Western Ramblings

Western slang that, I reckon, is just too important to go out of date.

Wilderness vs. City

* “I have not tired of the wilderness; rather I enjoy its beauty and the vagrant life I lead, more keenly all the time. I prefer the saddle to the streetcar and star-sprinkled sky to a roof, the obscure and difficult trail, leading into the unknown to any paved...

Equalizer

The “Equalizer” was the six shot, Colt made,  pistol carried by most cowboys. The aphorism associated with this pistol went like this: “Be not afraid of any man no matter what his size. When danger threatens call on me and I will...

Pale Faces and Red Skins

They called us “Palefaces”, we called them “Redskins”. We eventually learned that a mans hide had nothing to do with his character.
Thunderation

Thunderation

Thunderation is a fine old cuss word that usually doesn’t offend. Yeah, we know all about the F word, the S word and the D word.  However, in a town where everybody is armed, everyone is extra polite.
Bad Lands

Bad Lands

“Bad lands” came to be known as “Bad” because they were no good for farming.  Bad lands are full of cliffs, ravines, caves and tortuous rivers (Think of the Grand Canyon). Because most Bad lands are spectacularly scenic, they have become very...