These tales by the Old Cattleman have been submitted to perhaps a dozen people.They have read, criticised, and advised.The advice was good; the criticism just.Some suggested a sketch which might in detail set forth Toffville; there were those who wanted something like a picture of the Old Cattleman; while others urged an elaboration of the personal characteristics of Old Man Enright, Doc Peets, Cherokee Hall, Moore, Tutt, Boggs, Faro Nell, Old Monte, and Texas Thompson.I have, how-ever, concluded to leave all these matters to the illustrations of Mr.Remington and the imaginations of those who read.I think it the better way-certainly it is the easier one for me.I shall therefore permit the Old Cattleman to tell his stories in his own fashion.The style will be crude, abrupt, and meagre, but I trust it will prove as satisfactory to the reader as it has to me.
A.H.L.
New York, May 15,1897.
