登陆注册
4280300000010

第10章

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 deion. 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.

同类推荐
  • 佛说辩意长者子所问经

    佛说辩意长者子所问经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 折狱龟鉴

    折狱龟鉴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 博物汇编神异典释教部汇考

    博物汇编神异典释教部汇考

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 小八义

    小八义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 入布萨堂说偈文等

    入布萨堂说偈文等

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 商场王妃

    商场王妃

    她是现代商业精英,他是大辽战神,一场阴谋的算计和谋杀,她穿越到陌生的古代遇到传说中的他.初次见面她道:你凭什么限制我的人身自由,你这是违法的!他道:在这里本王就是法,没有人敢能违抗!第二次见面她道:没有人告诉你,这样注视着一个女人是很不礼貌的吗?他道:你也就一副好看的皮囊,有什么值得吸引我的?本王不缺女人!要是你自己送上门来本王我乐意收下一只花瓶!什么?自己在他眼里只是花瓶,搞没搞错,她愤怒地瞪着他,很好,现在她先忍下了,等到有一天她非得让他瞧瞧她这只花瓶的厉害。本文有点小白,男女主角有点小腹黑........喜欢的亲们请收藏哈,达达在这里谢谢拉,鞠躬....推荐好友的文文:何俊桦:《农家弃妃》粟么:《穿越之赐你一纸休书》http://m.wkkk.net/2426816/myBoxIn?url=/home/msgcenter/comment_m.wkkk.net?restype=3这是偶在女儿国的圈子,大家有空可去逛逛哈
  • 台湾资料清穆宗实录选辑

    台湾资料清穆宗实录选辑

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大巫妻

    大巫妻

    北疆国和南武国乃睦邻,婚姻互通,一直和平相处。一直到和凤鸣公主有婚约的南武太子带着毒药和杀手在北疆凤华公主的婚礼上制造了一场血色婚礼,南北开战。北疆国战败,原本应该是南武太子妃的北疆公主凤鸣被迫和亲。八年后,凤鸣公主惨死于南武。同一日,她的婢女鹿鸣也被杀身亡。当鹿鸣苏醒的时候,一切却是回到了她还没有遇见北疆公主之时。鹿鸣完全不知道自己的重生,也不知为什么她会有对巫的天赋,和对将来的影像。但是渐渐的,她意识到了一个可怕的真相.....
  • 孙子智慧故事

    孙子智慧故事

    开阔知识视野,造就智慧人生。 本书汇集的是最经典、最有趣、最发人深思、最耐人寻味的孙子兵法中的智慧故事。该书内容丰富,文字优美,情节生动,这些充满智慧的故事,仿佛是一盏盏明灯,照亮我们成长的一程又一程。
  • 地球守卫团

    地球守卫团

    公元2060年,一个沉浸式游戏面世----地球守卫团。当玩家们疯狂涌入之时,一个惊天的秘密也在游戏当中慢慢浮出水面……
  • 史上最难开启系统

    史上最难开启系统

    赵御睁开眼睛之后发现自己突然变成了一个襁褓中的婴儿,而且是一个霸主王朝的皇太孙,更加激动的是他脑海中还自带着一个刀塔远古遗迹系统。但是这居然是史上最难开启系统 “远古遗迹系统未开启,开启条件如下二者完成其一。”“一,吸收两个陆地神仙境灵魂。”“二,登基称帝,在帝宫安放远古遗迹,系统全部功能将开启。”
  • Letters on Sweden, Norway, and Denmark

    Letters on Sweden, Norway, and Denmark

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 末日MC

    末日MC

    我的世界和末日将摩擦出什么样的火花!请看末日MC
  • 调教大明

    调教大明

    他是张居正的得意门徒!他向戚继光学兵法……和俞大猷学剑法,天下无敌!在他手中,有更辉煌的万历四大征!白手起家,掌握天下,笑谈之间,成就最强悍无敌的事业!在大明万历年间,张惟功以枭雄手段掌握国政,于大航海开时之时,开创属于中国人的大明时代!
  • 皇夫的春天

    皇夫的春天

    萧女皇在她登基后以为自己可以有后宫三千面首,奈何皇夫很妖孽,女皇很无奈。