A Cockroach Who Blogs
One of my favorite poets, Fireblossom of Shay’s Word Garden reminded me of the stories of “archy & mehitabel” in a recent poem. These are old stories, but bring fond memories back to me.
I have a book, “the lives and times of archy & mehitabel” written by Don Marquis. I’ve read this book many times and still enjoy it.
The book I have was published in 1940 and in my opinion, features a character who had to be one of the most unique bloggers in history.
My book belonged to my grandfather, Dad Arthur. When I visited his library I would pick this book to read. When he died it was passed on to my father, and knowing my love for it, he eventually gave it to me.
A Timeless Literary Classic
The book is now faded with age and worn from the many times it’s been read. But that’s the sign of a well loved book, isn’t it?
I smile as I write this because it IS an odd duck of a book. The main character is a philosophical cockroach named Archy, who in his past life was a human who wrote free verse poetry. He discovers a typewriter and begins to type out his thoughts, dreams and complaints. You can see why I say he was a blogger:~)
Archy writes about his life and the multiple lives of his cat friend, Mehitabel, who claims to have been Cleopatra in a former life. He writes about the many characters they meet along the way. His stories are poignant, funny and recount situations that any of us could relate to today.
These stories of Archy the cockroach and Mehitabel the cat still make me sigh and smile in equal measure.
Freestyle Poetry By Don Marquis
One of the things I like most about this book is that it touches on the many difficulties that writers experience today. Archy’s style is unique; he writes on an old manual typewriter, jumping on the keys with his body. Here’s one of his more famous writings:
boss, i am disappointed in
some of your readers they
are always asking how does
Archy work the shift so as to get a
new line or how does archy do
this or do that they
are always interested in technical
details when the main question is
whether the stuff is
literature or not…”
Now tell me, doesn’t this apply to many bloggers? These days we deal with the same struggles Archy did when we talk to people about blogging. The literary side of writing can be easily lost while explaining the technical details.
Writing Style Models Bloggers
Archy would have been very comfortable with the freedom of style that bloggers enjoy. For example, as you can see from his poem, Archy doesn’t pay attention to capitalization or grammar; he writes about what he’s thinking or feeling in his everyday life. Sound familiar?
“the lives and times of archy & mehitabel” is still available. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys poetry written by a different kind of writer. Archy is a lot of fun to read, albeit not always an easy read; this is true stream of consciousness writing. It is also outdated in some of its stories.
I like “the lives and times of archy & mehitabel” because of its past as well as its future potential. I hold this book and know that both my grandfather and my father held it before me. Perhaps, they even laughed at the same lines as I do today.
Someday, I may give this book to my children or their children. I find it strangely comforting that a very early blogger and poet, who just happened to be a cockroach, could be the link between my past and my future.
What about you?
What older books remind you of a blogger’s style of writing?
What books have passed down to you that you continue to read and re-read?
Did you ever have to use a typewriter when writing? If so, what were the difficulties and how did it compare to our modern computers?
Artwork by George Herriman
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh… so much!!
I learned to type on an electric typewriter while most of the class had standards….. In college the first “computerized” typewriters were the big thing and now… computers. How life has changed. I don’t miss the old typewriters as I think I type much faster and the ability to erase is… beyond easy!!
As for this book – I am going to have to check it out!!
We are currently reading, together, Dancing Pancake – written in verse. It is a fun read for kids.
There are stories form my younger years that I love, but it seems to be more the adult books I have read that I come back to time and time again. There is something comforting about books. My daughter loves Because of Winn-Dixie – a warm book that touched both of our hearts.
The Exception´s last [type] ..Mere Hours
@ The Exception — this book IS fun, but it’s also outdated in some sections. Even so, it’s worth reading because Archy and Mehitabel are such wonderful characters:~)
I like the title of the book you are reading. Dancing Pancake sounds like fun:~)
Omg, Sara, what are you doing? LOL! How cool is this?
I think that Archy & Mehitabel is (are?) a true classic. I used to spend a lot of time treasure hunting in used book stores, and that is where I found a paperback copy of the very book you’re writing about here. Well, it delighted me and I became a fan for life.
