The Story of Cole Younger by Himself eBook Cole Younger
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The Story of Cole Younger by Himself eBook Cole Younger
I cannot comment on the veracity of Younger's autobiography but much of the text is taken up with a plethora of excuses that he could not have been involved in such 'n such a robbery or murder. These excuses range from "I was somewhere else" to "sitting up all night with a sick friend" and even "I was attending prayer meetings". It sort of beggars belief to me.One is consequently given to wonder how he and his brother managed to aquire such notoriety as Western outlaws and bank robbers on the basis of heresay alone. Younger only really owns up to one robbery; the Northfield Mn. Bank. He couldn't actually deny that ill-fated affair since it became his nemesis and he was shot to pieces and captured during the event and the subsequent chase.
He gives little insight into his childhood, youth and formative years and, as one who learned his trade (bank-robber that is) as one of Quantrill's Raiders he is decidedly shy and unforthcoming in relating the details; apart from the final robbery. I would have preferred a more honest and forthright account of how possibly (probably) war corrupted his morals and subsequent persecution from Union law-makers and enforcers pushed him into a life of crime. Sadly Mr. Younger is clearly in denial of his role as a bank robber, therefore none of the expected excitement and hoped-for action is served up here. I simply do not buy his holier than though, "I had nothing to do with it" approach.
In fact the telling is very disjointed and clumsy. He starts by relating events in the middle of his Civil War years and flips from event to event in a random, complicated manner. Lots of names appear that he assumes the reader will not be confused by, unfortunately it was confusing.
The whole dreary tale is terminated with a copy of a speech he would make when he was released from prison. A banal, pious and pretentious presentation promoting honesty, patriotism and religion and containing quotes from all manner of worthies from Shakespeare to Reno (a quirky Wild West poet). A fitting end to an unentertaining and unedifying book.
His writing is good from a grammatical standpoint and there are no glaring typos, or mis-prints. Big plus points for Kindle book reviews.
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The Story of Cole Younger by Himself eBook Cole Younger Reviews
I just finished reading "The Story of Cole Younger by Himself". He ends the book with a lecture he gave in halls, after his pardon from Stillwater Prison. I will share some of what he wrote. So here goes.
“It is said that there are but three ways by which we arrive at knowledge in this world; by instruction, by observation, and by experience. We must learn our lessons in life by some one or all of these methods. Those of us who do not, or will not, learn by instruction or by observation are necessarily limited to the fruits of experience. The boy who is told by his mother that fire burns and who has seen his brother badly burned, surely does not need to have the fact still more clearly impressed upon his mind by experience. Yet in the majority of cases, it takes experience to satisfy him. By a kind of necessity which I cannot at this point stop to explain, I have had to learn some very impressive lessons of my life by the stern teacher, experience. Some people express a desire to live life over again, under the impression that they could make a better success of it on a second trip; such people are scarcely logical—however sincere they may be in a wish of this kind. They seem to forget that by the unfailing law of cause and effect, were they to go back on the trail to the point from which they started and try it over again, under the same circumstances they would land about where they are now. The same causes would produce the same effect.” - The Story of Cole Younger, by Himself (pp. 110-111).
I was quite impressed with the language and intellect of this writer. This was apparently, a well-educated man. I found the tales of his escapes and the recounting of his wounds to be ranked with some of the best western outlaw tales of the era and thereafter BUT, I'm probably not buying the excuses and alibis offered. After 25 years in the pen, he'd heard them all and as a good yarn spinner, Mr. younger is probably a fine specimen.
I think what's more important a discernment here, is the immense respect that the Rebels had for their outlaw Generals like Quantrill - a Confederate guerrilla leader. Seems to have been a born thief according to other accounts. The Jaw-hawkers/Kansas War will be a next read for any history buffs. At any rate, Younger did a decent job of writing here but I'm pretty sure that if I was riding the train or in the bank today and he walked in, I'd be ducking for cover. He was probably one of the "bad guys" and despite his remorse, the list of what he'd learned from it all seemed short and not quite sweet.
Although this book is probably somewhat self serving, Cole Younger showed a side of himself not normally shown in modern writings and movies. He and many others were forced into becoming guerrillas by circumstances. His father, who was against secession was robbed and murdered and his mother was forced to burn her own house. Who wouldn't want some payback. I can identify with him because my own ancestors were Southerners living in western Missouri during the war and received much of the same treatment as did the Youngers, and several of them did fight back.
As far as his post-war years, Younger never admitted to anything but the Northfield robbery; he never even admitted to involvement with the James gang which I found laughable. He did however make the most of his time in prison and came out a better person. While the Jamses and Youngers were no innocents, it seems to me that they couldn't have done all they were accused of. And with not being allowed to surrender they had no choice but to become outlaws.
This book was very enjoyable and the only reason for 4 stars was the last chapter. It was full of wisdom but very hard to read. Cole Younger seemed to hold no bitterness and accepted responsibility for the way his life turned out. Probably David Carridine as Cole Younger in the Long Riders said it best. "We played a rough game. We lost."
I cannot comment on the veracity of Younger's autobiography but much of the text is taken up with a plethora of excuses that he could not have been involved in such 'n such a robbery or murder. These excuses range from "I was somewhere else" to "sitting up all night with a sick friend" and even "I was attending prayer meetings". It sort of beggars belief to me.
One is consequently given to wonder how he and his brother managed to aquire such notoriety as Western outlaws and bank robbers on the basis of heresay alone. Younger only really owns up to one robbery; the Northfield Mn. Bank. He couldn't actually deny that ill-fated affair since it became his nemesis and he was shot to pieces and captured during the event and the subsequent chase.
He gives little insight into his childhood, youth and formative years and, as one who learned his trade (bank-robber that is) as one of Quantrill's Raiders he is decidedly shy and unforthcoming in relating the details; apart from the final robbery. I would have preferred a more honest and forthright account of how possibly (probably) war corrupted his morals and subsequent persecution from Union law-makers and enforcers pushed him into a life of crime. Sadly Mr. Younger is clearly in denial of his role as a bank robber, therefore none of the expected excitement and hoped-for action is served up here. I simply do not buy his holier than though, "I had nothing to do with it" approach.
In fact the telling is very disjointed and clumsy. He starts by relating events in the middle of his Civil War years and flips from event to event in a random, complicated manner. Lots of names appear that he assumes the reader will not be confused by, unfortunately it was confusing.
The whole dreary tale is terminated with a copy of a speech he would make when he was released from prison. A banal, pious and pretentious presentation promoting honesty, patriotism and religion and containing quotes from all manner of worthies from Shakespeare to Reno (a quirky Wild West poet). A fitting end to an unentertaining and unedifying book.
His writing is good from a grammatical standpoint and there are no glaring typos, or mis-prints. Big plus points for book reviews.
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