Notches on the Rough Edge of Life

About this issue

This 1890 collection of sketches by Lynn Cyril Doyle focuses on frontier life in the American West. The introduction frames the discussion around big-game hunting in Colorado and Wyoming, describing market hunters' practices and the ineffective enforcement of game preservation laws. The story "The First and Last Preacher of Urora" is set in a California mining camp and follows a General—a wealthy, well-liked '49-er who strikes a rich mining lead—and the miners of the camp. When a reserved tenderfoot arrives from Boston, the General bets Black Jake that the newcomer is a preacher. The story explores the clash between the refined Easterner and the rough mining community, with the narrative investigating whether the stranger's reserved demeanor and refusal to drink will confirm the wager.