Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-25

From Forecastle to Cabin. The story
Of a cruise in many seas, taken from a
corded the happenings Of a voyage
around the world in pursuit Of whales
by J. +. Became. serving in all capacities
from greenhorn to chief mate. Illus
trations, including cover design, BY
the author, PIP 341. Price $50. New
York. The Editor Publishing Co.
This book occupies a field that is al
its own. Many men have sailed the
seas in search of whales. but 1t re-
manned for Mr.. Beane to unite with
the practical experience of the sailor
the harpooner. and the ships officer
the literary and artistic tempera'
ment, necessary to present those ex-
perientes to the public in book form
with captivating cleyerness and graph
ic strength Readers of the kennebec
Journal know how easy it WAS for Mr..
Beane 10 write and write well. Under
the nom de plume of Jay Eff Bee, he
wrote many delightful little sketches.
anu NCtotoI isN'i ia
and full of music, for these columns
which were a source of much pleasure
to orr readers. 1t was given Mr.. Beane.
as it has been given few men, to dis
Germ and appreciate the humors Of life
however subtle they might be. AS he
was 4 close observer. this faculty gave
him spirit at once sanguine ard OPP
timistic--a spirit that breathed
through all his writings and imbued
them with peculiar piquancy and
charm MIR. Beane was a modest man
much inclined to underestimate his
own gifts, and to give the education
Of the schools an undue and unmerited
predominance over the broader educa-
ton that comes from the experiences
and observations of life. 1t was nat
tural for Mr.. Beane to write good Eng
fish. and to express his thoughts with
rare clearness and force. 1t is the
faculty that comes naturally to men
possessed Of the literary instinct, who
seem to absorb the graces of diction as
readily as a sponge ahsorbs water.
1t was unfortunate for Mr.. Beane
that he did not more fully appreciate
his own rich powers of thought and ex-
preston. The marked success of his
first and only book. published since his
decease. shows clearly how exception
ally well he was fitted for a literary
life. From ForecaStle to Cabin" is
book of absorbing interest-instructfve
entertaining. fascinating. The reader
who takes it up. will not lay it aside
until he has reached the last word.
Even then he will close it's covers with
both a literary and
artistic standpoint it will rank as the
strongest. most vivid book dealing with
the venturesome life of the once great
whaling industry, that has ever been
written.
The interest of the text is augmented
in no small degree by the excellent pen
and ink sketches of the author-for it
Was as natural for Mr.. Beane TO draw
as to write.
1t is doubtful il, even in the whaling
industry, with its desperate hazards
an experience could he found that
would show more changes in a single
voyage than that Of Mr.. Beane. Going
aboard the bark Java as a green hand
before the mast, passing through the
various experiences Of seaman, har-
pooner and ships officer until when he
finally takes leave of the ship. he is fill
ing the responsible position OF chief
mate. All this reads almost like a ro-
mance-and yet it is strictly true. the
actual experience of sterling citizen
who was for many years an honored
resident of Augusta. and who passed
away in our midst. Truth is certainly
stranger than fiction. and the record
Of Mr.. Beanc's whaling experience as
made up from the daily journal kept by
him during his long voyage. constitutes
d story of intense and absorbing inter-
est. The very favorable press notices
which this volume has called forth. and
the interest it has awakened with the
reading public is merited tribute to
its high literary quality and its sus-
tanned interest.