As you’ve said, Archy (a cockroach!) was always philosophising and writing his little poems, while Mehitabel was more interested in having a good time. I could relate to them both! One of my favorite bits was when Archy addressed an Egyptian mummy as “Your Royal Dryness.” The whole thing is so quirky and thought-provoking and just fun.
When my niece was a teenager, I gave her my copy of Archy & Mehitabel, thinking she would love it, but my stick-in-the-mud brother made her give it back because he thought it was unsuitable or innapropriate or something. Good grief.
When I was young, I used to raid my father’s bookshelves, and I was especially fond of these paperback “Strange But True” things that had stories about ghosts and disappearances and UFOs and rains of frogs and things. I don’t still have any of those, but I have my late father’s copies of “The Fireside Book Of Dog Stories” and a few others. He was fond of sticking clippings or notes inside his books, and for a while I kept coming across them, which was pretty neat.
As for typewriters, I learned to type on my dad’s old Royal, not unlike the one Archy probably jumped around on! Honestly, give me a computer any time. But there is something romantic about an old typewriter, isn’t there?
Loved this post!!! (and you!)
Fireblossom´s last [type] ..Troika
@ Fireblossom — I can see how you relate to both. Both are unique characters, but I always enjoyed Mehitabel. She’s a survivor and her stories are bit on the wild side:~) I can’t believe your brother gave back the book as being unsuitable. Then again, I just picked a verse from the book called, “aesop revised by archy.” Maybe it is just a wee bit disconcerting:~) I think you need the right kind of sense of humor, but fortunately for me, and for you, we DO!!!
I love finding clipping and other things in old books. My grandfather was like that. In his journal, which I wrote about, I found his speech for a public office he ran for. The speech was handwritten and put on notecards, which he then taped in the journal.
Regarding typewriters, I like looking at the old ones, but I thank the inventors of computers everyday because I was terrible at typewriting. I made so many mistakes, but today we have spell-check and even grammar checks in Word. I love it!!!
You are nice and thanks for the visit:~)
PS–I’ve read the book The Exception mentioned, Because Of Winn-Dixie. It was fun!
Fireblossom´s last [type] ..Troika
@ Fireblossom — Maybe I’ll have to check this book out!
Please forgive me that I have not yet read ALL this post.
Just poppin’ in to say you are IT at the top of my sidebar today. Queen for A Day.
Yep!
Love, Jannie
And you realize how dangerously close to spelling “donuts” the letters in the pic above are?
xo
Jannie Funster´s last [type] ..10 Excellent Things In This Songwriter’s Life
@ Jannie — I love a visit from you anytime. Thanks for information. I like being “Queen for a Day.” I actually remember watching that program…sort of scary, right? I didn’t realize that about the picture, but I can see it:~)
Hi Sara,
I devoured this post like a fresh donut. Wait, did I say, “donut?” I think it’s because Jannie is here and I associate her with donuts. ha ha (Hi Jannie!)
You’ve touched on so many things in this post that mean a lot to me I don’t even know where to start.
Poetry/Poetic Prose:
I love it and your description makes me want to find this book. (Thank you!)
Manual Typewriters:
I have a fascination with them. I’m old enough to say that I typed my college application on an electric typewriter, and my mom had a manual one, too, which she used to write letters. I’d use it, too, for letters. I love the sounds of the manual typewriter. My Mom-in-Law gave me the coolest manual typewriter which I’m currently refurbishing. I keep telling hubs I’m going to write my book with that typewriter. Like TE said, there’s something romantic about it, no? (I digress…)
About your question about passing down old books, I’m sad to say that I don’t have any fitting that description. I pine away for my Mom’s Nancy Drew series that I read as a kid, but I have no idea where they are now.
Why do I leave the longest comments ever when I come here? You do that to me. I love your blog, Sara. Thanks for writing and inspiring us.
