Book Review
The Reivers
lly William Faulkner
Published by Random House
Few w’ould dispute that William
Faulkner is one of the most orig
inal American writers of the cen
tury. What is not frequently rec
ognized is his gift for comedy. A
strain of robust, indigenously
American humor runs through
much of his work, and nowhere is
it more evident than in his new
novel, The Reivers, the Book-of
Month Club Selection for July.
The word “reiver” is derived
from a Scottish word “reive,” to
rob or despoil, and thus means
“robber” or “plunderer.” Mr.
Faulkner’s use of the word, how
ever. is more affectionate than lit
eral. The “reivers” of his enter
taining story (which he subtitles
“A Reminiscence”) are an 11-year
old boy named Lucius Priest and
Lucius’ two companions, one Boon
Hogganbeck, a burly chauffer and
handyman with the mind of a child,
the other a shrewd, philosophical
Negro who always introduces him
self as Ned William McCaslin Jef
ferson Mississippi.
The time is 1905, the scene at
first in the town of Jefferson, in
Mr. Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha
County, that fictional region i n
the north-central part of Missis
sippi which has come to be as close
ly associated with Faulkner’s name
as David Copperfield is with
Charles Dickins’. One day, when
Lucius’ parents and grandparents
are absent, Lucius and Boon decide
to “borrow” his grandfather’s auto
mobile, a primitive Winton touring
car, in order to make a trip to
Memphis. The inspiration is
Boon’s, but Lucius is a more than
willing accomplice. Ned, the cagey
Negro, hides out in the back seat
as a stowaway, revealing his pres
ence only when the trip is well
under way.
“Boon turned and reached back
and flung back the lumped and
jumbled mass of the tarpaulin
which had filled the back of the
car. Ned sat up from the floor.He
had on the black suit and hat and
the white shirt with the gold collar
stud without either collar or tie,
which he wore on Sunday. . . .
“ ’I wants a trip too,’ Ned said.
‘Hee hee hee’.”
In 1905 a motor trip anywhere
in Mississippi was a major under
taking. Standard equipment for the
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traveler was a block and tackle.
You had to be prepared to get out
and push your automobile through
mud oozing up to your knees, and
the flickering oil-lit headlights
warned others that you were ap
proaching but did little to illumi
nate your way.
As Mr. Faulkner tells the story,
it is when the trio reach Memphis
that the situation gets out of hand.
Ned. a born operator who can
never resist a gamble, however
high the odds, soon trades the bor
rowed Witon for a stolen race
horse. His reasons are somewhat
devious, but not illogical, as things
turn out. However, before all are
safely back home in Jefferson,
Boon has himself a wife, Lucius
finds himself jockeying a reluctant
steed in one of the most unortho
dox horse races ever run below
the Mason-Dixon line, and Ned
winds up with a pocketful of not
too ill-gotten gains.
The Reivers is a warm, funny
book in which even the ladies of a
Memphis bordello are portrayed in
appealing human terms. Readers
will particularly remember Ned
William McCaslin Jefferson Mis
sissippi.
A man may have more money
than brains, but he is seldom em
barassed by the fact.
Medical Self
Care Courses
Dr. Bob Johnson has announced
dates on which the “Medical Self
Help” courses will be held.
The first course will begin on
Tuesday, July 3, at 8 p.m. in the
reception room of the Holmes
Johnson Clinic. Thursday, July 5,
the second class is slated to meet
and the following dates in July
have been set: Monday, Wednes
day and Friday of next week and
Tuesday and Thursday of the fol
lowing week.
Anyone wishing to enroll may
still do so by calling the reception
ist at the clinic.
Archery Fans
Have Club Here
Recently the Kodiak Mirror car
ried a picture of a man beside his
kill of one of our great bears. This
in itself was not so unusual—but
what was somewhat unusual was
the fact that the man made his kill
with a bow and arrow, a weapon
that is some 700 years old, accord
ing to Jack Foster of the Kodiak
Bowman—a local bow and arrow
club.
In the past ten years the ranks
of persons interested in archery
has grown from a few thousand to
over 7Vz million, men, women and
children. There are now even
"archery alleys” somewhat similar
to bowling alleys, we are told.
Should you be interested in this
sport, the local club will be happy
to explain archery and its present
day equipment to you. Call the
Kodiak Bowman secretary at 486—
2824 or Jack Foster at 486—2652
or 486—2604. Happy twanging!
The world really appreciates a
man who has a clear conscience
and keeps still about it.
Big Public Dance
At Elks Tuesday
A public dance will be held at
the Elk’s Club, Tuesday evening,
July 3, beginning at 8 p.m.
The dance is in aid of the
Lodge’s Cerebral Palsy program,
with the donation of $1 as the price
of admission.
Live music will be furnished.
Mirror classirieds bring results.
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Watch for Opening Early in July
AUTO-MAGIC CLEANERS
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LOCATED IN THE OLD FRONTIER SHOP
(Across the Street From Kraft’s Super Market)