Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-06
This ISN'T 4 Beck Review.

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We found it on our desk Monday
morning-Arthur Staples new book.
Just Talks on Common Themes" 1t
- Just as we had expected, a book
worth looking at, worth while ad-
dition to any library, even If it should
suffer the fate Of many books which
some Of us collect and never open.
1t is attractive in size and paper and
binding, credit to the L. J. Print
shop. These features are worth the
price and more, to most of us who
treasure books by Maine authors.
And then We come to the author,
Arthur Gray Staples. the kindly
philosopher OF IS years bearing
period in the Lewiston Journals lit
erary orchard. Quite number Of
this country's leading newspaper men
have been transplanted from that
nursery and have been fourished as
the king trees in still more famous
to hts associates and his first news
paper love. He refused to listen to
the inducements boosted by bigger
orchards. ed" Mitchell went to the
New York Sun, Harry Andrews to the
Los Angeles Times, Holman Day to
magazine work and play writing:
many others answered varying calls
but Staples stuck to the L. j. and is
now the head Of that newspaper,
gently leading toward better things
taking the safe and sane side of
public problems. buttressing logic
with good nature that disarms op-
ponents.
II We had never read one of
Stap'e's baseball reports (Which.
quite frequently, are better than the
Eame): if We had never studied the
L. US short local columns when A. G.
S. was city editor. court reporter,
boss trot specialist, big egg expert.
the trusted feeler- out of local politi-
cal ventures-in fact, chief cook and
bottle-washer Of the then best news
paper department in Maine; if we
had never read his descriptive stories
of travel. or the editorials that have
for years supplemented those of Edi-
tor Dingley-if we had accidentally
stumbled upon Just Talks on Com
mon Themes" we might have Won
dered ~how many years the writer
had consumed in collecting and pre-
pairing the lis Talks" that make I'D
the volume.
But we have read A. G. S. for more
than quarter century. and we were
not surprised. We have read them
all as they have appeared from day
to day. And now we expect to read
them all again, some of them many
times. We expect to say: "Oh, that
reminds me Of Stape's On Making
an Impression" and then reach for
Just Talks" turn to page 145, and
read it to 'em, putting the emphasis
where WE want it. Or. it might be
Them Pants" or Sam As Chauf-
feur." or Being Martial-Figger," or
watch Your STEP" or, it NAV be
one Of hundred others, but we are
destined (determined) to spring some
of these on our friends in evenings to
come. We are glad the edition is
small in number because that adds to
the wealth of our plot-fewer who
have read 'em. We are counting on
curing somebody Of dyspepsia, and
then saying: That's our old friend
Stape-you oughta read one of his
stories Of baseball games"
Rattle, rattle. rattle. We set ont
to review" new book, but we don't
know how to review this KIND of q
book-and SO We have maundered on
all the time thinking about what we
are going to do in the family circle
tonight. Several times we have tried
to get hint from Just Talks" itself
as to the best manner Of approaching
a review-and then we begin read
ing.
II you. dear reader. ordered a CODY
or two Of Just Talks on Common
Themes" we congratulate you. for it
will do you good. II you did not.
then we are sorry for you. for 1t may
be too late. 1t will do no harm to try.
of course. and letter addressed to
the Lewiston Journal Co., Lewiston.
Maine. would help you settle the
question. II you can't get a COPY.
perhaps we'd read you a few selec-
tons when you call.
In order to be one Of the first 100
to suggest it. We hope he does it
again.
Chad.