The San Francisco call., 1906-10-28
" Submerged Tenth Gets
Another Raking Up.
u EdRard II Cahfu


4"HB Socialist novel is all the
vogue. On this side OF the At
lsntic and on the other the bitter
struggle for existence that afficts
the submerged tenth" provides the
text from which the cult Of despair
draws a moral that may or may not
a6orn q tale. In the case OF Richard
Whiteing and his latest book, Ring In
the New" IS the tale that adorns the
moral or perhaps rather the way the
tale Is told In one way 1T is a slight
thing. beczuEe nothing in particular
happens. There is no blood and thun-
der, no moving accidents OF blood and
moves placidly and the book is re-
deemed from duIlness only by the fine
quality OF its humor- The book does
not approach IN value the authors No.
8 John Street" which gave US the most
vivid and at the same time the most
entertaining picture Of low life in
London since the days of Dickens.
The present book covers nearly the
same field. but with the criminal ele-
ment relegated TO the background.
There Is no escape from the iron
law OF brotherhood" IS the keynote Of
the book. as declared by the young
n faIist OF university training, who
c6mes as near being the hero of the
y ook as anybody. Mr.. Whiteing is
spariug OF his heroes and they lack
something Of Homeric stature, being
the more human thereby.
Perhaps nothing in the book is more
amusing than the contrasted pictures
OF the respectable British female Of the
carly Victoria period and her niece, the
slangy high school girl. It was like
this:
"And what are you going to do now.
nv chnd2" she said. as Prue sat before
her In the big drawing-room.
'Td like to 90 to GirtOn, Aunt Edom.
please"
~cirtont" said the old lady, gently.
Don't you think it is rather an Amer
ican sort os placer"
Don't know much about that" said
the girl hastily, but it is a ripping
good shop If you want to get on"
It was most unfortunate, and the
worst OF st was 1t would have been so
easy not to say it II she had only given
Il q thought
The pause was dreadful and it seemed
only 70 be prolonged when the old lady
repeated. syllable by syllable: RIP
pinE-good-shop.r
The pendulum of the clock did not
'sThat IS just why / never liked the
high school, though. OF course. your
Moor mother would have her way. just
Why I don't like Girton. II you must
know"
Aunt Edom, am so sorry"
~Oh. never mind me; It is yourself ]
am thinking Of. Did you never hear OF
4 book called The Etymological Die
tonary?"
yes. Aunt Edom."
s.r have a great mind to give you a
eopy TO show you where you stand--on
the brink or so to speak You want
"a say. ] suppose, that residence at
Girton is conducive to proficiency In
studies. why don't you say so? What
is Ilpll-ef - - P'-
Violently with 4 sharp instrument.
though 7 have not the definition at
hand. Rather vulgar at the best OF
times i should say; very coarse IN
shis instance. Ripping" Prue, dear,
es II YOU were Whitechapel murderer
And shop, why cant you say acad-
erly or establis hmenty She shook
front Of curls that but for her respect
for antiquity might never have been
n commotion since the time Of Queen
Adelaide
4 forget Aunt Edon- was think
hng Of our playground"
n s'Oh. leave that to the playground of
the ragged school Do you know what
nv Gardeners child. a mere mite OF
Ten. said the other day. and to me, If
,,on please-I asked him why he was
wearing a bandage over his forehead
lie said some one-a schoolfepow.