A Lady's Experience in the Wild West in 1883

by Rose Pender, A.B. Guthrie Jr. (Foreword)

The aristocratic Rose Pender and her husband, James, were among the thousands of English travelers in the American West during the latter half of the nineteenth century. This is Pender's lively account of a grand tour in 1883 of Texas, California, Salt Lake City, Wyoming, Dakota Territory, and far-flung points.

 

A. B. Guthrie Jr. in his foreword writes that "all students and collectors will want" A Lady's Experiences in the Wild West in 1883 . "It deals with a West in transition from frontier to the glimmer of modern times, from open range to fenced pastures, from trails to trains, from makeshift and made-do to more convenient and easier ways. We see it through the eyes and from the sensibilities of a gentlewoman and a Britisher to boot. The woman was indeed a Lady. She brought to America her highborn prejudices and standards. . .and with them a sharp eye, a chatty pen, and a game spirit. . . . She adds to our knowledge of a time no one is old enough to remember."

Genres: History, Travel, Nonfiction

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1888

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written 5 years after her actual "tour", this 18th Century British upper class (royalty later) woman was both a real "trooper" and an excellent example of her class' prejudices ("half breeds" and Indians are the worst!). Starts out with a whirlwind tour from NY to San Antonio to a young LA to Yosemite to SF. She bitches about the lack of porters and democratic Americans who do not know their place. Then a long chapter where they move from Cheyenne to NE/SD/ND/MT ending in Miles City, MT. With a side trip to climb Pike's Peak in CO.
Despite her prejudices and complaining, this was a really good read. Loads of Brits were coming over after the Civil War, doing the grand tour of the Western US, but also setting up cattle ranches that most of them managed from afar (although some stayed on). The Great Storm of 1888 wiped out most of their herds and investments.
134 pp, the A.B. Guthrie foreword is slight, and it would have helped to have had a map included. Not surprisingly, published by the U of NE Press' Bison Books.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I pulled this one off my shelf and found a sales slip in it. Apparently I purchased it in 1991 at the Museum of the Rockies. It was fascinating. The first part covers their travels by train from New York to Cheyenne, mostly by train. The second section was called The Roundup. Apparently these folks were visiting property they owned in the west. The travel at this point was very crude: mules or horses and wagons, dirty "ranches," which I gathered were stopping places where they could perhaps get food or a bed, much like inns, only very crude ones. They eventually boarded a train again at Miles City to begin their trip home. The author was very prejudiced against all sorts of people and detested dirt. I found the second part most interesting.

[Michele Lawson · Rating 1 out of 5]

A typical diary of an over- indulged British woman who continually complains about everything and everywhere that her travels take her in 1883 of the American West.

After the first few pages of reading her nasty commentary, I felt my previous reading time could be spent on something more enjoyable to read.

[Kelly Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very pleasant read, with some fun commentary and a free wise predictions (she was quite sure that once the California wineries figured out their soil their wines wood rival those of France and Spain). There are several references that are no longer acceptable, such as most of the descriptions of non-white people, and you have to remember this is a British woman living in the 1880’s.

[Ebook Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. The e-book version can be found at:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-la...

[Dan Rett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super interesting insight on how the elite traveled around the US in 1880s.

[Lexi Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

an entertaining slice of history best viewed through rose tinted glasses 🥂

[JennanneJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at the USA from Texas to California to South Dakota as seen from the eyes of a English lady traveler. I quite enjoyed the short travelogue and her view of the historical US. (A warning: there is a bit of stereotyping by this woman.)

[S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this e-book on Barnes & Noble instead:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-la...
(The Amazon link went to a blank page with a picture of a dog.)