Orphans Preferred

I finished Orphans Preferred, and I recommend it. It is lively, interesting, and informative, something very few books manage.

And I learned quite a bit about the Pony Express, about which I must confess, I knew almost nothing before. I did not, for example, know it was a private venture that lasted only eighteen months, and I certainly did not know about the camels.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love libraries? Orphans Preferred is one of many fascinating books I would not have read without them. I first saw it at a bookstore a couple of years ago and tagged it on one of my library accounts. It wasn't until recently that I got around to putting it on hold, and I would never have bought a hardback by an unfamiliar author.*

*Actually, I rarely buy hardbacks and generally buy books at used bookstores (another favorite place), but that is another story.

Camels Wearing Boots

I am currently reading Orphans Preferred: The Twisted Truth and Lasting Legend of the Pony Express by Christopher Corbett. So far, I've enjoyed it. My favorite bit so far is the bit about a pre-pony attempt at getting the mail across the continent:

"The next step was camels. . . . . This was a stroke of genius, so the thinking went. Camels were ships of the desert, after all. They could walk tremendous distances without water. They were patient and strong. They were proven and reliable. . . . But the rocky western terrain proved too hard on their hooves, accustomed to soft desert sand. The camels had to be outfitted with leather boots. The leather boots slowed them down, and the camels did not want to wear them anyway" (35).

Can you imagine trying to put boots on a camel?

The mind boggles.