Pants in or out?

[kflach]

Is the appropriateness of tucking your pants into your boots based on the occupation of the persona you choose (for example cowboys and cavalry did but bankers didn't), is it based on fashion of the persona's time era (for example it was popular in the 1870s but went out of fashion in the 1880s), or is it based on some other factor (for example the style of the boot itself)?

[Hedley Lamarr]

Now that is an excellent question.
I await the answer myself.

[James Hunt]

Observing images from our period find most with their pants out, including bankers - but most were wearing shoes of sorts not boots. Of those that wore boots: the regular cavalry described pants to be worn outside of boots although McChristian describes enlisted voluteer's beginning to wear their's inside (of those that wore boots) and by the post CW era frontier troops were often wearing their's inside, so much so the military came out with a higher boot in the 1870's. Not discussed but most likely it was an effort to save their pants more than for a gallant appearance (officer's appear to be another matter with private purchase boots and clothing).

Cowboys during our period are most often shown with pants inside boots it seems, a guess says it started out as practical, but probably a fashion statement soon enough. Teddy Blue Abbot describes how proud he was of his first real cowboy boots tucking his pants inside only to have his sister scold him for the appearance, his thoughts of her opinion were less than kind. So one may surmise that with the exception of cowboys and the cavalry, officers in particular, who thought the appearance gallant - tucking your pants in your boots was probably done to save your pants when horseback or outside. It would in most cases constitute a "work" appearance. In town or around ladies a gentleman would most likely have his pants outside his boots or more likely be wearing shoes with his town cloths.

But then again, your from Texas aren't you kflach? You Texas guy's are different - probably wear your spurs in the pallor don't you?

[Daniel Nighteyes]

You Texas guy's are different - probably wear your spurs in the pallor don't you?

Just as long as he don't wear 'em on a waterbed...   

[kflach]

I'm not sure what a "pallor" is but if it's anything like an outhouse the answer is probably yes.

As far as wearing 'em in waterbeds, that depends on whether you're an Aggie or not.

(Aggie = student or graduate of Texas A&M University)

;-)

[Daniel Nighteyes]

(Aggie = student or graduate of Texas A&M University)

From the movie Best Little Whorehouse In Texas:  "Yeeeee-Haaaaah!

[Delmonico]

When you look at pictures taken out on the range, you see that either way was common.  Often depends on where you are and what you are doing.  Out in the Nebraska Sandhills, you notice almost all the working cowboys have theirs out.  Reason is simple, keeps sandburrs, the small and very nasty arms of the Brittle Cactus out of the tops.  That cactus is kinda nasty, has very sharp and tough spines and has the taxanomical name of  Opuntia fragilis. 



These arms are about the size of the first joint of the thumb and as you can tell the break off very easily.

Also the rattlesnakes out there are the Prairie Ratlers and though I my self have never been struck by one, everyone I've talked to that has, has been lucky enough if it's a leg strike to have it grab the pants and hanf on.  I understand this is a bit un-nerving if you have on short top boots or shoes.  Fangs that hit boot leather can break off and work to the surface on the inside, most likely won't kill you, but can make you a bit sick.

Also when haying, it keeps debris out of the tops.

Now on the other hand, when working around cattle, horses and such that are confined to an small area, the tops inside the boots help keep the pants leg a bit cleaner.  All the feed lot cowboys I know wear their pants in their boots at work, even with lace-ups.

Somewhere, can't remember where, maybe the Cater collection, there is a picture from the period of one who can't make up his mind, one in, one out.

Myself when dressed casual, it's pants in, altough at the Dept. of the Missouri Muster next summer if I go wandering across Pitspiter's pasture out by Sargent, the pants will be out for two of the reasons above.

For dress, pants are out.

[James Hunt]

Kflach said: "I'm not sure what a "pallor" is..."

Sorry, that would be PARLOR. Hope you didn't waist time google-ing pallor.

I guess we don't have parlors in our houses anymore, but when we did it was generally used only with some females permission. I can remember my grandmother refusing entry into that room during the regular workweek.

[Delmonico]

And at her house the parrents would keep a good eye on you and her in the parlor.

[River City John]

Kflach said: "I'm not sure what a "pallor" is..."

Sorry, that would be PARLOR. Hope you didn't waist time google-ing pallor.

I guess we don't have parlors in our houses anymore, but when we did it was generally used only with some females permission. I can remember my grandmother refusing entry into that room during the regular workweek.

Most likely if you had a pallor in the parlor you was stretched out in a pine box for viewing.

