Arnold Samuelson: An Unlikely and Poignant Alliance

Arnold Samuelson: An Unlikely and Poignant Alliance. . Arnold Samuelson greatly admired the life and works of Hemingway. He majored in journalism and planned to follow in Ernest's footsteps. In 1934, however, Samuelson realized his chances of becoming a reporter were greatly diminished due to the Depression. With the hope of meeting his literary hero, Arnold hitched a train ride atop a coal car from Minnesota to Key West., When he arrived, Arnold boldly knocked on Hemingway's door and asked to see the man of the house. Their brief encounter must have impressed Hemingway, because within 24 hours Samuelson was given the job of watchman of Hemingway's boat, Pilar. Soon he was accompanying Ernest on fishing excursions around the Florida Keys and Cuba., The year of adventures with Hemingway resulted in Samuelson's manuscript, With Hemingway. In his memoir, he describes the once-in-a-lifetime story of a young man who wants to become a writer, and the ensuing developments after the protagonist meets the greatest living writer. The manuscript was found and published by Samuelson's daughter three years after his death in 1981., The unusual friendship of Ernest and Arnold was documented by Hemingway in October 1935, when he published an article in Esquire magazine titled, "Monologue to the Maestro: A High Seas Letter." Maestro or "Mice" for short, was Hemingway's nickname for Arnold, a reference to the young man's musical talents on the violin. The two men were lifelong friends and corresponded until Hemingway's death in 1961., (captions) , (left) Arnold M. Samuelson 1912-1981, Samuelson was born in Myrtle, ND and grew up on his family's wheat farm near White Earth, MN. , (right) First Mate, Carlos Guiterrez; Watchman, Arnold Samuelson; Ernest Hemingway