The Washington times., 1921-12-25
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
SECRETARY DAVIS
TO BE PUBLISHED
Tells Story of Use of
"Nephew of Uncle
SAM"

Sam"
TUE making Of true American,
100 per cent up to the standard.
II the story Of Secretary Of Labor
Davis. "Jim" Davis new book, an
autobiography of his own life.
"A great American story" IL the
way Booth Harrington. he of the
immortal Penrod fame. characterizss
the book. Mr.. Harrington is q great
friend Of the Secretary of Labor,
and when he discovered Mr.. Davis
to be at work upon q story Of his
eventful life. asked that the manu-
script DO submitted to him. With
. modesty astonishing in q budding
author. Mr.. Davis protested that his
book wasn't good enough" He had
just written 1t for his boy, Jimmie.
jr.. to read. and he couldn't
think OF letting q master at the art
OF letters examine 1t. Mr.. Tarking-
ton persuaded him. however, and the
manuscript was fearfully submitted
to his mercy by its trembling author.
A week or two slipped by with
cut Mr.. Harrington answering. and
the newly fledged author began to
fear the verdict had been too ter
rtble to repeat. At last he heard
and what young author in America
could ask a more encouraging word
from q master of his craft.
Wrote Mr.. Harrington: II read
your book in two closely connected
sittings. which were most interest.
ing and profitable to me. You ask
mo for my frank opinion, and my
frank opinion IL that the book Is q
oorker, as We used to say. 1 think
10 should be published a. soon as
possible, for the sooner II IL pub.
lished the moro good 1t win do.
though It will do plenty Of good at
any time. 1t Is splendidly written,
and in its fine simplicity and truth.
fulness 1t IL q good story and
great American story. I am return
ing the manuscript with my
heartiest thanks for being allowed
to read it,"
THE story. to condense in a few
words the tale told in sixty
thousand by Mr.. Davis, brings
young Jim Davis to America from
Wales at the age Of eight. What
America meant to the bright-fa
little WEIGH lad the Secretary of
Labor tells clearly in words that
makes one proud Of every inch
Of American soil, every city from
the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The youngster, with his mother
and brothers and sisters, landed
at Castle Garden, known now AZ
Ellis Island. Mr.. Davis Is now
interested in the organization of
the Sons Of Castle Garden, q socie-
ty to be composed OF Americans
who began their career as nephews
of Uncle Sam when they landed at
the gardens. Amusing incidents-
amusing now, terrible then to the
little group Of strangers in .
strange and bewildering land-of
the family's arrival make the first
chapters one long chuckle. One
reads Of the great losses sustained
by the little family upon their ar
rival; the theft OF their two priced
feather beds and the loss Of the
family purse. Two Of Mr.. Davis
brothers vanished in the scramble
and were found weeks later in an
orphanage, 3ust about to be adopted
by a New York policeman and his
wife.
From Castle Garden the story
takes the Davis family to Sharon,
Pa, and thence young Davis
secured his first job, tend.
ing cows for a nearby farmer.
His first Job, the Secretary writes.
was of brief existence and the next
winter found him employed in the
mines at Sharon. His career a. o
miner once begun, the Labor Score.
tary rapidly rose until at tho age
of twelve he became the "puddler"
boy. II IL from this chapter in
his life that the Secretary expects
to take tho title Of his book.
''Puddler Jim; from Peon Camp to
the Cabinet?" IL the tentative
title he has selected.
THE chapter on the early begin
ming of his political career ono
fancies the Secretary wrote with q
broad smile on his face. His enc
mics accused him Of illiteracy. swore
that ambitious candidate for county
clerk could neither read or write. To
refute their accusations the candi-
date carried along with him on his
stumping trips a hugo slate and q
piece of chalk. With deft fingers he
illustrated, on his slate the falsehood