RobertWService.Com

 
A Dictionary of

The Men

 in

Robert Service’s Poems’

by Bob Holotnak

------------------------------------------------  

The love of characters was Robert W. Service's way of writing a picture!  It was these characters in his poems that were painted with so much description in every verse he wrote.  The following is only an attempt to bring out a quick reference guide to the 'men' that Robert W. Service called to action in his poems!  We call it 'A Dictionary of The Men in Robert W. Services' Poems'!

Please help! ... we need your help!  First, let us know who we have missed a long the way, second, let us know if you think we should use another description for any of the characters and third, you can send us an email with your words of help to:

castaway@calcna.ab.ca
---------------------------------

Alec - Dumb Swede -

Athabaska Dick - Athabaska Dick -

 - he was long and slim and lean of limb, but strong as a stripling bear;
And by the right of his skill and might he guided the long brigade,
All water-wise were his laughing eyes, and he steered with a careless care.

Barman Bill - The Ice - Worm Cocktail - Mc’Clusky’s Nell -  

- with sacerdotal air his art's supreme achievement he proceeded to prepare,
his silver cups, like sickle moon, went waving to and fro, and four celestial
cocktails soon were shining in a row. And in the starry depths of each,
artistically piled, a fat and juicy ice-worm raised its mottled mug and smiled.

- came forward with what seemed a glass o' milk: "It's jest an egg-nog Missy,
but it's slick an' smooth as silk." An' as the kiddy slowly sipped wi' gaze o'
glad surprise, them fifty sozzled sourdoughs uttered fifty happy signs.

Barb-Wire Bill - Barb-Wire Bill -

 - for “barb-wire” was the brand of “Hooch” to which he most inclined.

 Beau Brummels - The Man From Eldorado -
- He's the man from Eldorado, and he gives a grand affair; there's feasting, dancing, wine without restraint. The smooth Beau Brummels of the bar, the faro men, are there;

Belching Billy - Montreal Maree -

 - likewise known as Windy Bill, as punk a chunk of Yukon scum as ever robbed a sluice;
A satellite of Soapy Smith, a capper and a shill,  a slimy tribute-taker from the Ladies on the Loose.

Bob Fitzsimmons - New Year’s Eve -

Big Four-finger Jack -The Gramophone at Foud-du-Lac -

 - He gazed at the lake with a heartful of ache, an’ the tears irrigated his eyes,

Bill Jerome - Black Moran -

Bill McGee - Barb-Wire Bill -

Billie MacGee - The Leather Medal -

Black Moran - Black Moran - Bide-A-Wee -

 - from Nome

Blasphemous Bill - The Ballad of  Blasphemous Bill -

-  (Bill Mackie)  - So I promised him and he paid the price in good cheechako coin (Which the same I blowed in that very night down in the Tenderloin.)  Then I painted a three-foot slab of pine: 'Here lies poor Bill MacKie,' and I hung it up on my cabin wall and I waited for Bill to die. 

Bob Simmons - The Leather Medal -