My Life in the North Woods

When he was forced to drop out of college during the Depression, Smith found a job as clerk in a lumber camp in Maine's north woods. It was located five unpaved miles from the nearest hamlet and operated year-round. The loggers were either ""Dutchmen'' from Nova Scotia (Germans) or French-Canadians. Other personnel were the cook and his helper, Gus (who looked after the horses) and the tight-fisted brothers who owned the camp. The outfit was primitive and the food appalling. Smith's work entailed more duties than he hired on forhe collected mail, helped with horses, assisted the cook; he was general factotum to the entire camp. Before he left for an ice-cutting job, he became involved with a woman and a local mystery. Smith, author of Baseball in America and MacArthur in Korea, has recreated a colorful piece of Americana. (September 5)