"It is impossible to make a serious study of T. D. Bonner's 'Life and Adventures ' without coming to a recognition of James P. Beckwourth 's mastery of languages. He spoke English with amazing correctness and at times with poetic quality; French with an ease that through Bonner off entirely on French names; Spanish perhaps not so well, but surely he understood that language. He is said to have known the Indian dialects extremely well--so much so that Dame Shirley reported that 'this man can make himself understood in almost any language.'"
P. 187, "The Language of Beckwourth ," JIM BECKWOURTH BLACK MOUNTAIN MAN, EXPLORER, GUIDE, WAR CHIEF OF THE CROWS, TRADER, FRONTIERSMAN, INTERPRETER, TRAPPER, ADVENTURER AND GAUDY LIAR by Elinor Wilson (1972)
Friday, May 4, 2018
BECKWOURTH'S ELOQUENCE
"It is impossible to make a serious study of T. D. Bonner's 'Life and Adventures ' without coming to a recognition of James P. Beckwourth 's mastery of languages. He spoke English with amazing correctness and at times with poetic quality; French with an ease that through Bonner off entirely on French names; Spanish perhaps not so well, but surely he understood that language. He is said to have known the Indian dialects extremely well--so much so that Dame Shirley reported that 'this man can make himself understood in almost any language.'"
P. 187, "The Language of Beckwourth ," JIM BECKWOURTH BLACK MOUNTAIN MAN, EXPLORER, GUIDE, WAR CHIEF OF THE CROWS, TRADER, FRONTIERSMAN, INTERPRETER, TRAPPER, ADVENTURER AND GAUDY LIAR by Elinor Wilson (1972)