The Republican journal., 1904-06-09
KIN o. KrAADN.
A Book for Old Home Week and for Ever,
Week.

That the reading public relishes a
taste of freshness and the spontaneous
and unconventional is SHOWN Oy the
| fact that over fifteen thousand copies
Of Holman Days volumes OF poems,
Up in Maine and Pine Tree Ballads
have been sold.
Mr., DAVIS new book entitled Kin O.
Ktaadn, Just published by Small, May
nard & Company, is still more vivid
and piquant portrayal of New England
rural character and outdoor pictures
queness. In its conception and execu-
ton, its mingling of prose and verse
stories, this new volume is absolutely
| unique, and seems sure to become one
| of the "Old Home books to be sent
broadcast over the country and treas
| ured as a real contribution to lltera-
ture.
The book is divided into six sections,
five of these sections portraying each a
distinct phase of homely New England
life. 1t is neither book of short
stories nor merely volume OF poetry.
In each section a generous number of
the authors latest and best poems are
woven into a harmonious unity by a
thread of prose narrative, description
or chat, so that the interest of the
reader is continuously held; and the
lights and shadows of the life of simple
country people are shown in such artis-
tic contrasts in these pages that the
heart is touched by the tender senti-
ment OF one verse, or paragraph even,
while the laugh still fingers from a
page of rollicking humor.
The title of the volume is explained
by quatrain on the title-page which
refers to ''the giant mount which typi-
Ties the sturdy strength of Maine
ktaadn being the ancient and Indian
spelling of Katahdin. the king of moan-
tains and practically the centre of the
State.
In the first section, "It's Home up
Here" the dominant tone is that of
sentiment; and picture is given of the
typical Down East homestead, with
its lights and its shadows, its treasures
and its memories, the return of its wan
dering sons,-those who come back tor
the festivals and those who come to
mourn.
Then the scene changes to rollicking
fun as in the second section, "While
Waitin' for the Mall" where those
gathered about the stove in the forum
Va tHO flldSc, LIS COuuCly HtOlC pOSC-
office, tell stories and discuss homely
philosophy and local traditions and hap
penings.
In the third section, "Kingdom O.
Spruce" the superstitions, humor, and
forth that even those unfamiliar with
the great Maine forests will find their
blood tingling with the JOY of outdoors;
while the next division, 'In Sight O.
the Sea- is filled with diverting nara
tons by the old men gathered to enjoy
the warmth of Uncle Sidelinger's fish
house, where the waves beneath the
wharf afford illusion of the ocean.
In the fifth section, down at the
Gate" comes the evening hour, when
those who have toiled honestly all day
filter out into the dusk and wander
along the village street for bit of a
chat across the gate, and stories, songs,
and philosophy spice the restful hours.
The book closes with a section of
more general interest, "Of the Rank
and File" in which the poems are of
the great army of humankind, we'll pre-
luded by the predatory lines:
"Down to the West with the setting sun,
And the shadows are long behind
Errors and terrors lying black
Along the course of our travelled track.
Eyes to the Front, then. Look not back.
"Down to the West-and the journey done,
AID the peace of the Night is kind.
Though the loom O. the Past is dark back
there
From whence we came, we shall not care
If only the evening skies be fair"
The book bears a striking cover de-
sign, showing distant view of Mt.
Katahdin, misty blue against an even
ing sky, and framed by tall spruce-trees
in the foreground. \ fine portrait of
the author appears as frontispiece, and
each of the six sections has a vignette
title, with an appropriate picture and
preliminary verse framed in distinc-
tive decorative border. The drawings
and cover design are by Miss Amy
Rand. The immediate success of the
volume is evidenced by the fact that
the first edition consists of 1000 copies
The publishers are of the opinion that
this is the largest first edition of any
book of verse by an American poet.