Irving Bacheller (1859–1950)

Bacheller sets up as a hayseed philosopher. Here he comments on rising expectations of life style and how they are financed - by the merchant fathers raising the price of goods, and thus 'taxing' their customers to pay for their childrens' educations and inflated expectations. Soc. Potter is the voice of reason and restraint. The dialog is dated and a bit hickish, but his observations are still remarkably fresh.

Synopsis:

"When prodigious things are to be done, how carefully men are prepared and chosen for the doing,' said Edmund Burke to Benjamin Franklin. And it is of these prodigious things and of the carefully prepared men that Irving Bacheller writes in this novel of the founding of the Republic, the great adventure of our country's history. It deals with the fight of our fathers for Liberty, dramatically involved with the love of a boy for a girl. Here is the drama of our nation's birth, and show more how it might never have been played but for Franklin's unassailable integrity. Journey to Philadelphia; Jack Sees London; Lady of the Hidden Face; Service of the Commander-in-Chief; In Boston Jail; Jack and Solomon Meet the Great Ally; First Fourth of July; In France with Franklin; Judas of Washington's Army; Arnold and Henry Thornhill Arrive in the Highlands; Solomon's Last Fight; and more."" show less

Green cloth cover & decorative page borders. Octavo, pp. [1-4] [1] 2-60, inserted frontispiece with illustration by H. S. Potter, original pictorial blue green cloth stamped in yellow and black. First edition. A single short story.