Will Rogers Essays - American Old West, Cowboys, Rodeo, Free Essays

Will Rogers Essays - American Old West, Cowboys, Rodeo, Free Essays Will Rogers Will Rogers was a cowboy that did rope tricks. He was loved by the crowds that watched him. ?Onto the stage ambled a friendly-faced, tousled-haired man wearing a cowboy getup and carrying a collection of lassos in his hand. He smiled at the audience, then threw out one of the ropes, twirling it in a circle in preparation for one of the complicated rope tricks he was hired to perform. But as he went into the trick, he miscalculated the size of the small stage, and the rope whacked into the backdrop and fell to the ground with a loud thud. The audience was silent as the obviously embarrassed cowboy reached down and picked it up. Without a word, he tried the trick a second time. Again, the rope slammed loudly onto the stage floor. Show directors had a standard way of dealing with such a disasters-get the performer away from the audience as fast as possible, or ?give?em the hook? in the theater parlance. As the curtain came down on the rope twirler, Buck thought sadly that the curtain had probably been drawn on the young hopeful?s career. To his surprise, the audience was thinking differently. Instead of hurling jeers and catcalls, people here and there began to clap, and soon the entire theater was filled with the sound of applauses. The curtain went back up, but when the audience saw another musical number was next, they booed and hooted, demanding the return of the clumsy cowboy. They did not care that he had botched his act-there was something so appealing about him that the audience just wanted to see more of him. -2 The curtain went back down; after a few tense moments, it rose again as the cowboy, his smile even broader this time out, sauntered back onstage. The act went well this time out, and the audience responded with a standing ovation. Buck was impressed. It did not take too much imagination to recognize that he had found a real crowd pleaser.?1 In 1915, Will was becoming a follies star. He quickly got bored of his act. ?By 1915, Rogers had become a staple of the vaudeville circuit. He had no trouble getting jobs, and his act inevitably drew raves from the critics and the public alike. Recognition and good pay were not quite enough for Rogers, however, for he quickly grew bored doing the same type of act over and over. A man of tremendous energy, Rogers always had to have new challenges in order to maintain the level of concentration he needed to be at his absolute best as a performer.?2 War World I helped Will?s career. He became a cracker-box humorist. ?In the Follies his famous line, ?Well, all I know is what I read in the papers,? introduced new highlights which he learned to bring into homely but unexpected focus. ?I never told a story in my life,? he once said. ?What little humor I?ve got pertains to now.? What the Civil War had been to earlier cracker-box humorists, and the Spanish-American War to Mr. Dooley, the First World War became to the rising star of Will Rogers-and continued through its sequels from the Peace Conference (?The United States never lost a war or won a conference?) to the Coolidge bull market (?Two thirds of the people promote while one-third provide?). As a Westerner, Rogers understood the Virginian?s famous formula, ?When you say that, smile!? With a jester?s immunity he deflated rhetoric, buncombe, and group smugness; and surprisingly few tempers were lost. ?3 -3 Will started writhing newspaper articles in 1922. He was a popular writer. ? In November 1922 Rogers had begun a long series of weekly articles for The New York Times and the Times from London, July 29, 1926, about Lady Astor?s visit to Manhattan, set the tradition of his daily telegram, one terse paragraph that curbed his genial wordiness and proved to be his most popular medium. Syndication carried it to some 350 newspapers, with an estimated 40,000,000 readers. Writing almost constantly of politics, and belonging nominally to the Democratic party (because ?it?s funnier to be a Democrat?), Rogers wisely chose the nonpartisan point of view.?4 Will loved to travel. Even if it could cost him his life. ?In the late summer of 1935 he planned a flight north to the Orient with his fellow Oklahoman, Wiley Post [q.v.]. About fifteen miles from Point Barrow, Alaska, on Aug. 15, their monoplane developed engine trouble and, with an Eskimo hunter

