A Ranchman's Recollections: An Autobiography in Which Unfamiliar Facts Bearing Upon the Origin of the Cattle Industry in the Southwest and of the American Packing Business Are Stated, and Characteristic Incidents Recorded (Classic Reprint)

Overview

Excerpt from A Ranchman's Recollections: An Autobiography in Which Unfamiliar Facts Bearing Upon the Origin of the Cattle Industry in the Southwest and of the American Packing Business Are Stated, and Characteristic Incidents Recorded

"And thou shall smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink."

In the opening paragraph of the first chapter of this volume the author intimates that we "may" not have known that we were to unloose a flood when we asked him originally to write of his experiences in connection with the rise and progress of the western cattle trade. In response I will simply say that we have known Frank Hastings for full thirty years. We thought we knew him well, but we now find that he has gifts not hitherto suspected.

Originally brought out in the columns of The Breeder's Gazette, these sketches attracted at once and held the close attention of thousands of delighted readers in every part of the country. In soliciting their preparation we approached the subject with the same confidence that the Prophet of old smote with his rod the rock of Horeb; but I must here and now confess that the stream of thought called forth surpassed in purity and sweetness anything anticipated.

Mr. Hastings has made a real contribution to the pastoral literature of the West; one vitalized throughout by an intensely human touch. We count ourselves fortunate in having the privilege of giving his work this permanent form.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Read More