Name/Title
I Wanted Out!Entry/Object ID
2018.020.0001Description
The Autobiography of Elsie Robinson. It begins with her life in Benicia as a child in the 1880's and continue through adult life in other cities (Chicago among others).
From the back of the book jacket: "Elsie Robinson was born in the Eighties in the frontier town of Benicia, California. She grew up in the turbulence and colorful confusion of this wild combination mining-camp, fishing village and seaport. She recalls from her childhood: "wharf rats, millionaires. Wandering evangelists. Miners, hairy-chested adventurers from the Mother Lode. Cowboys in from the roundup, soldiers in bob-tailed coats, tattooed sailors...Gamblers, curious boneless, gentle gents. Oddly domestic when off duty. Kanaka stevedores, Chinese laundrymen. Portuguese farmers. Gypsies. Greek fishermen--black-bearded fellows, black-cowled nuns, always in couples. Mormon Missionaires. Handsome young men who traveled in twos and worked fast. Utah wasn't monogamous then. Occasionally our enraged males rode them out of town on a rail--to widespread feminine regret. I was quite mad about one once. His creed intrigued me. Many wives! That made marriage seem the more exciting for an energetic young woman who could stand competition. I still think the idea has merits. A little lively concubine-menace might be great for what ails a lot of Mrs.s."
With a vividness that is unique, Elsie Robinson writes the great human experience that was her life, the experience that gave her the understanding and sympathy she has for the difficulties of others."
Brown hard cover; 5-5/8" x 8-1/8" x 1-1/2"
299 pages
signed by author on the fly-page to Marion Lawton (Vallejo)Collection
Benicia Historical Museum CollectionBook Details
Author
Robinson, ElsieDate Published
1934
