The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-04-05
Andy Dodge,
The History of a Scapegrace.

tlces gave promise of a highly interesting
story; and now, with the book before us,
just from the press of Lee & Shepard, Bos-
ton, we can say that it more than meets ex-
pectation. While it should fud readers
must have large sale in this city and in
Islesboro, the authors native place. for it is
in Belfast and Islesboro that the scene is
mainly laid, and its characters are we'll
known people but thinly disguised by fcti-
tious names. Those who knew the author
will find his book largely autobiographical
OF course Mr.. Pendleton was not iothario,
pugilist or a scapegrace, as was his nero !;
but the experiences, the literary aspirations,
and the too brief career in politics and jour
nalism, were those of the author. He was
fairly successful as an editor; but his bent
was for literature, and this book, written in
his last days, shows that he had talent
which would have ensured success even in
that crowded field.
In the book "the small New England
town of Bayport," is Islesboro, where the
author was born and spent his boyhood
His father resolved to have him educated
for the bar and for politics. and sat sixteen
he was sent away to big boarding school,
called the Howard Classical Academy"
This was at Kents Hill. ANDY" had a
brief career here, and then went to another
school which we are unable to identify, and
here, as at the former school, he got in with
fast set, and had some lively experiences
which led to his again leaving school and
returning to his island home. "What to do
with himself on leaving school for good was
question that was beginning to sorely puz-
zle him. 1t was also an unguessable con-
undrum for his family. They were willing
to help him if he could think of anything he
could do. They began to talk it over with
him after they learned that he was home to
stay Taking command of coaster, rum
ing farm, and going into the store, were
suggested in turn, and finally he tried the
store one afternoon and made sale of five
yards and three-quarters of calico at seven
and a half cents yard. When ANDY" had
figured up the amount due on a sheet of
wrapping paper and closed the transaction
he concluded that one afternoon was all he
could stand of that, and he'd rather ship in
an old coaster. That day one of the Dodge
fleet got in loaded, bound for New York,
and the regular skipper refused to 90 out in
her and ANDY" jumped at the chance to
take command, with Jim Henry Robinson for
nurse" The story of the voyage is admir-
ably told and ANDY" had fine time in
New York with the down-east shippers who
have headquarters on South street. candy
got the Louisa Crowley back to Bayport.
through Jim Henry's aid, and found that
after he had paid his trips bill at the store
and had settled with the crew and owners,
there was nothing left of his share and not
much of the owners, while he was fifty or
seventy five dollars in debt to them" Then
again came up the old problem of what to
do, and while it remained unsolved he had
lively Irritation with summer girl"
Then comes winter; and the horse talk
around the stove in the Bayport store reads
like a stenographic report. But it was not
all "hoss' with the old salts, and they We're
az ready with help for the needy as they
were with their jokes on each other The
next chapter tells of a Christmas party in
Bayport, and the following chapter of town
meeting day, and both capitally done.
ANDY finally decides to try journalism
and comes to Riverside (Belfast) to find a
place in the office of the Democratic paper,
whose editor is described under the name of
Honorable Thomas II. Gross. Of the paper
it is said The Riverside Leader was not
noted for lveliness or newsiness. In this re-
spect it was the antipode of its Republican
rival the Palladium, which was distinctly
crisp 'newsy' and bright. The Office, COM
posing room and press-room of the Leader
took up the third floor of large brick build
ing situated at the corner of Broad and
Water Streets ANDY" met with favor
able reception from Editor Cross, and was
told that he had better begin by setting type
in the composing room, and he could at the
sa me time try his hand at writing. The
give Andy a stick and case. MAC
was small, erect, blue-eyed Irishman, with
little or no brogue, and with long curly
auburn hair and beard. He had fought
through the Civil War on the Union side
and drew small pension" The local edi-
tor of the Leader is described as ''a mild
eyed unkempt individual who from his looks
might have been thirty or forty. and who
sat writing at large table which was piled
with exchanges After ANDY" had work
ed on the Leader with pen and "stick" for
nearly year without any other remunera-
ton than complimentary theatre tickets he
made request for pay, and was given three
dsllars week, to be raised to five at the
end of the year. At tue end of another
year his pay was raised to six dollars
week, which did not meet his expenses, and
having had sketch accepted and published
by "a Boston journal that was distinguished
for its literary standing" he concluded to
leave Riverside and try his fortunes in a
larger field.
We next find our hero leading Bohemian
life in Boston He had some of his sketches
published. but ithout bringing any money
to the author. One sketch, "Marooned' de-
picting life on an island in the winter time, APP
peared in the Boston Transcript and was re-
published in this paper. Save for experiences
which make an interesting chapter the Bos-
ton venture was failure, and candy" re-
turned home to Bayport to run for the legis-
NJ