J
JAMESBJOHNSON
Guest
I'm reading a collection of Ernie Pyle stories written in the 30s. Pyle was the most famous correspondent of World War II.
The stories are glorious reading. There isnt a big word in any of his material. And almost every story is about some common, ordinary person or event. But what's marvelous about the writing is: Pyle inserted his private thoughts and opinions into the articles. Like, this anecdote about the Waving Girl of Savannah, Georgia.
A Savannah woman waved a towel or lantern at every ship and boat that came up the Savannah River, for 44 years....50,000 vessels! Day, night, rain, shine she waved at the boats. This, and she compiled a 4 volume diary of her activities. So Pyle wanted to look at the diary. She burned them, she said. What Pyle wrote, next, is priceless:" I told her that if I knew her better I'd kick her in the ass. "
The stories are glorious reading. There isnt a big word in any of his material. And almost every story is about some common, ordinary person or event. But what's marvelous about the writing is: Pyle inserted his private thoughts and opinions into the articles. Like, this anecdote about the Waving Girl of Savannah, Georgia.
A Savannah woman waved a towel or lantern at every ship and boat that came up the Savannah River, for 44 years....50,000 vessels! Day, night, rain, shine she waved at the boats. This, and she compiled a 4 volume diary of her activities. So Pyle wanted to look at the diary. She burned them, she said. What Pyle wrote, next, is priceless:" I told her that if I knew her better I'd kick her in the ass. "