Camel Facts

Camel Facts Camels are mammals known for their distinctive humped backs. Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) have two humps, while dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) have one. These creatures humps store fat deposits that they use as sustenance when external food and water sources are scarce. Their ability to metabolize stored food for prolonged periods of time makes them good pack animals. Fast Facts: Camel Scientific Name: CamelusCommon Name: CamelBasic Animal Group: MammalsSize: 6–7 feet in heightWeight: 800–2,300 poundsLife Span: 15–50 yearsDiet: HerbivoreHabitat: Deserts in Central Asia (Bactrian) and North Africa and the Middle East (Dromedary)Population: 2 million domesticated Bactrian camels, 15 million domesticated dromedary camels, and less than 1,000 wild Bactrian camelsConservation Status: The wild Bactrian camel is classified as Critically Endangered. Other camel species are not considered endangered. Description Camels are well-known for their distinctive humps, but they also have other distinctive characteristics that make them well-suited for living in desert conditions. Importantly, camels have the ability to close their nostrils to prevent sand infiltration. They also have two rows of long lashes and a third eyelid. Both structures help to protect their eyes in harsh environments such as sandstorms. They also have thick hair that helps to protect them from the intense sunshine in their environment as well as padded feet to help withstand the hot temperatures of the desert floor. They are even-toed ungulates (hoofed mammals). Two-humped Camel.   Elena Kholopova/EyeEm/Getty Images Camels are usually between 6 and 7 feet in height and 9 to 11 feet in length. They can weigh up to 2,300 pounds. Other physical characteristics of camels include long legs, long necks, and a protruding snout with big lips. Habitat and Distribution Bactrian camels live in Central Asia, while dromedary camels live in North Africa and the Middle East. Wild bactrian camels live in south Mongolia and northern China. They are all typically found in desert regions, although they may also live in other similar environments like prairies. While we associate camels with extremely hot temperature environments, their habitat can also include extremely low temperature environments. They form a protective coat in the winter to help with the cold and shed the coat in the summer months. Diet and Behavior Camels are diurnal creatures, which means they are active during the day. They subsist on vegetation like low-lying grasses and other thorny and salty plants. To reach such low-lying plants and grasses, camels have developed a split upper lip structure so that each half of their upper lip can move independently, which helps them eat low-lying plants and grasses. Similar to cows, camels regurgitate food from their stomach back up to their mouths so they can chew it again. Camels can hydrate themselves faster than other mammals. They have been purported to drink approximately 30 gallons of water in a little over 10 minutes. Reproduction and Offspring Camels travel in herds made up of one dominant male and a number of females. A male bulls peak fertility, called rut, occurs at various times during the year based on species. Bactrians fertility peak occurs from November through May, while dromedaries can peak throughout the year. Males will usually mate with half a dozen or so females, although some males can mate with over 50 females in one season. Female camels have a gestation period of 12 to 14 months. When it is time to give birth, the expectant mother typically separates from the main herd. Newborn calves can walk shortly after birth, and after a period of a few weeks alone, the mother and calf rejoin the larger herd. Single births are most common, but twin camel births have been reported. Threats The wild Bactrian camel is threatened mainly by illegal hunting and poaching. Predator attacks as well as mating with domesticated Bactrian camels are also threats to the wild Bactrian camel population. Conservation Status Wild Bactrian camels (Camelus ferus) are designated as critically endangered by the IUCN. Fewer than 1,000 animals are left in the wild with a decreasing population. By comparison, there are an estimated 2 million domesticated Bactrian camels. Species There are two main species of camel: Camelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius. C. bactrianus have two humps, while C. dromedarius have one. A third species, Camelus ferus, is closely related to C. bactrianus but lives in the wild. Camels and Humans Humans and camels have a long history together. Camels have been used as pack animals for centuries and were likely domesticated in the Arabian peninsula between 3000 and 2500 BC. Due to their unique features that allow them to withstand desert travel, camels helped to facilitate trade. Sources â€Å"Camel.† San Diego Zoo Global Animals and Plants, animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/camel.â€Å"Camel Breeding.† Breeding Camels, camelhillvineyard.com/camel-breeding.htm.