I just heard a discussion about the Tories in the Revolutionary War here in NY. The term COWBOYS was first used here at that time and referred to a group of Tories
I watched a show on the History Channel on this subject and they said the term "cowboy" actually came from Ireland with the "thief" connotation.
Ranch & farm folk do tend to be good people. But like folks anywhere you go there are some bad ones.
I know some of both here. I also recall some words to live by. I found 'em in the preface to an original hardback copy of
Smoky by Will James. (I know Will James wasn't who he said he was either, but...) Anyhow, he said, and I'm quoting loosely here because I don't have it in front of me, "I've always sized up a man by the horse he rode; a good horse generally carries a good rider. I've always steered clear of the man who has no thought nor liking for his horse, as no good could ever come of the meeting."
But real life ain't the movies and real cowboys were just regular guys tryin' to make a livin' like everyone else.
Louis L'Amour observed that most western writers don't show "cowboy's" doing their type of jobs. He said he wrote them as working stock whenever possible. In my opinion, movies bring in factors most of us don't have to deal with in the same contexts as the movies portray. If you really analize it, movies start to look real silly.
Maybe it is a idealized set of standards, but we should strive for the top.
Yeah. And some people tell me I'm too honest.
Well, I think that cowboys are about the same now as they always have been. I'd say there are about 25% that fit the popular myth of being honest, hard working, and polite. Plenty of them love the bottle, and aren't as great as we all wish they were. I'm talking real cowboys too, not those rodeo dude. I don't mean to offend, but I've spent plenty of time with genuine cowboys and can see through the myth.
I know what you mean. I know some good guys and I know some real vulgarians among the "cowboy" types around here. There's a difference too between "cowboys" and "rednecks-with-horses", and we have a lot of the latter here.
Ya read some histories of the Old West, the term Cowboy was synonymous with thieves, murderers and criminals
As I said before about the "thief" connotation, but I also remember reading somewhere that real cowboys didn't coin the term for themselves. It was applied to them by everybody else, but real cowboys prefered to be referred to as "cowpunchers" or just "punchers".
Somewhere in my collection, I have a tape of Micheal Martin Murphy- "Rhymes of the Renegades". In the paper (label and all) he has some background info and comments. He said something to the effect that in popular culture, we always picture cowboys with guns, but not all carried guns and prowess with guns is not a prerequisite to the job. Also, not all cowboys were outlaws, but many outlaws had been cowboys. If they'd stuck to working stock, they wouldn't have had all the trouble they did have. I also know the cowboy's job is a lot of trouble, because if a horse or cow can find trouble, in trouble is where you'll find 'em.
I was hanging onto the cantle with both hands and trying to stay on the horse as it dodged the longhorn and tried not to step on the rope.