The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-12-25
"THE DARK CORNER"
zach McGhee's Novel of South
Carolina.


Press of New York, is book that
will appeal to wide and varied
class of readers. Undoubtedly it
will arouse discussion, and it is
perhaps not too much a guess to say
that discussion is one of the, objects
of the book. For though the story.
compelling for its dramatic power
teeming with pathos, and bristling
with humor, is primarily to be read
for the story itself, it is written with
a serious purpose, that gives point
to the numerous humorous passages,
weight to the very entertaining de.
scriptions of the conditions. AMI
scenes, and philosophical interpreta-
ton both to the extremely original
plot and the tascinatingly pictur-
esque characters, which are so wy
idly portrayed that they seem real
persons. 1t must be acknowledged
that there is no one who knows the
character Of the Southern country
man" and the men who exploit
them, especially in educational and
religious lines, better than Mr.: Nc
Ghee.
1t is a Southern novel, but South
ern only in the. sense that James
Lane Allen was Kentuckian or Bret
Rarte Western. 1t is distinctly
American in its setting and portrayal
of character, though universal In It's
theme and purpose. The locality is
Southern only because thee author
is Southern and familiar, as few 9TH
ers are, with the scenes and charac-
ters he depicts, for he goes into a
field practically new in several I'M
portant respects.
1t is a Southern story without a
carpet-bagger william and without a
skinfint from Down East and
..mirabile dictu,'. Southern story
without the negro, 'the first ever,
written in the history of the world,
as Mr.. McGhee has jestingly said:
The nearest approach he allows him
self to the sombre Interrogation
point is in Simon, the faithful and
affectionate attendant who gets i'm
patient with things as they are only
when his master insists" discuss.
ing the doctrine Of the tnansmigra-
tion of the soul instead OF dress
ing for breakfast.
The Ozark Corner" might desis-
nate any Of the thinly populated
pinalands Of the South. AS matter
of fact, in the Carolinas alone there
are at least three bits of country
known by this name and one or
more in each of several other States.
While the general characteristic OF
the people and the conditions are
probably a composite of these. the
particular Dark Corner described in
9 Flow, fiat, unpropitious country
inhabited by poverty-stricken, ig-
norant, but kindly souled, deeply
religious and independent people.
Lawlessness prevails to a. certain en-
tent. and is slightly touched upon.
but it is not the theme, nor is it the
most interesting or important char
acteristic of the plot or of the char
acters.
The story opens in different and
more intelligent and advanced sec
ton of the State;. but the connection
with the Dark ccrnet is shown deftly
and definitely at The outset. The
hero, Jim Thompson, a young Sou
rherner of reduced circumstances,
who inherited from his ancestors
and absorbed from his associations
the idea that the law is the only
occupation for q gentleman, and
early in life his is designed for the
law. His earliest dreams and up
ward through years" are centered
about a beautiful little orphan girl
Amanda, WHO is taken care of IL
his home by his mother, but who is
suddenly taken away at the age of
Six. though Jim did not know whith-
er, to live with relatives in the pine
lands.
When Jim finishes college and
finds that he must earn money to
defray the expenses of his law course,
he goes to teach in "The >Hollisville
Collegiate Military Institute of Pro-
fessor Marquinius Tillson." :" rho
name itself affords sufficient indica-
ton of the kind of school it is, but
the grotesque performances of this
institution and it's unspea.-.ble
president affords material for
some of the wittiest and most mas
terful satire that has ever appeared
in this country, perhaps on the edu-
cational impostors. The President
is the william of the novel, and his eX-
ploitation Of the people Of the Dark
Corner where he travels drumming
pupils for his school is one of tn:
strongest features of the story.
At the school Jim finds Aileen,
beautiful and attractive girl, rear
ed amid the very influence or cul-
ture and intelligence, who comes to
teach in the school. Both Jim and
Tillson are in love with her. And
to the school, deceived by Tillson,
comes from the midst of the Dark
Corner the little girl Of his
Dreams" Amanda, rough, uncouth,
| ignorant, dull, and "tacky.'
In some powerful passages Mr.
McGhee portrays the awakening OF