the mountains(山脉)-第32部分
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of the top of a monument。 Strangely enough the frond is exceedingly
fine； and the cones small。
When first you catch sight of a Sequoia； it does not impress you
particularly except as a very fine tree。 Its proportions are so perfect that
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its effect is rather to belittle its neighbors than to show in its true
magnitude。 Then； gradually； as your experience takes cognizance of
surroundings；the size of a sugar…pine； of a boulder； of a stream flowing
near； the giant swells and swells before your very vision until he seems
at the last even greater than the mere statistics of his inches had led you to
believe。 And after that first surprise over finding the Sequoia something
not monstrous but beautiful in proportion has given place to the full
realization of what you are beholding； you will always wonder why no one
who has seen has ever given any one who has not seen an adequate idea of
these magnificent old trees。
Perhaps the most insistent note； besides that of mere size and dignity；
is of absolute stillness。 These trees do not sway to the wind； their trunks
are constructed to stand solid。 Their branches do not bend and murmur；
for they too are rigid in fiber。 Their fine thread…like needles may catch
the breeze's whisper； may draw together and apart for the exchange of
confidences as do the leaves of other trees； but if so； you and I are too far
below to distinguish it。 All about； the other forest growths may be
rustling and bowing and singing with the voices of the air； the Sequoia
stands in the hush of an absolute calm。 It is as though he dreamed； too
wrapt in still great thoughts of his youth； when the earth itself was young；
to share the worldlier joys of his neighbor； to be aware of them； even
himself to breathe deeply。 You feel in the presence of these trees as you
would feel in the presence of a kindly and benignant sage； too occupied
with larger things to enter fully into your little affairs； but well disposed in
the wisdom of clear spiritual insight。
This combination of dignity； immobility； and a certain serene
detachment has on me very much the same effect as does a mountain
against the sky。 It is quite unlike the impression made by any other tree；
however large； and is lovable。
We entered the Giant Forest by a trail that climbed。 Always we
entered desirable places by trails that climbed or dropped。 Our access to
paradise was never easy。 About halfway up we met five pack…mules and
two men coming down。 For some reason； unknown； I suspect； even to
the god of chance； our animals behaved themselves and walked straight
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ahead in a beautiful dignity； while those weak…minded mules scattered and
bucked and scraped under trees and dragged back on their halters when
caught。 The two men cast on us malevolent glances as often as they were
able； but spent most of their time swearing and running about。 We
helped them once or twice by heading off； but were too thankfully
engaged in treading lightly over our own phenomenal peace to pay much
attention。 Long after we had gone on； we caught bursts of rumpus
ascending from below。 Shortly we came to a comparatively level country；
and a little meadow； and a rough sign which read
〃Feed 20C a night。〃
Just beyond this extortion was the Giant Forest。
We entered it toward the close of the afternoon； and rode on after our
wonted time looking for feed at less than twenty cents a night。 The great
trunks； fluted like marble columns； blackened against the western sky。
As they grew huger； we seemed to shrink； until we moved fearful as
prehistoric man must have moved among the forces over which he had no
control。 We discovered our feed in a narrow 〃stringer〃 a few miles on。
That night； we； pigmies； slept in the setting before which should have
stridden the colossi of another age。 Perhaps eventually； in spite of its
magnificence and wonder； we were a little glad to leave the Giant Forest。
It held us too rigidly to a spiritual standard of which our normal lives were
incapable； it insisted on a loftiness of soul； a dignity； an aloofness from the
ordinary affairs of life； the ordinary occupations of thought hardly
compatible with the powers of any creature less noble； less aged； less wise
in the passing of centuries than itself。
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XIX
ON COWBOYS
Your cowboy is a species variously subdivided。 If you happen to be
traveled as to the wild countries； you will be able to recognize whence
your chance acquaintance hails by the kind of saddle he rides； and the
rigging of it； by the kind of rope he throws； and the method of the
throwing； by the shape of hat he wears； by his twist of speech； even by the
very manner of his riding。 Your California 〃vaquero〃 from the Coast
Ranges is as unlike as possible to your Texas cowman； and both differ
from the Wyoming or South Dakota article。 I should be puzzled to define
exactly the habitat of the 〃typical〃 cowboy。 No matter where you go； you
will find your individual acquaintance varying from the type in respect to
some of the minor details。
Certain characteristics run through the whole tribe； however。 Of
these some are so well known or have been so adequately done elsewhere
that it hardly seems wise to elaborate on them here。 Let us assume that
you and I know what sort of human beings cowboys are；with all their
taciturnity； their surface gravity； their keen sense of humor； their courage；
their kindness； their freedom； their lawlessness； their foulness of mouth；
and their supreme skill in the handling of horses and cattle。 I shall try to
tell you nothing of all that。
If one thinks down doggedly to the last analysis； he will find that the
basic reason for the differences between a cowboy and other men rests
finally on an individual liberty； a freedom from restraint either of society
or convention； a lawlessness； an accepting of his own standard alone。 He
is absolutely self… poised and sufficient； and that self…poise and that
sufficiency he takes pains to assure first of all。 After their assurance he is
willing to enter into human relations。 His attitude toward everything in
life is； not suspicious； but watchful。 He is 〃gathered together；〃 his
elbows at his side。
This evidences itself most strikingly in his terseness of speech。 A
man dependent on himself naturally does not give himself away to the first
comer。 He is more interested in finding out what the other fellow is than
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in exploiting his own importance。 A man who does much promiscuous
talking he is likely to despise； arguing that man incautious； hence weak。
Yet when he does talk； he talks to the point and with a vivid and direct
picturesqueness of phrase which is as refreshing as it is unexpected。 The
delightful remodeling of the English language in Mr。 Alfred Lewis's
〃Wolfville〃 is exaggerated only in quantity； not in quality。 No cowboy
talks habitually in quite as original a manner as Mr。 Lewis's Old Cattleman；
but I have no doubt that in time he would be heard to say all the good
things in that volume。 I myself have note…books full of just such
gorgeous language； some of the best of which I have used elsewhere； and
so will not repeat here。＇4＇
＇4＇ See especially Jackson Himes in The Blazed Trail； and
TheRawhide。
This vividness manifests itself quite as often in the selection of the
apt word as in the construction of elaborate phrases with a half…humorous
intention。 A cowboy once told me of the arrival of a tramp by saying；
〃He SIFTED into camp。〃 Could any verb be more expressive？ Does
not it convey exactly the lazy； careless； out…at…heels shuffling gait of the
hobo？ Another in the course of description told of a saloon scene； 〃They
all BELLIED UP TO the bar。〃 Again； a range cook； objecting to
purposeless idling about his fire； shouted： 〃If you fellows come
MOPING around here any more； I'LL SURE MAKE YOU HARD TO
CATCH！〃 〃Fish in that pond； son？ Why； there's some fish in there big