RCJ

[Delmonico]

Most likely if you had a pallor in the parlor you was stretched out in a pine box for viewing.

RCJ

Well you could court in one, or be viewed in one.

[Dr. Bob]

RJC,

Just what I was thinking!  Scary isn't it!  Great mind run in the same gutters!

[northwestgrizzly]

I would think I would be wearing mine, in the boots if it were muddy somwhere, in-town or out.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

(Aggie = student or graduate of Texas A&M University)

;-)

Easy now Cockroach . . . I happen to have spent 8 years and earned two degrees at said institution . . . did, do, and always will bleed Maroon.  After last night's football game, I'm a little sore in spirit.

Regarding boots:  My limited historic knowledge is focused on the vaqueros & cowboys who roamed South Texas as the South Texas plain was home for me till late in my teens.  We'll define South Texas as the plain south of the Balcones Escarpment extending to the Rio Grand.  You rarely see historic pictures of mounted men in South Texas without some leather protection for the leg below the knee.  Knee high boots, botas, or chaps were common wear.  Reason:  MESQUITE. 

If you've never ridden in mesquite:  The abundant mesquite bush in South Texas commonly grows to a shrub about 5' off the grown.  Near a good water source, it can florish into a 20' tree with time.   It bears 1/2" to 1" long sharp thorns that will raise an itchy whelp after it pierces or tears the skin.  If you ride a horse through mesquite at any speed beyond a crawl, your lower legs will quickly become itchy hamburger meat after about 200 yards . . . provided you don't have some heavy leather protection (tall boots, botas, or full chaps.)

This picture is along the Rio Grand.  The dark green brush is saltcedar, the bright green is mesquite:



And a close up of the thorns:

[JohnR]

Pancho - those who make lame Aggie jokes are just jealous - don't pay them no never mind.  When were you there?  Actually, the outlook is bright for the Maroon and White next season, and we still have a couple of championship seasons ahead of us in other sports.

On the topic of Mesquite, when I was a Boy Scout we were taught not to make cooking fires with mesquite because it's a really greasy wood.  Now, of course, it's all the rage for smoking and Bar-B-Q.  I've used the thorns for nails on various projects, including to secure the plug in powder horns.

JohnR
TAMU '69

PS - I still have my boots, spurs, and saber.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Pancho - those who make lame Aggie jokes are just jealous - don't pay them no never mind.  When were you there?  Actually, the outlook is bright for the Maroon and White next season, and we still have a couple of championship seasons ahead of us in other sports.

On the topic of Mesquite, when I was a Boy Scout we were taught not to make cooking fires with mesquite because it's a really greasy wood.  Now, of course, it's all the rage for smoking and Bar-B-Q.  I've used the thorns for nails on various projects, including to secure the plug in powder horns.

JohnR
TAMU '69

PS - I still have my boots, spurs, and saber.

JR,

I'm fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 1991.  I was a non-reg, so no saber or boots.   I also got a graduate degree in '95.

As far as mesquite goes:  I never use the stuff to cook or smoke meat.  I think it leaves to harsh of a taste for smoking.  It does smell pleasant in a camp fire, but I like to use hickory for smoking meat & cooking.

I moved away from South Texas in 1988.  There are many things I miss about that country, but mesquite is not one of them.

Gig Em,

Pancho

[Delmonico]

Panco, I think you and me have hit the nail on the head, for the most part you wear them as to what works best where you are.  Kinda proves what I have always thought, those folks back then wern't as dumb as some folks think they were.

As for the mesquite, myself I don't care for meat smokedwith it, but you Texans have a good racket going, sell the yuppies yer dang pasture weeds.  We're tryin' to figger out how to sell them musk thistles, got any ideas?

[JohnR]

I'm with ya on the mesquite - It's awful.  Hickory or apple for me.  If you've never tried apple, give it a shot.  You can find it at Bass Pro Shops. 

Non-reg, CT, or BQ, we're all Aggies.  Shoot, after football, a close second favorite is the Aggie Women's Basketball Team.  They don't get the support they deserve.

Anyway, Gig 'Em.

[Delmonico]

Try apricot if you can get it, or mulberry and Osage Orange.  When I had time to smoke I got my wood at out farm, figger some place like Bass Pro's would be upset if I cut down their apple trees in their yard.

[pony express]

Ouch! those things look as mean as the thorny locust trees here in Missouri. They'll take over a pasture in a few years, if you don't keep after them, and leather gloves and tire rubber are no match for the thorns!