Editing Kit Carson (section)

=== Illiteracy ===
Despite being fluent in multiple European and Indian languages, Carson was illiterate. He was embarrassed by that and tried to hide it.<ref>Sides 50–51</ref> In 1856, he dictated his ''Memoirs'' to another and stated: "I was a young boy in the school house when the cry came, Injuns! I jumped to my rifle and threw down my spelling book, and thar it lies."<ref>''The Legendary Mountain Men of North America'' {{ISBN|978-1-312-92151-1}} p. 87</ref>

Carson enjoyed having other people read to him and preferred the poetry of [[Lord Byron]]. Carson thought that Sir [[Walter Scott]]'s long poem, ''[[The Lady of the Lake (poem)|The Lady of the Lake]]'' was "the finest expression of outdoor life".<ref>Roberts 186</ref> Carson eventually learned to write "C. Carson", but it was very difficult for him. He made his mark on official papers, and it was then witnessed by a [[clerk]] or other official.<ref>Roberts 55</ref>