I just wanted to let all the Slaves of Golconda know that if they haven't had enough of saddles and sagebrush from reading The Virginian, they can get more on PBS next week. Starting Monday night they will begin airing "Texas Ranch House," the latest in their string of reality shows where naïve volunteers try to live as their ancestors did. This time it's a Texas ranch in the year 1867 (the year of Canada's Confederation, coincidentally).
Another coincidence is that I have a historical connection to that state and time. My great-great-grandfather fought (and lost) the last battle of the American Civil War at Palmetto Ranch (near Brownsville), May 12-13, 1865. In googling around I discovered that there is a book about the battle. Apparently Grandpa wasn't exactly following orders and received his karmic comeuppance, though it was his men that paid the price. Oops. I can't wait to read all the mortifying details.
