The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 43, July 1939 - April, 1940 Page: 531

View a full description of this periodical.

Book Reviews

Another yarn, "The Pure Juice of the Mustang Grape," details
the character's experience in trying to convert our native grape
into wine. The product was "too sour for vinegar and too fiery
for aquafortis." It couldn't be marketed because the casks blew
up in transit. A Russian Nihilist, Mr. Blowemhighsky, offered
two hundred dollars a box for the bottled wine, but the character
refuses to sell. He has no enmity for the Czar except for the
superfluous C in his name, and that is hardly "sufficient excuse
for blowing him up."
"An Odorous Yarn" exhibits the popular frontier theme of bad
odor as a subject of humor. In this case a mouse has died in
the toe of a boot, which causes the wearer considerable embar-
rassment, particularly when the wind dies down just as he is
about to pop the question.
"An Old Time Texas Ranch" is on the "hold-up hospitality"
theme. At the point of a gun a traveler is forced to stop at Cayote
Ranch, where he enjoys good food and drink while he is being
pumped for news.
"An Ode to My Three Shirts" plays on the author's impecu-
niosity (Duval was the least acquisitive man imaginable) and
expresses his comfort in the thought that his shirts will soon go
to the paper mill-
So I may get, blessed thought, each mail,
Sweet billets-doux on Tag, Rag, and Bobtail.
"Julius Standley" satirizes the Byronic pose, which invaded the
South and even reached the frontier of Texas. A Valentine to
Colonel Williamson and two acrostics complete the verse, and
there remains a prose sketch of a Texas restaurant, playing upon
the waiter's shouts to the cook.
As one finishes the volume, he sees a whimsical Duval, impa-
tient of sham and artificiality, one who would like to go back.
to the good old days before barbed wire played hell with Texas,
yet withal genial, child-loving, folk-loving, mildly sentimental,
and playful, .
MODY C. BOATRIGHT.
'The University of Texas.

531

Upcoming Pages

Here’s what’s next.

upcoming item: 568 568 of 620
upcoming item: 569 569 of 620
upcoming item: 570 570 of 620
upcoming item: 571 571 of 620

Show all pages in this issue.

This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.

Tools / Downloads

Get a copy of this page .

Citing and Sharing

Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.

Reference the current page of this Periodical.

Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 43, July 1939 - April, 1940, periodical, 1940; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101111/m1/567/ocr/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.

Univesal Viewer

International Image Interoperability Framework (This Page)

Back to Top of Screen