A Pilgrimage to Robert Ruark's Hometown: Southport, NC

[Larry Eckart]

A Pilgrimage to Robert Ruark's Hometown: Southport, NC

Next to Gordon McQuarrie's trilogy of the Old Duck Hunters, Inc., my favorite outdoor book that is read again and again, is the homespun work of Robert Ruark, The Old Man and the Boy along with The Old Man's Boy Grown Older.

Ruark grew up in the 1920's and 30's in Southport, NC. He was blessed to live in the presence of his grandfather, Captain Edward Atkins fondly called, "The Old Man." Ruark takes us back to a time when you could train your bird dog on the covey of quail just outside the back door. (Oh don't we wish we could just see a covey of quail anywhere!) He takes us back to a time when men whittled at a whittling bench in order to stay out of the house while the women cleaned. He takes us back to a time when you could have a shack along the ocean coast on property you did not own, yet no one would bother your shack. He takes us back to a time and place where boys were raised with a rod and gun and a boat and their heroes were those who had a PhD in rod and gun and boat.

If you have not read these two classics you don't know what you are missing! Last week I had the opportunity to spend a few hours in Southport and shake hands with the ghost of Robert Ruark.

Here is a pic of the house Ruark grew up in as it looked back in the day:
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Here is how the house looks now, serving as the Robert Ruark Inn:
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Here is the marker in front of the house:
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Ruark speaks of the old men of the town sitting on the whittling bench. Of those men he offered this proverb of proverbs about just sitting and whittling. "I reckon most folks would say we are just plain no-'count lazy. A lazy man is a man who fiddles and fools around with a job he's supposed to be working at. I am not lazy. I am recovering from the past and storing up strength for the future!" p. 138

I think more Americans would be healthier mentally and emotionally if they just practiced that last sentence, which can only be practiced by sitting and doing nothing, particularly nothing that has to do with wires and screens!

Here is a pic of the whittlin' bench in Southport, NC:
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And the marker with photos of old men whittlin':
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Ruark fell in love with Africa later in life and wrote several books about his adopted land.

Just down the street from Ruark's home is a storm-bent live oak looking out to sea:
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Here are a few of my favorite quotes from The Old Man and the Boy:

"Respect what can kill you." p. 410 (A good proverb for all duck hunters to inscribe on their boat!)

"If a man is really intelligent there is practically nothing that a good dog can't teach him." p. 120

"In a sense we are heroes because we had sense enough to loaf all day without people watching us." p. 61

"There is a state of mind called October." p. 557

"You got to be in it to know about it." p. 567

"The whole purpose to summer fishing is not to worry about catching fish but just to get out of the house and set and think a while." p. 56

"Children should be seen and not heard; this goes for most adults too." p. 165

"A man has to learn to talk correctly before he can allow himself the privilege of vulgar speech." p. 212

"I do not admire people who are industrious all the time." p. 61

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[Steve Sanford]

Good morning, Larry~


A wonderful tribute to one of my favorites! His "Old Man" books reside in my Personal Pantheon.


My sister moved to Southport a couple of years ago. I have yet to visit - but Ruark's connection is a strong pull. I am glad to see that his time there is recognized via the house.


I enjoyed the quotes you selected - even though he would not necessarily appreciate my "pace"....


"I do not admire people who are industrious all the time." p. 61


Gotta head out to the shop!


All the best,


SJS

 

[John Kirk]

"You have to be crazy to be a Duck Hunter". One of my favorite books. I did not realize he died so young ( and of cirrhosis.)

 

[MLBob Furia]

The Old Man and the Boy along with The Old Man's Boy Grown Older.

[size 4] Two of the favorites on my shelf as well, Larry.
The latter rescued from a trash bin years ago at the high school library..... no one had checked it out in years and they decided to get rid of it [crazy].
Oh well, my gain.

 

[Joe Friday]

My wife and I stayed at the Robert Ruark Inn last month. I had the opportunity to read his biography, written by his Secretary, while lounging on the sofa in his living room.

He had a sad life in many ways. Both parents were alcoholics and drug addicts. His own alcoholism killed him young. He was generous with money and spent it as quickly as he earned it. He was faithful to no woman. Married twice, he was constantly on the make for getting another woman into bed.

Maybe his pain made him a better writer.

 

[Fritz Meck]

Thanks for posting, I have read all his books. Ranks in the top 10 on any best writers list.

 

[HenryHawthorne]

Found this while reading through old threads researching. Growing up in southeastern NC, Ruark's books were a childhood, then lifelong favorite.

If you haven't already found them, you might also enjoy Havilah Babcock, a fabulous South Carolina outdoor writer. My Health Is Better In November; Tales of Quails 'N Such; Jaybirds Go To Hell On Friday; Education Of Pretty Boy; I Don't Want To Shoot An Elephant - all gems.

I made a habit of gifting a copy of The Old Man and the Boy plus one of Babcock's books to close hunting/fishing friends from other parts of the US at the birthday of their first child.

 

[FD Roe]

Ruark wrote a monthly column in Field and Stream for years. Before I could read my father used to read the column to me each month. I have all of Ruark's books in my library now, Havilah Babcock's books, Jack O'Conner and even the Lower Forty.