Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-29

White Mans Burden 1865 1900. By Thomas
Dixon, IT, Illustrated by G. D. Williams
New York: Doubleday, Page & Co. Washing
ton: VIM. Ballantyne & Sons.
The reconstruction period in the south,
with its subsequent stages of readjustment,
gave rise to dramatic situations which have
attracted many novelsts Some of them
have written merely as dispassionate de-
lineators of an epoch, others as partisan
advocates of one Of another of the opposing
forces in this great sociological crisis. Mr..
Dixon is of the latter class, espousing
warmly, almost vehemently, the cause OF
the southern white man in his efforts to re-
tain the sovereignty in his state and to
prevent the growth of the negro influence.
His book is so frankly an argument that in
places it loses it's value as work of litera-
ture. 1t offers many pages of affirmation
of theory and principle. 1t constantly reaf-
firms the doctrine that it is impossible to
build a state inside state of two antaGo-
nistic races.
1t uncompromisngly declares that under
an unrestricted system of suffrage extended
to both whites and blacks the logical result
is a mulatto race. With this unpleasant,
Dramatically stated thesis 1t sets forth a
story of mingled love, hatred, politics and
ing, occasionally dramatic uneven in struc-
ture and frankly done with a purpose. 1t
carries the story of the south from the day
of the surrender at Appomattox to the pres
ent. 1t presents the typical figures OF the
southern post-bellum situation well drawn
from the life, the proud southern white,
the carpetbagger from the north, the COM
mon white" southern schemer, Indifferent
to principle and intent solely upon gain;
the educated negro, the ignorant negro,
faithful to the interests of the old south
erners, and the unregenerate eX-slave drunk
with power and easily led into mischief.
In the main the picture Mr.. Dixon draws
is unquestionably accurate and fair. But
he is not judicious in his statement at all
times. He loses the truly historical pers~
srective in places, eXaggerating at the
very outset by declaring that the civil war
made a new map of the world" and at
the close taking liberties with the blue
book by describing one of his characters
as having been rewarded by the national
administration for his partisan work in
North Carolina by appointment as "ambas-
sador to one of the republics Of South Amer
lea" at salary OF $4,000 a year, whereas
there is no such office Such inaccuracies,
however trifing, cannot fail to give the
informed reader a ooubt as to the substan-
tial accuracy of the Eody of the assertions,
which, despite the fictional form of the pre-
sentation, are nevertheless conspicuousy
designed for serious acceptance as history.
Mr.. Dixon describes the burning alive of
negro wretch and, while permitting his hero
to protest against the outrage, he palliates
1t by representing this to be the white
mans last remedy against the black mans
lust.
While THE Leopard's Spots cannot be
called great novel, nor isit Of value in the
solution of the perplexing race and suf-
frage question, it is certain to arouse dis
cussion both north and south.
THE LITTLE BROTHER; a Story of Tramp Life.
By Josiah Fiynt. author Of .'Tramping With
Tramps," etc. New York: The Century Com
pany.
Mr.. Flynt's work as a student of tramp
life at first hand has given him an authori-
ty on the subject second to none In the
world. He has sought to present the de-
tails of that life as he has himself led it
in the ranks of the roadsters, and also to
state as far as possible the sociological
causes lying beneath the impulse which
sends able-bodied and often intelligent men
upon the highways and railways in search
of a free living. In his earlier books he
has noted with deep concern the trick of
the "hoboes'' of kidnapping youngsters or
Turing them from their homes by telling
them ghost stories" of the life of hobo
land, declaring that this is one of the most
dangerous factors of the maintenance of
the tramp ranks His present story tells
of the experiences Of one of the little ''pru-
shuns,' as the tramp apprentices are
called. 1t cannot be regarded merely a
story, IT conveys a strong ana perhaps
corrective suggestion of the dangers which
Turk about the boys Of impressionable
years, especially in the small towns of the
middle west more or less infested with
tramps. The narrative is interesting in
itself, however, with vivid characterization
and an unmistakable atmosphere of real
ism. The tale develops into a tragedy in
that the little boy who is stolen dies in con-
sequence Of his tramping experience. A
love story is suggestive a means of
binding the parts together. THE Little
Brother" reaches the heart Of the reader
early In the pages and does not surrender
Its hold. 1t Is one of the strong, unmistak-
ably American tales Of American literature.
TWENTY SIX AND ONE and Other Stories; from
the NagabOnd Series. Translated from the kus
sian of Maxine Gorky. Preface by Ivan stran-
mix New York: J. F. Taylor & Company.
Having burst upon the western reading
world as revelation of the latest literary
trend in Russia, Gorky promises to fade in
proportion as his stories become the more
realistic. They show signs of the soil too
plainly. They become unpleasant in their
suggestiveness Of filth, physical and moral.
They are doubtless true to the life init
mate transcriptions from the bitter per-
sOnal experiences Of the author, but they
are entirely too foreign to even the vaga-
bond American life or the lower life Of the
common people, to be heartily appreciated.
Strong they are, indeed. in their directneSs
and unhesitating frankness, but it is the
strength rather of the sewer and the cess
pool. lola in France has uncovered the
forbidden places to public view, but the
French filth differs racially and radically
from the Russian. Gorky cannot be termed
a missionary, for his field is too barren for
fruitful results to come from plain speak
ing in the land of severe restrictions. These
tales are to be regarded specimens Of
the current literature Of an alien people
rather than as genuine contributions to the
reading Of the west.
THE THRAII. OF LIEF THE, LUCKY; a Story of
the Viking Days. BY Ottflie A. Liliencrantz.
Illustrated In colors by Troy and Margaret West
Kinney. Chicago: "A. G. McClurg & Company.
The discovery Of America by the Morse
men forms the chief setting for this novel
of adventure and love. 1t is strong and
vivid, demanding unfagging attention and
presenting a rapidly moving series of dra-
matte and picturesque scenes. The richness
of the life of the wealthy and powerful
mobiles of Scandinavia and Greenland is
conspicuously developed, the brutality of
the period Is demonstrated with almost
shocking force and the fervor Of the early
Christians of northern Europe is indicated
in the persistent efforts of Lief Ericsson to
he nd 1,3c