Life and adventures of Frank and Jesse James, the noted western outlawsDacus, J. A. (Joseph A.)
History
Life and adventures of Frank and Jesse James, the noted western outlaws
Dacus, J. A. (Joseph A.)
Brigands and robbers; James, Frank, 1844-1915; James, Jesse, 1847-1882
"Such was the welcome which I received at the home of Frank James.
I felt myself quite at ease very soon, and the four days and nights
which I spent under their hospitable roof gave no occasion for me
to think hard of the outlaws. Indeed, I could not bring myself to
think of them in that light. Mrs. James is a lady who is suited by
education and disposition to grace any circle. And where is this
model home? you ask. Well, it is in Texas--just what part of Texas
I must leave you to find out. I know that I never met with better
treatment in any home, anywhere."
CHAPTER XLVI.
EPISTLES OF JESSE JAMES.
Jesse James is not an educated man in the scholastic sense of that
term. In this respect he differs widely from his brother Frank, who
has a fair knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages, and is said
to be able to converse fluently in the Spanish and German tongues.
Frank was a college student when the war was commenced, and Jesse
a school boy in a country place. He had made some progress, had
learned to "read, write and cipher," and was wrestling with
"the knotty intricacies" of English Grammar and Geography, when
his career in school was stopped short by the political events
occurring about him.
It cannot be expected that Jesse's literary performances should
exhibit the classic finish of an Addison or an Irving, and yet
barring his faulty orthography, his style is direct and pointed,
and under other circumstances he might have become a very good
newspaper reporter. Although Jesse is deficient in the command
of language to express his views in accordance with the canons
of literary criticism, yet his letters, if not elegant specimens
of composition, are at least vigorous and clear. It is a matter
of regret that so few specimens of his epistolary ability are
available. We have succeeded in obtaining copies of a few of his
letters, but unfortunately none which reveal the domestic relations
and characteristics of the man. Such of Jesse's letters as we have
been able to secure, which have any interest for the public, we
present in this chapter.
The following note was addressed from Jesse to "a friend" in
Missouri, and came into the hands of a gentleman who, for reasons
which the author is bound to respect, desires his name to be
withheld. The orthography alone is revised. The year, it will be
observed, is not given.
COMMANCHE, TEXAS, June 10th.
DEAR JIM:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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