The St. Louis Republic., 1903-01-03
Books of the Week---N0rris' ''The PITT
---Literary ChitChat.

To those who have read 1.-THE Octopus"
| the second book in the trilogy Of the epic OF
| the wheat will be received with pleasure
! akin to fascination. THE PITT is the title
and the late Frank Norris is the author.
Commercial stories are product OF the
recent industrial development Of this coun-
| try. Norris entered into the spirit of tho
new literature with vim that left no doubt
of his ultimate success. His sense of strong
dramatic situations is such that with the
understanding of intricate wheat deals
which he has acquired by thorough study
at first hand. he had material for a Won
derfcl tale.
He has not disappointed his admirers.
THE Pr is the story of a fictitious wheat
corner III the Chicago market Yet In a
way this story is one Of every speculative
market, whether it be in New York, Chica-
go. s.. Louis or any other exchange.
Curtis Jadwin. capitals; and speculator.
is The hero around whom the plot moves.
man with an immense amount OF money as
result of fortunate real estate invest
ments. he fines himself the Unknown Bull
of the wheat market. His wife, Laura. a
typical American girl. Is s!ighted for busi-
ness. OF course. the tempter appears. In
the person OF Corthell. an old lover and
artist.
Jadwin's Justification for his neglect Is
characteristic Of every mans excuse under
similar circumstances. The wheat cornered
Itself. l Simply stood between two sets OF
circumstances. The wheat cornered me. not
j the wheat
The story is full of drama tic interest Fa-
millar Chicago localities are mentioned with
Il freedom which makes it a distinctly col
ortu tale. The study of character Is true
TO life. and one which is seen duplicated on
every hand
To those who have read Roger Drake.
Captain of Industry Norris's The PITT
will be especially interesting. 1t has more
a md ,or,ap NO Ian
o; industrial history. yet both must be cited
Is examples of the best in the recent run
Of comm. rcial fiction.
The PHI" published by Doubleday. Page &
Coz
More historical! with Washington at
Valley Forge" by W. Bert Foster. Is
with Washington at Valley Forge Quite
force of literary soldiery have recently ac-
companisd Washington across the ice ana
various places: but none has done 1t more
Historically. romantically than Mr.. Foster
Tie hero is an enthusiastic patriot" He
,oscs 70 time In epl.sting for his country
He performs a whole category OF romanti-
cally historically heroic deeds. undergoes all
manner of hacds hips and receives his NEED
OF praise from superior officers. One OF his
greatest narve,s is to hold his breath. To
auo.e:
Then Hardley pulled the great door shut
| ard fastened it securely on the inside. For
an instant he could breathe.
"Su; only for an instant'-IIere he COM
mences to hold IL. Presumably because the
| Gra goons were at the door beating upon 1t
with sabers and pistol butts. He had no
weapon. but he had. of course. important
papers. He felt it his duty to risk his life
| for the papers. Evidently he thought that
| the best way to risk it would be to hold his
breath.
While he still held it-"Colonel Knowles
had now come out into the yard and taken
command of the attack. Evidently he was
recognized by, the British soldiers despite
his civilians dress. He gave orders for
timber to be brought to bea. in the door.
| ard Had,ey likewise heard him send two OF
| the soldiers around the barn to watch the
rear If the boy would escape it must be
within the next few seconds But how
could he escape. breathless?
Nevertheless. we are informed, HE ran
hack TO the rear of the building. Here was
| another wide door and he flung 1t OPEN
| How refreshing is that blast OF fresh air
| to the reaaer who has been on the verge
! of smothering! The reader takes a breath,
| but the hero doesn't stop for that. True. he
| begins to converse after time. and the
breathing is implied.
| EHt a breath more or less shouldn't con-
| denim an historical novel. TIA boys for
whom It was written will enjoy Mr.. Fosters
| book. AS a boys story it easily passes
muster Penn Publishing Company. Phila-
! dephia.
| Charles W. Buck, formerly United States
| Minister to Peru, is the author of Under
| the Sun; or The Passing of the 1ncas." To
! gain in realism his story is given in the