COVERED WAGON, 10 H.P.
By Guy K. Austin In an earlier book Mr. Austin described how he went to the United States in search of work and adventure. In the present volume (Bles, 8s. 6d.) he continues the story.' On the collapse of the New York publicity firm by which he was engaged, he found himself without a job. Another move was indicated. California is a long way from New York, and he had little money, but-others had followed the trail to the Golden West, so Ofthe went. He packed his-wife, two children, and luggage ' into an old -10 h.p. car- which had already registered 31,000 Jintles; and- crossed the continent `another 3,500 miles—in twelve days. He has ma_ de'- a scrappy, uneven book out of their experiences.' When he is dealing with the more I intimate and 'persouaLside of thetrip he is interesting, but his comments and generalisations about America are banal and often misleading: To say that all American towns are alike , might raise a laugh• in'conveitationrbut it looks rather cheap in print. Apart from such lapses of taste and observation, Mr. Austin has written a readable account of a courageous family tiek in the mixtein veisiim of 'the- covered wagon. The few set-pieces descriptions of the shooting of a Wild West film, of a servict (perhaps performance-is a better word) Tti Aimee .MePherson's_ Angelus _Temple,- and an impression of Father 'COuglilin, the radio priestare executed with vigour.
Previous page
