The Affable Stranger

Peter McArthur

Jan 1920 · Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

About this ebook

To make clear the purpose of this book and to suggest possibilities to the reader the author offers the following article which was published in the Toronto Globe. Most of the chapters first appeared in the same journal. Ekfrid, July 28.-This morning I got up feeling singularly cheerful and care-free. And no wonder. Yesterday I got even with the world-said everything I wanted to say about it right down to the last word. This morning I feel that I am making a fresh start with all scores paid, and I don't care whether school keeps or not. The explanation of this unusual state of mind is quite simple. Yesterday I finished writing a book, in which I said just what I wanted to say-said what I have been aching to say for years-about the world and things in general. No matter what happens to the book, it has already served its purpose. It has rid my mind of "the perilous stuff, etc.," that accumulated during the war and since. And the result has been so refreshing that I have no hesitation in recommending the book cure to every one. Nowadays any one can write a book, and most every one does. The mistake is in regarding the book as a literary venture. What you should do is to make a pad of paper and a lead pencil your father confessor and ease your mind of its worries. When the book is done, you can send it out into the wilderness as the Israelites sent the scapegoat-bearing your sins with it. Then you can make a fresh start.