Black bears, though…– Edward Hoagland
Black bears, though, are not fearsome. I encountered one on the road to my house in Vermont, alone at night. I picked up two stones just in case, but I wasn’t afraid of him. I felt a hunter’s exhilaration and a brotherly feeling.
City people try to buy time as a rule…– Edward Hoagland
City people try to buy time as a rule, when they can, whereas country people are prepared to kill time, although both try to cherish in their mind’s eye the notion of a better life ahead.
Men greet each other with a sock on the arm…– Edward Hoagland
Men greet each other with a sock on the arm, women with a hug, and the hug wears better in the long run.
Animals are stylized characters in a kind of old …– Edward Hoagland
Animals are stylized characters in a kind of old saga – stylized because even the most acute of them have little leeway as they play out their parts.
Country people do not behave as if they think life …– Edward Hoagland
Country people do not behave as if they think life is short; they live on the principle that it is long, and savor variations of the kind best appreciated if most days are the same.
When I was 18 I worked with the Ringling Brothers …– Edward Hoagland
When I was 18 I worked with the Ringling Brothers circus, taking care of menagerie animals. I used to rather deliberately risk my life with the big cats.