Samuel McChord Crothers

Samuel McChord Crothers
Samuel McChord Crothers (1857-1927) was an American Unitarian minister and essayist known for his charming and thoughtful essays. His work often blended humor, wisdom, and gentle irony, exploring topics like literature, culture, and human nature. Crothers is best remembered for books like "The Gentle Reader" and "The Pardoner's Wallet," where he discussed the art of reading and moral complexities. His style, reflective yet accessible, earned him a devoted readership in the early 20th century.

Author's Books:


As I sit by my Christmas fire I now and then give it a poke with a bayonet. It is an old-fashioned British bayonet which has seen worse days. I picked it up in a little shop in Birmingham for two shillings. I was attracted to it as I am to all reformed characters. The hardened old sinner, having had enough of war, was a candidate for a peaceful position. I was glad to have a hand in his reformation. To... more...

'Twasthe night before Christmas, and it was very quiet in Mrs. Muffet's house,—altogether too quiet, thought little Miss Muffet, as she sat trying to eat her curds and whey. For Mrs. Muffet was a very severe mother and had her own ideas about bringing up children,—and so had Mr. Muffet, or rather he had the same ideas, only warmed over. One of these was on the necessity of care in the diet... more...

HUMANLY SPEAKING "Humanly speaking, it is impossible." So the old theologian would say when denying any escape from his own argument. His logical machine was going at full speed, and the grim engineer had no notion of putting on the brakes. His was a non-stop train and there was to be no slowing-down till he reached the terminus. But in the middle of the track was an indubitable fact. By all... more...