~xo
Lori´s last [type] ..Chocolate Truffles- A Fine Wine- and Melting Butter
@ Lori — That’s okay about the comment being long…mine are always long, too. You give me lots to think about:~) It will be fun to see how you do with the manual typewriter…unless you’re really a good typist, buy lots of whiteout!!!
I read Nancy Drew…all the ones available and then moved on to the Hardy boys. Sadly, I don’t have any of them anymore. I also used to read the really old detective series…Charley Chan:~)
Lori, you are so nice…I love your visits and your comments…you can write as much as you like:~)
What I find potentially interesting about this book is the fact that it was also illustrated by George Herriman (creator of Krazy Kat). I’d know that man’s art anywhere!
Yup, I’m definitely going to have to pick this up when finances are a little less tight. I remember you recommending this to me before, Sara. It’s clear to me that you regard it as a literary gem.
@ Tony — I guarantee you will enjoy reading parts of this book. Humor-wise, Archy is right up your alley….ha ha..Mehitabel would appreciate that slip of the tongue:~) There are drawings throughout the book. I think you’d really like them:~)
The cat in the hat
does come to mind
It might be where
I got my rhyme
Green eggs and Ham
or Sam I am
Yes, yes
I wanted to shoot
old Dr. Seuss
he started me
on all this verse
and it’s been a curse
it drives me mad
where every I go
don’t you know.
R.I.T.F.L.M.*.O.
I still have the first and only typewriter I’ve own.
desk49´s last [type] ..Seven Thirty- A short story
@ Ellis — WOW. I’m impressed that you still have your first typewriter. That’s cool. Dr. Seuss is one of my favorites. I used to beg my girls to let me read his books at nighttime. We’d have to read one Dr. S. and then they could pick another book. They liked Dr. Seuss…just not quite as much as I did:~) My favorites to read were Fox in Socks and If I ran the Circus:~)
BTW have I told you how much I enjoy the fact that your comments are in poems? If not, I really do enjoy this.
p.w. I don’t get the R.I.T.F.L.M.*.O. Can you explain?
I’ve read Archy’s work and loved it and I read Shay’s work and love it too. And I read your blog and love that too. Is it that I’m overly loving? Or is it that these are all unique people with interesting and creative viewpoints to share? It’s the unique people with interesting and creative veiwpoints – they intrigue me always.
Talon´s last [type] ..Darklings
@ Talon — Oops…I almost missed your comment! Lots of love going around today…it’s nice:~) I said it before, the blogging world has some of the most interesting, creative and inspiring people I know and that includes YOU:~) Just a little of my own loving back at ya!
Thanks for the visit:~)
Hi Sara,
So the origin of man is in the monkeys and the origin of bloggers is in cockroaches…that’s something isn’t it?
No books where left to pass from generation to generation in my case, but I do remember my first “steps” in writing using an “Adler” typewriter that became my best friend betweeen the ages of 5 and 10.
It was so easy to write in that machine, no need to care about the shapes of the letters, it was automatic, and as long as nobody complained for the continuous click…click…click…rrrrrrrr, ching! everything was fine. I loved that machine!
Nowadays with computers is so easy, not only for the little amount of sounds, but the incorporated dictionaries, auto correction, different letter sizes, you name it! But there was something about that Adler typewriter that will remain in my memories
Raul
Alien Ghost´s last [type] ..Our New GOD!
@ Alien Ghost — Well, I hadn’t actually thought of it that way:~) However, if you read this book, I don’t think you’ll mind having Archy set an example for bloggers. If you want to sample his writings, go to Don Marquis’ Reading Room.
I didn’t know about the Adler typewriter and so, I looked it up. It’s really cool looking. I bet you had fun with it.
Like I said to some others, I’m really happy to have computers. I doubt I would have been able to write anything using a manual because it would take me YEARS, given the mistakes I make. Even on the computer, I still make lots of them, but now I can go back and correct them…well, sometimes:~)
Hi Sara .. what a lovely thought a cockroach blogger – well they circle the world .. so lots of visits to family and friends .. let alone Mehitabel ..
