The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1903-10-17
THE CURSE OF CASTE.

p. THE CURSE OF CASTE. ~ =,
ca Inc G GaG;eat OF Caste BY n. J: W: Le
svo. Pp. so. 81. New York: Walker
Ellerson Publishing Co.
worst foes to a republic are Democracy
the second to oligarchy. The middle way
is best. May the American people ever
walk therein.
This is a very interesting story, and
and written by an author who exhibits
mastery over the accepted literary forms,
it's interest is therefore enhanced
1t is the tale of a young boy developing
into youth, In northern community. and
belonging to the prescribed class of black
folk. Early in life he begins to curse the
fate that had cast his lot with that Of
the lowly people of color. Being fair of
complexion, and possessing all Of the ply
steal characteristics of the white race, he
could not understand why he should be
fact that ;,, Nanny S5y Sally" his ostensiDie
His attachment to his dark mother was
very pronounced, and when in the course
Of time she decided to return to the more
congenial climate Of the South, because Of
gle for existence at the North against the
tireless competition of New England
labor, Jack Sally" as he was called by
his playmates worked as farm ~laborer
O1A VIC pAoAIdI1Ou VI NOlOlIcA SuStlS, dIlu
was the source of. much. assistance and
comfort to his hard working mother.
On their way south the boy has his first
encounter with the Jim Crow car, and
soon 4oe after MS i arrival at the Place where
became the Victim of petty prosecutions,
because of his race identity, which Gull
minated in his attempted assassination.
His life as a farm laborer was one
dreary round of uninviting and monoton-
Gus toll, relieved occasionally by the COM
radeship.. Of old Uncle Kiah," typical
ante be1lum Negro, and Joe Watkins. a
white boy, with whom he hunted possums
at night
Denied admission to the local public
school, because of his race, he would have
been allowed to grow up in illiteracy and
of a New England woman, living on an
adjoining plantation who gave him pri-
vate lessons. AS his young, mind com
under the Course of Caste" which fell
heavily upon his sensitive spirit.
On hunting expedition one night with
Joe Watkins, he got himself into the
public whipping for crime of which he
was innocent but was unable to establish
it, because his comrade,. the sole witness
to the incident for which he had been
the court in order that there might be no
possibility of his exoneration. Saved,
however, by stay of execution obtained
by a friend, he returns to his lowly habi-
tation, and Is shortly afterward taken
sick after rescu1ng a drowning woman.
The rescue of this woman instead of at
tracing to himself the friendship of his
neighbors only served to increase their
While In a delirious condition, and nursed
by his benefactress, very dramatic
scene is enacted, which results in his be-
ing carried to the Great House" where
y 80 fyAe+ ol1n I'D
through some mysterious. influence.
Treated as an adopted son, he is finally
sent to Harvard University, where for the
second time he meets Theodore Roose-
welt, who once again comes into his life
and influences him for good.
Falling in love with white girl living
on an adjoining estate, his suffering be-
comes so intense at the realization of the
that he is nearly driven crazy-was on
the verge of insanity, when he confesses
his love to the beautiful daughter OF
Colonel GUSTS. only to be treated with
inexpressible contempt.
1t is just at this climax that it becomes
known that he is in realty a white man of
good birth. who had been given to
NANNY Sally when babe to raise, IN IN
the humiliation and disgrace of a clan
destine marriage with a man who had
killed her brother in duel at college.
a Negro burying ground:
1T marked the spot of a Negro grave
yard. Here in the bramble infested with
reptiles and the haunt of rabbits, slept
the nameless and unhonored men of toll;
the faithful, sons of Africa, who for many
generations had watered these very
fields with the sweat of their brow, hsar-
ing with remarka BILE patience the subju-
eating yoke Of slavery, going to their
toll from day to. day and returning like
a galley slave ito his dungeon" night
after night without change and without
hope, only to fall down In the harvest
field or the long furrOW and be carted out
to find rest at last under> the shade Of
this old tree :,
SOCIAL LIFE IN THE EARLY REPUB-
Social Life in the Early Republic. BY
Anne Hollingsworth Wharton. Pro
fusely Illustrated. Svo. Buckram, gilt
top. uncut edges. So net. Philadel-
phia: j. B. Lippincott Company.
been written a good deal of interesting
reading matter dealing with the early
life Of the Republic and of the, colonial
period Much of the matter that. has
been given to the public bears the stamp
hardly be classed as standard literature.
Anne Uolling swcrth Wharton, however. in
Social Life in the Early Republic has
written historically and We'll. This lady
ial period, and the previous volumes which
she has written dealing with the men,
the politics and the tragic events of that
most strenuous period of development and
evolution was not only we'll received by
the reading people, but caused them to
look forward with much expectation to
the present volume, which may be termed
The first chapter on "A Social Evolu-
ton carries one straight to the heart
of the subject. without any of the slcken-
ing little prologues or apologies which
usually, characterize works Of this Glass;
."Ine Boston1ans unite: simplicity of
morals with that French politeness and
of manner which render virtue
more amiable." wrote Brissot de War
Vile, who visited the principal cities of
america soon after the Revolution. In