From: firstinitiallastname@texas.net   
      
   Julianne Stevenson wrote:   
      
   > Why did Cowboys always wear Chaps?   
      
   Don't always. Unless you're into leather, they're kind of awkward in bed.   
      
   The purpose is protection from brush, often thorny. They were and are a   
   necessity in South Texas where most of what grows will hurt you. They   
   can also save your clothes and legs when a hot iron goes astray or the   
   castrating knife slips.   
      
   In that kind of country, even in the hottest weather, a canvas jacket   
   and leather gloves are mandatory and even then aren't enough.   
      
   Think about going along for the ride atop a horse fixated on chasing a   
   steer and making his own path through this:   
   http://www.southtexasranches.com/420brush1.jpg   
      
   Most of that is virgin mesquite with long thorns that tend to make   
   festering wounds. The rest of it hurts, too. Just less.   
   --   
                          Gerald Clough   
       "Nothing has any value, unless you know you can give it up."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)