“You see, my idea is that the common people-in the country, that is-never have had any chance to get hold of books, and never have had any one to explain what books can mean. It’s all right for college presidents to draw up their five foot shelves of great literature, and for the publishers to advertise sets of their Linoleum Classics, but what the people need is the good, homely, honest stuff–something that’ll stick to their ribs–make them laugh and tremble and feel sick to think of the littleness of this popcorn ball spinning in space without ever even getting a hot-box! And something that’ll spur’em on to keep the hearth well swept and the wood pile split into kindling and the dishes washed and dried and put away. Any one who can get the country people to read something worth while is doing his nation a real service. And that’s what this caravan of culture aspires to.”
Mr. Mifflin meets Miss McGill and shares with her his desire to sell the book mobile. Yearning for a change in her life, she buys the book mobile from him even though her brother objects to her new adventure and decision.
State of Hospitality 