Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-03
Editors Table
The Latch String.

| published by Houghton Miff1in Co, 4
Park street, Boston. Forty five illustra-
tons. Price 81 net.
Once upon a time, when Teddy was
! swinging round a circle, making
speeches from the tailend of a special
train that was bound for a Governor
ship or a Vice Presidency, among the
talented assistants who spelled him
on the rear platform, and spellbound
the exhilarated populace about it, the
only one, beside the irrepressible one
himself, whose voice and wit and pop
ular acceptabilty lasted to the end
of the route, was Walter Emerson.
His voice is still strong, and carries
to the outer edge of the crowd as those
who have read his book, The Latch
string, recently published by Hough-
ton Miffiin Company, can verify.
He has done many things, has met
many men; his eyes have observed
much, his mind has received and re-
tanned many impressions; and of the
men of his age it would be hard to find
one who can write or talk more en-
tertaininely.
When he wrote at the end Of his vol
ume, Il have enjoyed writing this
book" he said something. 1t is man
ifest, even to the casual reader, that
he enjoyed it: and if any man or wo-
man who has the least affection for
the old State of Maine can read it
without enjoying it, too, and without
having blood warmed and pride arous
ed, it must be because fire has ceased
to heat that with which it comes in
contact.
To one who loves Maine, its people,
its clean air, it's lakes and streams, its
| rugged shores, itS-eVerything, this
book will come as an expression of
what he would wish to say If he could.
1t is worth reading. 1t is worth while.
1t abounds in good things; there is
coed strong writing in it; there is
abundant wit; there is a wealth of love
for the subject, our State, which will
make us realize the love which we also
feel, but may never have tried to ex
press; and when we have read it, we
will find ourselves ready to grant full
absolution to the penitent author when
| Sons
have l. Boosting | ne'er would boast,
boasted.'
1t is difficult to make an extract from
the book, for the simple reason that it
contains so much that is good But,
choosing at random, take the follow
ing:
Mr.. Frye would leave any debate in
the Senate or any committee hearing
for an opportunity to tell of his cap
ture of that ten-and- "a half pound
square-tail which stood as the record
for many years, not only for the
| Rangeleys but for the State How
many times have / heard him tell it to
interested audiences of senators, cab
met ministers, and other statesmen
and always with fine eloquent descrip-
ton. worthy of his best campaigning
days-and there were none better.
How, standing early one morning on
the boat landing in front of his camp,
he spied the big fellow summing him.
self just under the big rock which you
will note in the picture; how. deciding
| that his tackle was not strong enough
for this whale of trout, he sent his
guide nine miles away to Rangeley
town for a special rigging; how, aft
+, err waiting all day-for the trout did
not move ten feet away-and watch
| ing and selecting the psychological
moment, he cast and hooked him just
before shutdown: and then straight
out into the lake to give him
play: and after an hours hard
battle, taxing an active senatorl-
al mentality and the anglers limitless
skill. he finally landed him in the twi-
light put him in a tank at the camp,
and sent him alive to Washington to
prove to the government Of the Unit
ed States that the biggest and liveli-
est and otherwise best trout in the
world were to be found in the Range
| ley Lakes. A famous tale, and best OF
all so true There were the guide, the
scales, and the government OF the
United States to prove it."
| Did l say there was wit? Well now,
gentle reader. think for a moment. Be
| hold tie proof of this fish story. There
is THE GUIDE, Heaven help US! There
are THE SCALES, more help. please!
And there is THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE UNITED STATES!M.
| There is poet who has written
within the stream, Pausanias saith,
| That down Cocytus valley flow.
Girdling the grey domain of Death.
| The spectral fishes come and go;
| The ghosts Of trout fit to and fro
And from somewhere on the banks
OF those streams, if they are open
we may expect to hear, when an edi-
ton of this book circulates in that re-
gion, the whole souled hearty laugh
ter of the dear old senator. He would
| have liked this book. l.. L. H.
Pleasing Mother.
| will you dance this dance with