DIFFICULTIES OF PIONEERS 165 



traveller, relatively free from insect pests, and a pleasant 

 place of residence. The original explorer, and to an only 

 less degree the hard-working field-naturalist or big-game 

 hunter, have to face these pests, just as they have to 

 face countless risks, hardships, and difficulties. This 

 is inherent in their several professions or avocations. 

 Many regions in the United States, where life is now 

 absolutely comfortable and easy-going, offered most 

 formidable problems to the first explorers a century 

 or two ago. We must not fall into the foolish error of 

 thinking that the first explorers need not suffer terrible 

 hardships, merely because the ordinary travellers, and 

 even the settlers who come after them, do not have 

 to endure such danger, privation, and wearing fatigue — 

 although the first among the genuine settlers also have 

 to undergo exceedingly trying experiences. The early 

 explorers and adventurers make fairly well-beaten trails 

 at heavy cost to themselves. Ordinary travellers, with 

 little discomfort and no danger, can then traverse these 

 trails ; but it is incumbent on them neither to boast of 

 their own experiences nor to misjudge the efforts of the 

 pioneers because, thanks to these very efforts, their own 

 lines fall in pleasant places. The ordinary traveller, who 

 never goes off the beaten route and who on this beaten 

 route is carried by others, without himself doing any- 

 thing or risking anything, does not need to show much 

 more initiative and intelligence than an express package. 

 He does nothing ; others do all the work, show aU the 

 forethought, take all the risk— and are entitled to all 

 the credit. He and his valise are carried in practically 

 the same fashion ; and for each the achievement stands 

 about on the same plane. If this kind of traveller is 

 a writer, he can, of course, do admirable work — work 

 of the highest value ; but the value comes because he 



