The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-02
M E N " 0 M E N
 A N D T Ii IN c 5


 lay on one of my book shelves uD-
 lead for three years, but I did not ! give the reasons in detail for my neg I lect, merely limiting that it was i'm possible 10 find time to peruse only {. few Of those in my library.
 i The truth is, the book got mis- paced, being put in a case of tenn berance works, under the mistaken idea that it was devoted to phase of the liquor question. The title fooled whoever stored it away for 1t 1 loads. Watch Yourself Go By" whiah, to say the least, is an admonition to be careful in the way you trod.
 Last year when Al came to town I hunted all through my books trying to find the volume which he had so kind ly given me, as I wanted to give him a little write-up and was in need of some personal data. Not finding it among the eases devoted to bograpny gave it up. thinking that perhaps I had left it at the office and some one had appropriated it.
 
 Then few months back my fifteen year-old namesake asked me one night: Daddy, who is Al G Field?" and I countered by asking him: Why, what do you know about him?" He replied. q have been, reading a book called Watch Yourself Go By and think it is fine" It was, in this way learRed that the book was not lost but was in my library.
 But it was only a few days back . that I got the book down with the purpose of glancing through it. I ex- pacted to do 1t hurriedly, but before I knew it I was interested and a rather unusual thing for me was read ing it straight through, word for word, and finding every page one of delight. for it's a real book and not one made uI of dummies. It is about as nat ural story as was ever told.
 It is not literature in the sense that Al is stylist, but it beats lot of books which pass among critics as classics. for it is chapter out of life I was delighted to find that my friend had not attempted any fine writing, but told his tale in a Simple and straightforward manner. Every char aeter in it stands out Iife-like and talks and acts like human being and not a puppet
 I'll admit that there is some pretty strong language in it, for the men and women are mighty free with slang anl at times there are profane words which in most modern books would be deleted as would some of the incidents be can deny that it reflects the manners I and speech of the time it portrays and for this reason I'll not be squeam ish because it might give offense to those who would expurgate the Bible itself if they had their way.
 There isn't in the whole volume an unhealthy page, for while some of the scenes call up rougher days, there is an outdoor wholesomeness which. in my mind is far healthier than the re- fined twentieth century books which ICTcNeT TeNOlNG aTOuHu the cteTHdl ltl- angle and by inuendo suggest a whole train of evil acts and ideas Further more, there is no cant about what the author says, and while I rather ha-f nrorously hinted that it was in strange company among temperance tracts, yet ch sober thought it deserves a place amongst those who preach against the evils of drunkenness.
 There is Rabelasian wit which runs through Watch Yourself Go By" and scme of the scenes might have found their way into the works of the great mans whose writings are taboo in certain circles because he calls spade a spade but Field, like the older and more noted author, loves the things of every day life and is not afraid to set them down in all of their~simplicity and grossness even though the over-re- fined and sensitive may wish to sprin- kle rosewater over the descriptions which run too close to nature.
 picked up AIS book and expected to find that like so many men who have fought their way up and grad uated out of the college of hard knocks, he would essay to copy after the coliegians and lose out by attempting tc be trained in the art of writing. His book runs true because he had the good sense to be himself and not an other and get his effects not by literary effort but through setting down things as he had lived them seen them in the environment in which he wrought.
 It seems bit strange that in the same year I should have read two such works as Watch Yourself Go By" and the "Educationf of Henry Adams" and that without any fore thought on my own part. It just 50 happened, but to me the fact has been an interesting and novel study in temperament, locality. and how certain characters react in differing environ ments. Search the states and two more different types could not be found than are presented in the cases of Al Field and Henry Adams
 Now it takes man of the widest reading and most extensive travel to follow Henry Adams in the story of his education. It is one of the most interesting studies in development that I have ever run across. l found the book at my good friend. pr. Lyman Wards, one Sunday when was down to deliver the commencement sermon at Camp Hill I borrowed it to read oh the train or. my way home. It rroved to be one of the most provoca- tive stories of the evolution of man which ever fell into my hands. It's complex study which brings into play the reactions of tweneieth century life upon one of the most cultured men of the day.
 Now, when we get into Watch Your self Go By" there are no hesitancies. cfA o1n