeared，mutteringoaths。Heusheredmeupstairs，whereIwasgivenoneofthefourteenbedsintheroomwhichbyitselfconstitutedtheentireupperfloor。NextdayI

walkedovertotheabandonedarmypost，and，aftersomehoursamongthegraylogshacks，aranchmanwhohaddrivenintothestationagreedtotakemeouttohisranch，theChimneyButteranch，wherehewaslivingwithhisbrotherandtheirpartner。

Theranchwasalogstructurewithadirtroof，acorralforthehorsesnearby，andachicken-housejabbedagainsttherearoftheranchhouse。Insidetherewasonlyoneroom，withatable，threeorfourchairs，acooking-stove，andthreebunks。TheownerswereSylvaneandJoeFerrisandWilliamJ。Merrifield。LaterallthreeofthemheldmycommissionswhileIwasPresident。MerrifieldwasMarshalofMontana，andasPresidentialelectorcastthevoteofthatStateformein1904；SylvaneFerriswasLandOfficerinNorthDakota，andJoeFerrisPostmasteratMedora。Therewasafourthman，GeorgeMeyer，whoalsoworkedformelater。Thateveningweallplayedoldsledgeroundthetable，andatoneperiodthegamewasinterruptedbyafrightfulsquawkingoutsidewhichtoldusthatabobcathadmadearaidonthechicken-house。

Afterabuffalohuntwithmyoriginalfriend，JoeFerris，IenteredintopartnershipwithMerrifieldandSylvaneFerris，andwestartedacowranch，withthemaltesecrossbrand——alwaysknownas“malteecross。”bytheway，asthegeneralimpressionalongtheLittleMissouriwasthat“maltese“mustbeaplural。Twenty-nineyearslatermyfourfriendsofthatnightweredelegatestotheFirstProgressiveNationalConventionatChicago。Theywereamongmymostconstantcompanionsforthefewyearsnextsucceedingtheeveningwhenthebobcatinterruptedthegameofoldsledge。Ilivedandworkedwiththemontheranch，andwiththemandmanyotherslikethemontheround-up；andIbroughtoutfromMaine，inordertostarttheElkhornranchlowerdowntheriver，mytwobackwoodsfriendsSewallandDow。

Mybrandsforthelowerranchweretheelkhornandtriangle。

Idonotbelievethereeverwasanylifemoreattractivetoavigorousyoungfellowthanlifeonacattleranchinthosedays。Itwasafine，healthylife，too；ittaughtamanself-reliance，hardihood，andthevalueofinstantdecision——inshort，thevirtuesthatoughttocomefromlifeintheopencountry。Ienjoyedthelifetothefull。AfterthefirstyearIbuiltontheElkhornranchalong，lowranchhouseofhewnlogs，withaveranda，andwith，inadditiontotheotherrooms，abedroomformyself，andasitting-roomwithabigfire-place。Igotoutarocking-chair——Iamveryfondofrocking-chairs——andenoughbookstofilltwoorthreeshelves，andarubberbathtubsothatI

couldgetabath。AndthenIdonotseehowanyonecouldhavelivedmorecomfortably。Wehadbuffalorobesandbearskinsofourownkilling。Wealwayskeptthehouseclean——usingthewordinaratherlargesense。Therewereatleasttworoomsthatwerealwayswarm，eveninthebitterestweather；andwehadplentytoeat。Commonlythemainstayofeverymealwasgameofourownkilling，usuallyantelopeordeer，sometimesgrouseorducks，andoccasionally，intheearlierdays，buffaloorelk。Wealsohadflourandbacon，sugar，salt，andcannedtomatoes。Andlater，whensomeofthemenmarriedandbroughtouttheirwives，wehadallkindsofgoodthings，suchasjamsandjelliesmadefromthewildplumsandthebuffaloberries，andpotatoesfromtheforlornlittlegardenpatch。Moreover，wehadmilk。Mostranchmenatthattimeneverhadmilk。Iknewmorethanoneranchwithtenthousandheadofcattlewheretherewasnotacowthatcouldbemilked。Wemadeupourmindsthatwewouldbemoreenterprising。

Accordingly，westartedtodomesticatesomeofthecows。Ourfirsteffortwasnotsuccessful，chieflybecausewedidnotdevotetheneededtimeandpatiencetothematter。Andwefoundthattoraceacowtwomilesatfullspeedonhorseback，thenropeher，throwher，andturnherupsidedowntomilkher，whileexhilaratingasapastime，wasnotproductiveofresults。Graduallyweaccumulatedtamecows，and，afterwehadthinnedoutthebobcatsandcoyotes，morechickens。

Theranchhousestoodonthebrinkofalowbluffoverlookingthebroad，shallowbedoftheLittleMissouri，throughwhichatmostseasonsthereranonlyatrickleofwater，whileintimesoffreshetitwasfilledbrimfulwiththeboiling，foaming，muddytorrent。Therewasnoneighborfortenorfifteenmilesoneithersideofme。Therivertwisteddowninlongcurvesbetweennarrowbottomsborderedbysheercliffwalls，fortheBadLands，achaosofpeaks，plateaus，andridges，roseabruptlyfromtheedgesofthelevel，tree-clad，orgrassy，alluvialmeadows。Infrontoftheranch-houseverandawasarowofcottonwoodtreeswithgray-greenleaveswhichquiveredalldaylongiftherewasabreathofair。Fromthesetreescamethefar-away，melancholycooingofmourningdoves，andlittleowlsperchedinthemandcalledtremulouslyatnight。Inthelongsummerafternoonswewouldsometimessitonthepiazza，whentherewasnoworktobedone，foranhourortwoatatime，watchingthecattleonthesand-bars，andthesharplychanneledandstrangelycarvedamphitheaterofcliffsacrossthebottomopposite；whilethevultureswheeledoverhead，theirblackshadowsglidingacrosstheglaringwhiteofthedryriver-bed。

Sometimesfromtheranchwesawdeer，andoncewhenweneededmeatI

shotoneacrosstheriverasIstoodonthepiazza。Inthewinter，inthedaysofironcold，wheneverythingwaswhiteunderthesnow，theriverlayinitsbedfixedandimmovableasabarofbentsteel，andthenatnightwolvesandlynxestraveledupanddownitasifithadbeenahighwaypassinginfrontoftheranchhouse。Ofteninthelatefallorearlywinter，afterahardday’shunting，orwhenreturningfromoneofthewinterlinecamps，wedidnotreachtheranchuntilhoursaftersunset；andafterthewearytrampinginthecolditwaskeenpleasuretocatchthefirstredgleamofthefire-litwindowsacrossthesnowywastes。

TheElkhornranchhousewasbuiltmainlybySewallandDow，who，likemostmenfromtheMainewoods，weremightywiththeax。Icouldchopfairlywellforanamateur，butIcouldnotdoone-thirdtheworktheycould。Onedaywhenwewerecuttingdownthecottonwoodtrees，tobeginourbuildingoperations，IheardsomeoneaskDowwhatthetotalcuthadbeen，andDownotrealizingthatIwaswithinhearing，answered：“Well，Billcutdownfifty-three，Icutforty-nine，andthebosshebeavereddownseventeen。”Thosewhohaveseenthestumpofatreewhichhasbeengnaweddownbyabeaverwillunderstandtheexactforceofthecomparison。