Nessmuk had a sence of humor!

tarmix101

tarmix101

Joined
Jun 14, 2005
Messages
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Every time I read this passage from "Woodcraft and Camping" I tear up in laughter. Not sure why, other than I'm easily amused:confused:

The meeting occurred, as usually was the case with large game, on dry,
oak lands, where the undergrowth was hazel, sasafras, and wild grapevine. As
before, I had paused for a rest, when I began to catch glimpses of a very black
animal working its way among the hazel bushes, under the scattering oaks, and
toward me. With no definite intention of shooting, but just to see how easy it
might be to kill him, I got a good ready, and waited. Slowly and lazily he
nuzzled his way among the trees, sitting up occasionally to crunch acorns, until
he was within twenty-five yards of me, with the bright bead neatly showing at
the butt of his ear, and he sitting on his haunches, calmly chewing his acorns,
oblivious of danger. He was the shortest-legged, blackest, and glossiest bear I
had ever seen; and such a fair shot. But I could not use either skin or meat, and
he was a splendid picture just as he sat. Shot down and left to taint the blessed
air, he would not look as wholesome, let alone that it would be unwarrantable
murder. And so, when he came nosing under the very tree where I was sitting, I
suddenly jumped up, threw my hat at him, and gave a Comanche yell. He
tumbled over in a limp heap, grunting and whining for very terror, gathered
himself up, got up headway, and disappeared with wonderful speed--considering
the length of his legs.
Click to expand...
 
That was the wild boar right??

A lot of that book is funny.

Is that the book where he takes the papoose off and pulls his knife and threatens it with this long speech and it just smiles at him? That's a funny part too.

He was really ahead of his time as far as some of his environmental leanings and way of thinking.
 
It was a bear:

"He was the shortest-legged, blackest, and glossiest bear I
had ever seen;"
 
that was a good...... :D it's been awhile since i've read that book.... i think i'm about due....

he did have a pretty wild sense of humor... i have cracked up at a number of passages in that book....

mike
 
I think it's really kind of strange and cool at the same time- you know, the whole Nessmuk thing. Could he ever have thought that over 100 years later that people in from all over the world would be replicating the axe and knife in his book? You'd have to think he would have been pleased.

You know if he was alive today he'd be all over the web. :thumbup: As much of a Bullsh*tter as he was and really into communication and custom gear you know he'da been right here with us:thumbup: :cool:
 
hollowdweller said:
You know if he was alive today he'd be all over the web. :thumbup: As much of a Bullsh*tter as he was and really into communication and custom gear you know he'da been right here with us:thumbup: :cool:
Click to expand...

I certainly would like to think so hollow. :thumbup: I don't "idolize" the man or any such nonsense, but his writings do strike a cord with me. I just like the way it was written, as much as the content. People don't write like that any more:confused: It's to bad:mad:
 
I love how he teases the city folk throughout the book too. Poking fun at how much they pay the guides, howmuch gear they bring, and how little enjoyment they get out of the experience for all their blustering. Good stuff.

Sad stuff in there too though. The dead children part got me to put it down for a while. New baby and all that.
 
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