The San Francisco call., 1907-03-17
Lawson's Friday, the 18TH"
Tragedy of the Ticker


Tragedy of the Ticker
THOMAS LAWSON, Boston's "fren-
zied nnsncier." celebrated his
birthday on February &c Of this
year in a most unusual manner
On that day his first novel, Friday. the
Thirteenth,' was brought out in book
form. and for the people who never
read serials" will be a distinct surprise.
II is almost a sequel to his "Frenzied
Finance" Perhaps il is what he has
long promised-an exposure OF how the
operations in Wall street arc carried on.
It Ia grewsome story Of death, insanity
and idiocy--the dolefui tragedy OF the
ticker" Il purports TO be the mar
rative OF Jim Randolph. = member of a
rich and famous banking house in New
York. Bob Brownley. a college friend
and q member OF poor. proud South
ern family, works for him while. but
later becomes g broker for himself.
Here enters the heroine not very
convincing or probable arrangement.
Her father. Judge Lee Sands OF Vir-
xinia, has lost his fortune TO the pirates
OF the street" and with IL several
millions OF trust money belonging TO
his coniding friends and neighbors.
HE daughter, Beulsh. has been her
fathers secretary and so has learned
business methods. Consequently he
gives her the remnant OF his funds TO
so 20 New York and win back their
losses. The young friend OF Randolph.
who has blossomed out into broker
OF rare nerve and judgment. undertakes
Beuish Sands business. even as he
was signaIed from the start TO be
Bsuiah's lover. The real story is OF the
campaign to wrest from the buccaneers
OF Wall street the fortune Of the
wrecked southerner.
Here. in a conversation between Ran
dolph and Brownley, is Lawson's most
telling shot az the Washington end OF
the system
That tariff bill is up az Wash
ington. II Il goes through, Sugar
Again ] agreed.
STANDARD OIL and the Sugar peo-
pie know whether il is going
through, for they control the SEN
ate and the House and can induce
the President to be good. What
DC you say TO that
%. X" j answered
NO question about il, is tbere?"
Not the slightest"
Right again. when 2e Broad
way STANDARD OH gives the secret
order to the Washington boss and
he passes II out to the grafters,
there viii be quiet accumula-
ton OF the stock won't there2r
You've got that right. Bob
And the man who first knows
when Washington begins to take
D
load up quick and rush il up 10 a
high level. II he does 81 quickly
the stockholders. who now have ii.
will get juicy slice OF the ripen-
ing melon, slice that otherwise
would 20 TO those greedy hypo-
critics at Washington. who are al
ways publicly proclaiming that
they sre there TO serve their fellow
countrymen, but who never tire OF
expressing themselves 10 their
brokers as not being in politics
for their health
Lawson is at his best in his descrip-
tion OF the roaring battles between
Brownley and the captains OF the
iniouitous system" on change. These
passages rise TO the height OF melo-
drama and yellow journalism The
authors critics may say that his novel
ia not literature, just as some of the
WaII-street people said that the reve-
Istions OF '.Frenzied Finance" were not
truth told for truths sake. but part
advertising and the rest revenge. II
will be generally admitted. one mays
say. that Lswson's fiction has not the
literary quality OF his so-cailed revela-
lions or even Of his market letters"
He does not seem 20 Al the vehicle
And one might commend him heart
ilv for the grim esrnestness and power
OF his sermon-for this is nsught
else-upon the woes and horrors of
speculation, 81 one could forget that it
IS his business in life, conducted with
the largest success. 20 promote gamb-
ling in stocks.
Chsrscteristically, the author pub
fishes in the back OF his book fac
sinaile copies OF letters received from
his admirers while the story was be-
ing seriaiized- IL was carnation. not
g violet, that was named after Lawson
Doubleday. Page & Co.. New York.
Price sL5o.)