The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-13
"OBSERVED AND NOTED"

Under this title the Examiner Print
ing house, of Lancaster, has collected
and published, in neat book form, the
charming pen sketches of country
scenes and ways which the editor of
the Examiner, Robert b. Risk, has
made delightful features of that news
papers weekly edition. Written in q
fugitive manner, as a relief from exact
ing journalistic duties, these little es-
says lay no claim to depth. yet there
runs through them vein of kindly hui
NOR and quiet philosophy which rem
der them pleasant companions in u
leisure hour. One does not need to
read far into this book to discover that
Mr.. Risk has been keen observer of
both nature and men, and that he pos
sesses the rare knack of saying what
he wishes to say, and neither more nor
less. There are times when his reflec-
tions upon men and manners rise to
the dignity of Lamb or Addison: but
for the most part they are content to
follow the level of everyday human
ity, making no pretense to be elaborate
or profound.
Perhaps we cannot do better for Mr..
Risk than to let him speak for himself
In one instance, well knowing that he
will repay the readers attention and
inspire desire for more extended ac-
quaintance. One of the happiest fea-
lures of this authors writings is his
reproduction of favorite newspaper
verse with introductions after the
quaint fashion of the following: "My
bachelor observation has been that a
man who calls his wife by endearing
~ in ic onf 20 lya hnr
cry at home. Another observation is
that If courting did not end at the altar,
we would have more martial happiness
and fewer divorces. / seldom see q
man make love to his own wife. The
egotism of the average man, his desire
for applause and good opinion of 9TH
ers, and too often his evil propensi-
ties, make it very easy for him to flirt
with another mans wife. The husband
of every day life feels that he is sure
Of his own mate and that it is no lon
ger necessary to WOO her over again.
Life with him seems to be a matter of
propriety and the paying of bills. l
know plenty of men who are true and
| loyal to hearthstone, and yet who sell
dom say word to remind them of the
time when the stars spoke poetry, when
the nights were too short and the old
| gate by the willows could give point
ers to turtle doves. All this is very
well put in these lines, by James Whit
comb Riley-'How She Lost Her
Lover
Twas summer ago when he left me here
A summer of smiles with never tear
Till said to him, with a sob, my dear
Good-by, my lover; good by!
For loved him, as the stars loved night
And my cheeks for him flashed red and
| white
When he first called me his hearts delight
Good-by, my lover; good-by!
The touch of his hand was thing divine
As he sat with me In the soft moonshine
And drank of my love as men drink wine
Good-by, my lover; good-by!
And never night, as l knelt in prayer
In a gown as white as our own souls Were
But In fancy he came and kissed me
there
Good-by, my lover; good-by!
But now, o God! what an empty place
My whole heart Isl OF the old embrace
And the kiss loved there lives no trace
Good-by, my lover; good-by!
He sailed not over the stormy sea,
And he went not down in the waves-no
But, o, he is lost, for he married me-
Good-by, my lover; good-by!
The range of subjects treated by
Mr.. Risk covers pretty nearly every
thing in the gamut of everyday lif
from running barefoot down on th
farm in June time to putting up stoves
in ones city home on house cleanin!
day. Each topic Is treated in an orig
inal manner, with sympathetic appre
citation for the foibles and weak
nesses of the boys and girls and tn
men and women who are the movini
actors in this perpetual human comedy
Very little is said that could possibl,
give offence, and while, as we have said
the comments in most cases are no
weighty they are always interesting
generally instructive and never cy
nical, pessimistic or corrupting. "ob
served and Noted" is well worthy o
| n nlace IN each househOld's book shell