Another fascinating feature of The Same Ax, Twice are the people whom Mansfield meets on his explorations. Patryc Wiggins, a weaver in Newport, New Hampshire, works at weaving a tapestry to recapture her town's mill history. Stephan Mack, an articulate restorer of old homes, leads Mansfield through the intricate details which bring authenticity to a restoration. Along with the characters are Mansfield's insightful remarks and conclusions. He is gentle in his judgments of people in love with the past, but is bravely forthright in his own conclusions regarding the past.
Good restoration is a prayer, an offering.
He tends to jump rapidly from topic to topic, another habit which causes the reader to read more slowly than normal. The Same Ax, Twice deserves your attention. Copyright 2001, The Smoky Mountain News.