Northwest Arkansas Times from Fayetteville, Arkansas • Page 8

NOtTHWKT AtKANSAS TIMB, ArkenMt April 23, IMS Some Hits, Some Misses In Book By Regional Short Story Writer THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD ud other ttoriei. By P. H. Lowrey. Beuy Rcf Co.

$4JS, There is only a fine line of difference between sensitivity and sentimentality. That difference ii like a hair-thin strand which separates two adjacent fields. Mr. Lowry starts bis walk through this collection of short stories astride the thin wire and falls, in each selection, on one side record book by beyea davit po' mouthin' Know what a "po'mouth is?" It's a cat who does nothing all day long but moan to everybody tales about his personal financial troubles. I am weary of po'mouthin'.

Since the first of the year, I have heard it from many people in many different professions. The final straw that brought on this discussion was a letter this week to another publication, in which the author, a schoolteacher, deplored the low salary he gets and the inequities in the pay scale of teachers. Everybody does a little poormouthing; but his letter was the final blow. Now I have nothing against teachers. My mother is a teacher.

My sister is a teacher. But teachers are just like newsmen, doctors and lawyers in that some are proficient; some are adequate; and some aren't worth a tinker's. I don't mean to pick on teachers; but they have raised the loudest cries about low salaries; teachers have done the most obvious poor-mouthing, so I use the teacher as an example. I make the courthouse scene every day. I haven't heard a county official griping about his or her-- salary in the year and a half I've been on that beat.

Contrast the salaries of courthouse officials and their deputies with those of school executives and teachers and you'll find the latter come out "smellin" like a rose," (to use a quaint, earthy adage). Courthouse employees sometimes get a two- week vacation (during seasons of slack business. This compares to three months? If a teacher feels that it is a financial sacrifice to teach; then the teacher should bloody well change his profession or location. If he doesn't want to change either, he could look at the county payroll-a public record-- in the courthouse. That just might improve on his perspective and it might stop some of this po'mouthin'.

Next week is National Library Week. The libraries plan no gala festivals, "faincy-dress bawls" or dinners-on-the-grounds, as far as I know. In fact, if the folks at the various libraries commemorated every special week wliich is designated, they'd not have time to stamp your card or collect your fine. I have had neither the time nor the inclination to devote a whole page this week to libraries book display type art. Libraries are only important because they provide books for a mass of consumers.

Books are important because they preserve the great knowledge which man has accumulated about himself and his universe; and because they provide mental fun and intellectual frolic. The purpose of this week is to remind you of those two latter contentions and to ask you to read. It's a lot more fun than tv. A Chamber of Commerce committee will soon be discussing the (a) advisability and (b) feasibility of erecting an auditorium somewhere here in Fayetteville. One possibility they'll no doubt discuss is the matter of building one cooperatively with the University.

I don't know that such a move would be good or that such a move would be bad. I do know it has been mentioned and I am certain it will be discussed. The question which should be asked is this: If Fayetteville can't build, maintain and keep full an auditorium by Fayetteville's very own self, does Fayeltcville really need an auditorium? at the annual Gaebale concert next week will be a departure from precedents. In fact, a more drastic departure from precedents, one could hardly find. Don't get me wrong.

I dig Roger Miller. I'm not putting him down. The boys at action central call him the author of that "country classic, Chug-A-Lug" (which my three-year-old sings to himself in church) and Miller is a talented writer and an entertaining singer. Chris Conner, Stan Kenton, June Christy, Josh White and Peter, Paul and Mary might, however, be at a loss to understand how their top slot had been "usurped" by a country singer from West Texas. of it or another.

The collection assembled here by the Henry Regnery Co. and published last fall represents totally a curious mixture of those characteristics. His subject matter, too, is incongruous when the book is viewed from a perspective of totality. He writes of the very young and the very old. The two best offerings, in my own never-humble opinion, are the title selection, and one called "Fear No More the Heat Of The Sun." The first deals with a young girl's adoration of and subsequent dissillusionment with a rip-roaring, hell-fire-and-brimstone evangelist.

The second concerns a man's reflection on a boyhood affair. In both stories he handles the basic theme with restraint and control leaving the reader i the impression that the author is a man of insight, sensitivity and gentleness. In some other stories, the sentiment controls his literary judgement a only gentleness remains as an obvious characteristic. Do not think that Lowrey's stories are devoid of reality. He is not afraid of reality -but treats death, what little violence there is, and sex as totally natural phenomena i rate no sensational treatment, but are merely normal aspects of life.

Of sex, instance, he writes frankly yet sparingly, and without the embarrassed desperation of many modern writers. These are not "formula" stories. i reviewer must call Lowrey an "honest writer" without elaborating. The most striking characteristic which the writer, Lowrey possesses is gentleness. It is obvious in the well drawn stories.

It is even obvious in those which this reviewer considered sub-par. Mr. Lowrey writes of simple people. He could bt classified as a regional writer. He does not construct elaborate plots or complex characters.

But he finds a sort of beauty or at least he conveys it-in simply-told accounts of uncomplicated a i occurrences. His style is reminiscent, again to generalize, of Eudora Welly's. Like Miss Welty. he was born and raised in Mississippi, and now teaches at the University of Chicago. His most brilliant way of of transmitting an emotion is through his imagery.

