picture, for in themselves they were as complete as the pioneers
of the land or the explorers of the sea. A transition has
followed the horseman of the plains; a shapeless state, a
condition of men and manners as unlovely as is that moment in the
year when winter is gone and spring not come, and the face of
Nature is ugly. I shall not dwell upon it here. Those who have
seen it know well what I mean. Such transition was inevitable.
Let us give thanks that it is but a transition, and not a
finality.

Sometimes readers inquire, Did I know the Virginian? As well, I
hope, as a father should know his son. And sometimes it is asked,
Was such and such a thing true? Now to this I have the best
answer in the world. Once a cowpuncher listened patiently while I
read him a manuscript. It concerned an event upon an Indian
reservation. "Was that the Crow reservation?" he inquired at the
finish. I told him that it was no real reservation and no real
event; and his face expressed displeasure. "Why," he demanded,
"do you waste your time writing what never happened, when you
know so many things that did happen?"

And I could no more help telling him that this was the highest
compliment ever paid me than I have been able to help telling you
about it here!

CHARLESTON, S.C., March 31st, 1902


THE VIRGINIAN