Re: LUCIUS BEEBE: December 9, 1902 – February 4, 1966

I'm a big fan of Lucius Beebe. Among his railroad books, my favorite is actually When Beauty Rode the Rails (1962), but I enjoy all of his writing. If anyone is looking for an easy introduction to Beebe's non-railroad work, I would recommend The Lucius Beebe Reader (1967), an anthology edited by Clegg (of course!) and Duncan Emmerich that came out just a year after his death. It includes some wonderful pieces by Beebe on topics such as food and drink, men's fashion (he was fond of derby hats and waistcoats), politics (he hated Democrats), memories of his childhood in Boston, other cities he had known and loved (New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, London, Paris), the romance of crossing the Atlantic on Cunard ocean liners (he hated flying), and even an essay in memory of his dog, T-Bone, a St. Bernard. ("The entry of 165 pounds of absolute love with big ears into one's life is nothing to take lightly.")

-Philip Marshall