That which is good is "very but that which is bad is forced. I experienced a strange reaction to this collection. Some of the stories are, by rational and emotional standards, quite good. Others, my emperical criteria tell are poorly-done because of their forced imagery, monotony, or lack of force and resolution. Yet, even these I found oddly appealing b.r.d.

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Littli Rock, Ark. 72203 fKC mnd an application lor nlmtxnhla to Crou-tlM SfcitW. NAME AOMESS- CITY -AGE FAY.V23 mUptitrt Arkattmw on motor scooters Young Men U.S. I SEE BY MY OUTFIT. By Peter S.

Beagle. The Viking Press. 14.95 This book could, with some validity, be dubbed "young man's TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY." There are several striking differences, however, between this account of a cross- country motor scooter trip and John Steinbeck's ramblings with his French Poodle. First, the author, Pete More Topical Tunes From The Urban-Folk Pen Of Phil Ochs I AIN'T MARCHIN 1 ANYMORE. By Phil Ochs.

Elektra Records. EKL 287 (mono). EKS-7287 (stereo). I Ain'l Mamtln' Any. mm; Cumnwr; Drift DMMT That'i Whit I Want Tlran Tint the Inn LMy; Hifh.

wayman. Two: Llnki On Chiin; Hilli Virginia; Mm Behind Bun; TMkin' InghMn Jill; Ballad Car- Pinter; Dayt Dwiiim; to Miitiiiiapi. Phil Ochs' tunes are reminiscent of an unobjective news commentary. They are topical and of in- Droll Story Of 'New' West THE ROUNDERS. By Max Evans.

Bantam Books. 40 cents. If you're looking for a traditional western novel with traditional western good-guys and crooks--forget it. However, if you're interested in something that's uproariously funny and plenty different--try this one. It concerns the wild misadventures of two modern- day cowboys; two swingin' chicks whose business is fleecing tourists; and an unpredictable, fractious roan gelding.

The story climaxes with a week-long Fourth of July binge by these parties during a Hi Lo, New Mexico rodeo. The heros, if one could call them that, Dusty Jones and Wrangler Lewis are working as wranglers on a New Mexico ranch and spend an entire winter and spring in the boondocks breaking horses and rounding up stray cattle. By the Fourth of July they have accumulated a good deal of steam which needs to be released. The book was published in hardcover four years ago. It is no profound social criticism and is comprised of no deep philosophies.

The language is rough, but so are cowboys, by modern, big-city standards. However it is a very funny book which one can read in an hour or so. Considering the small amount of time required and the great amount of enjoyment which can be derived from reading, that hour or so would be time well spent, b.r.d. terest for that reason; are opinions and are interesting for that reason. But they a not necessarily valid.

They only express opinions. It is as if Ochs held opinions, then undertook to prove them using current events as musical vehicles for his contentions. If Ochs were to go deeper than the surface and analyze the news instead of report it biasedly this reviewer would consider it an improvement. If he were to report it sardonically instead of i such long-faced earnestness -he would probably communicate with this reviewer. If he were to report it objectively and let the listener draw from the basic information his own conclusions, this reviewer would find Ochs tunes entertaining as well as interesting.

Ochs, the songwriter, can be compared to Bob Dylan because both handle and write about topical material. There, the simi'arity ends. Dylan entertains (through carefully chosen lyrics and well thought out melodies) in order t- express his opinions; while Ochs expresses his opinions in order to entertain. Ochs lacks Dylan's subtlty and colorful imagery. Ochs' material and his opinions a perhaps controversial, but no more so than today's headlines.

He writes and sings anti- WASP (white anglo-saxon protestant) anti-government a anti-war songs. This album includes a laudatory piece about President Kennedy. I am certain that Phil Ochs must have scores of fans who will swear by him. I'm sorry that I can't join those legions. b.r.d.

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Second, the author had a definite goegraphic objective in mind when he and his buddy, Phil Segunick left New York City for the San Francisco area. Steinbeck had none. Third, Pete and Phil are in hopes of capturing a feeling, an emotion they have never experienced. Steinbeck went out to re-capture similar emotions or feelings. Beagle is a promising young wn" that sounds like the classic reviewer's cliche.

He could have a successful future for a number of reasons. He shows an amazing de- greee of discipline in his writing for a 24-year old man; he is able to simplify concepts and narration in order to communicate; he has received a thorough education; and he is obviously not overly impressionable though he is frequently impressed. The two encounter no more startling adventures on their cross country scooter ride than young men normally would. They have a little mechanical difficulty, they visit some friends, they arrive at their destination. Their adventures are probably not nearly as exciting as those which scores of other young men--this reviewer included--have encountered.

But Peter Beagle has recorded his impressions, and his ovservations. he has recorded them well. He neither magnifies the insignificant, nor underrates the important. The only real criticism I find in the work is that the author sometimes lost contact with me when he became too personal in his relationship with his buddy. The two are obviously close friends and have certain routines and conversations which made me feel as if I were intruding; not included.

This tale of a supposadly adventure tells us a good deal about the author. It prompts this particular reader to want to get to know him better. b.r.d. NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK is a good week to raid Pop's (or anybody's) library in search of something to read. After much searching and slinging, this little burrhead appears to have found what he was looking for.

Admonitory note: Follow his example, but try not to be DO messy. Hunh? (TIMESfoto by John K. Woodruff, III). b.r.d. Means, Result Of Road To 'Great Society 9 Eyed AMERICA TOMORROW: CREATING THE GREAT SOCIETY.

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