Thanks – I’d never heard of this book – but it certainly seems worthwhile to try and find an old copy somewhere .. perhaps it’s American – hence not one I’d come across ..
Love the cartoon – let alone the cat sat on the mat (oh I meant typewriter) .. arch would need to be muscular to indent the keys .. let alone let his tail down to do the shift key!
Wonderful thoughts .. thanks Sara & so glad to hear you’re going to pass it on .. have a fun weekend .. Hilary
Hilary´s last [type] ..Seven Sisters – what would these mean to you
@ Hilary — I always thought this was such a clever idea, especially since most of us look on the cockroach as something under the shoe:~) What amazes me is that I can still find the archy stories very funny, even though they were written quite a long time ago.
Thanks for the visit, Hilary:~)
Yes, subliminal donuts, you siren, you!!
I thuoght I’d reached the moon when Mom got an electric typewriter when I was a teen. it was fun. The bell sounded so lively and happy.
xxoo
Jannie Funster´s last [type] ..Song Baby a flash 55 poem
@ Jannie — I assume you’re referring to “Lori” comment? It’s been a long time since anyone has called me a “siren.” I also like the bell on old typewriters…then again, I can’t imagine what it must have like when there was a room full of these typewriters, with their bells dinging at different times:~)
Hi Sara,
I just don’t seem to have much to contribute this week, and I probably shouldn’t admit that I’ve never heard of archy & mehitabel.
I did learn to type when I was 14 on an IBM Selectric II. I had some good speed on that. Couldn’t type worth a flip on anything else. Some computer keyboards are better than others. I like the one that came with my desktop PC, but I don’t type very well on it. I’m typing this on my HP mini. When I got it a year and a half ago, it had the best keyboard of all that I tried.
Thanks for visiting me today!
@ Linda — That’s okay about contributing. It is hard to respond to a post for which you know nothing about the characters:~)
While I appreciate the return visit, it isn’t mandatory. I really enjoy visiting your site. I think you’re a very talented story writer. I love your “magpie tale” stories and I also like the Quote series. I think you interpret quotes better than most people. Certainly, I like what you have to say!
Thanks for the visit, Linda:~)
Sara, I love old books with the worn and torn look. Appealing; they encourage a reader to treat them gently and with respect. I think it would be an interesting experiment to write a paragraph on purpose… without using capitalization and punctuation.
I remember using an old typewriter over 30 years ago. The biggest hassle was fixing mistakes and changing the ribbon. And funnily enough, these days, that becomes a hassle if I stop the flow of writing to edit too soon.
Davina´s last [type] ..Acts of a Thief and Bishop
@ Davina — This book is definitely worn. The red of the cover is so faded that it’s hard to tell it’s red. BTW Archy does eventually learn how to capitalize…his writings become a bit harder to read once he does this. It comes across like someone screaming at you:~)
I agree with you about the old typewriters. I still have difficulties not stopping and correcting my mistakes as soon as I make them. Thanks for the visit:~)
Sara, how fun! I’m enchanted by the idea of a cat who was Cleopatra and a bug who manages to figure out a typewriter and make free-form verse to express himself.
I’ve been thinking of giving my kitties twitter accounts, so they can express themselves… but then I don’t know when I’d find the time. I’m their typist, see. (And yes, I learned to type on a real, non-electric typewriter. I actually want to own a big black vintage typewriter one day, displayed as sculpture and homage. Most of my writing, tho, is done with pen and paper, because I’m really old-school.)
I can’t think of anyone whose book style is particularly blogger-like — unless you count the diary entries of Bridget Jones or the shorter essays David Sedaris has written, or possibly the short short chapters of Fondling Your Muse. Okay, I guess I could think of some, after all.
Meredith´s last [type] ..give us this day
@ Meredith — You and Davina would get a long well. I think she does a lot by handwriting. I used to hand write things, but I don’t do it very often anymore. Sometimes I miss it. There’s something about forming the letters that really pleasing:~)
I doubt the Don Marquis, the author of “the lives and times of archy and mehitabel” could have imagined what we do today and how, in an odd way, his book is somewhat similar:~)