Author: Benjamin L. Stewart

1Letters of a Woman Homesteader

By Elinore Pruitt Stewart

The writer of the following letters is a young woman who lost her husband in a railroad accident and went to Denver to seek support for herself and her two-year-old daughter, Jerrine. Turning her hand to the nearest work, she went out by the day as house-cleaner and laundress. Later, seeking to better herself, she accepted employment as a housekeeper for a well-to-do Scotch cattle-man, Mr. Stewart, who had taken up a quarter-section in Wyoming. The letters, written through several years to a former employer in Denver, tell the story of her new life in the new country. They are genuine letters, and are printed as written, except for occasional omissions and the alteration of some of the names. (Publishers’ Note, May 1914)

2Perfect Behavior

By Donald Ogden Stewart

A humorous guide to manners and etiquette for ladies and gentlemen in a social "crises," published in 1922. (Introduction by Samanem)

Maria W. Stewart was America's first black woman political writer. Between 1831 and 1833, she gave four speeches on the topics of slavery and women's rights. <em>Meditations From The Pen of Mrs. Maria W. Stewart</em>—published in 1879, shortly before her death—is a collection of those speeches as well as her memoir, some meditations and prayers. They are political, poetical and sermon all at the same time; but in the milieu in which she lectured, they were a critically important part of the abolitionist movement years before the contributions of others such as Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth. Her speeches and essays espoused a return to Christian values and morality, but also proposed fundamental changes in gender roles in the midst of tremendous public opposition to the rights of blacks and of women. (Introduction by James K. White)

4Uncle Josh's Punkin Centre Stories

By Cal Stewart

A collection of comedic short stories from the perspective of an old country man. (Summary by Philip Martin)

5Letters on an Elk Hunt

By Elinore Pruitt Stewart

This is a sequel to Letters of a Woman Homesteader in which Elinore Rupert (Pruitt) Stewart describes her arrival and early years on a Burntfork Wyoming ranch in 1909-1913. The letters are written to her elderly friend, Mrs. Coney, in Denver. In the present collection of letters, Elinore describes a lively excursion on horseback and wagon into the Wyoming wilderness during July-October 1914. Her traveling companions are her husband “Mr. Stewart,” their three oldest children, and kind-hearted, opinionated neighbor Mrs. O’Shaughnessy. Mr. Haynes (organizer of the hunt) and his friend, Mr. Struble (the cheerful big man of the party) lead the group, and are also joined by physician Dr. Teschall, “a moving-picture man” Mr. Harkrudder, Professor Glenholdt seeking “the tip-end bone of the tail of a brontosaurus” and his students (“two geological fellows” who “talk of nothing but strata and formation”). Also joining the group is Mr. Murry with his tiresome accordion.<br><br>Although some hunting is accomplished on the trip, the overarching focus of Elinore’s letters is on descriptions of awe-inspiring Wyoming scenery and the interesting people she encounters. With her familiar wit and wisdom, Elinore also writes of tragedies and romances she observes during her trip -- that is, whenever Elinore’s effort to observe is not thwarted by “the good mon” Mr. Stewart. In one letter Elinore complains to Mrs. Coney that “Mr. Stewart is the queerest man: instead of letting me enjoy the tableau [the reunion of two long-lost lovers], he solemnly drove on, saying he would not want any one gawking at him if he were the happy man. Anyway, he couldn’t urge Chub [the horse] fast enough to prevent my seeing and hearing what I’ve told you.”<br><br>By the time the adventurers are homeward bound with their supply of elk meat, Elinore is homesick for her youngest child, Junior, at home with his grandmother; Mrs. O’Shaughnessy has taken in two young orphans; and quiet, young Mr. Haynes complains good-naturedly about having to travel along with a rolling nursery.<br><br>Elinore’s letters capture an interesting transition point in history. People traveled by horse and wagon, there were cowboys and cattle stampedes, and medical care was rustic. At the same time, automobiles and modern medicine, archeology and motion picture making were entering the scene and war was commencing in Europe. (Note to more sensitive readers: Elk hunting is described in Chapters 7 and 8.) (Summary by Lynne Carroll)

6Perfect Behavior (Version 2)

By Donald Ogden Stewart

A humorous guide for ladies and gentlemen in all social crises. (Summary by MaryAnn)

7Parody Outline of History

By Donald Ogden Stewart

" Mr. H. G. Wells, in his "Outline of History," was of necessity forced to omit the narration of many of the chief events in the history of these United States. Such omissions I have in this brief volume endeavored to supply. And as American history can possibly best be written by Americans and as we have among us no H. G. Wells, I have imagined an American history as written conjointly by a group of our most characteristic literary figures." - Summary by Donald Ogden Stewart

Welcome back to another exciting collection courtesy of the little known but influential pulp magazine The Thrill Book! In this issue we continue the mystical Egyptian mystery "The Jeweled Ibis" and the daring jungle adventure "In the Shadows of Race" as well as bringing a new full-length raucous and rowdy western "A Hooting, Tooting Son-of-a-Gun" as well as a quality selection of additional stories, poems and other assorted articles. - Summary by Ben Tucker

9Case With Nine Solutions

By Alfred Walter Stewart

This book was written by Alfred Walter Stewart under the pseudonym J.J. Connington: Sir Clinton Driffield is a respected police professional assigned the task of solving a convoluted crime of murder. The case involves a coy temptress, her husband, a secret admirer and a young man with a romantic interest in the temptress. Sir Clinton and his assistant, Inspector Flamborough must whittle down the circumstances and causes of death from nine potential scenarios. The process leads them through scientific clues, messages from a secret source and good old fashioned deductive reasoning. - Summary by Howard Skyman

10Murder In The Maze

By Alfred Walter Stewart

This is another story written by Walter Stewart under the pseudonym of J.J. Connington. His character of Sir Clinton Driffield, the chief constable, is challenged with solving crimes committed in the maze of the Shandon family estate. The Shandons are a successful if flawed set of brothers but all is not well beneath the surface of the privileged lives of their extended family. Jealousies and ambitions cause trouble as they often do. Sir Clinton and his faithful associate Wendover endeavour to unravel a mystery as complex as the maze itself. - Summary by Howard Skyman

11Dangerfield Talisman

By Alfred Walter Stewart

The Dangerfield family resides on an estate steeped in history and tradition. At the centre of this is a much coveted and admired piece of jewelry called the Dangerfield Talisman. A group of guests gathers at the estate for a mixture of business and pleasure. The pleasure provides entertainment for the idle rich while the business is that of a foreigner attempting to purchase the famed article. During their visit the talisman disappears for not the first time in its history and the hunt begins to expose the thief. What this endeavour also exposes are sub-plots involving the different characters in the story and the various dramas and difficulties they encounter. - Summary by Howard Skyman