Low Down On Calamity Jane.

DUFRAN, DORA [D. DEE PSEUD].

Publication: Privately printed, 1932, Rapid City

First edition. 8vo. Yellow pictorial wrappers, 12 pp. Six Guns 644 says "Rare." "This little pamphlet was written by a woman who claimed to have known Calamity Jane and it is said that she was in a position to know the "seamy side of [Jane's] character" since she was quite a character herself. But, she is unreliable. Established historical facts make many of the statement in her book highly improbable. Although other writers are just as unreliable regarding Jane's birthplace and the date of her birth, this author makes the claim that Jane was born in Fort Laramie, Wyoming, giving the date as 1860 Jane herself says that she was born in Princeton, Missouri, May 1, 1852. The author also says that Jane was "often called Mary Jane Canary (sic), but this was nothing but a nickname. She liked to sing, but her voice was anything but musical, so they called her Canary after the mules, which were also called Rocky Mountain canaries." Madam DuFran provides many colorful side-lights from Calamity's life as a scout for General George Crook, an admirer of Wild Bill Hickok, a bullwhacker, a sharpshooter, a howling drunk, a performer in a Wild West side-show, and a ministering angel to the sick and the dying. According to Madam DuFran, Calamity Jane was "truly a Diamond in the Rough." Fine, bright copy.

Inventory Number: 47901