This book capitalizes on Mr. Dobie's fame by reprinting magazine and journal articles published mostly in the 1940s. The ones that I read were interesting but I think were more enjoyed when first published for an audience that better knew of these Texans. The story elicited from W.W. Burton (born 1843) about driving small herds to be sold for big money (in Missouri or to Shreveport for shipment onward to New Orleans) offers little known facts.
I have a catalogue of a Tom Lea exhibition (offered to PBS comrades with no takers) and so was interested in the very personal (and wandering) appreciation offered by Mr. Dobie. The essay on John A. Lomax was similar.
The essay about Mr. Bateman offers readers a good understanding of such entrepreneurs in only eleven pages. It begins: "A wildcatter is a person who drills for oil in a place oil is not known to exist. Bankers consider his business about as safe as buying lottery tickets." The finances are also mentioned--I didn't know oil brought as much as $3.50 bbl in 1920.
No photos, no index.

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