The San Francisco call., 1908-12-20
"Se

By James Hopper ard Fred r. Bechdodt- Pub
llshed 10y the Mcclure company. New York
Price Sl-25-
DY no means the least important
IL circumstance about this much
discussed book of insistent pur-
pose is the fact that 1t has in
troduced a new and strong figure into
the panorama OF contemporary litera-
ture. Hopper has become pretty well
known 10 magazine readers in the
past Few years and the Hopper part
or "9OO9" is not hard TO find; but the
real strength Of the book, the IN
sistent something that makes you sit
up and draw breath instinctively. Is
felt to be beyond Hopper and centers
your interest upon the other name In
the literary partnership out OF the
discussion that followed its original
appearance as serial in the Satur-
day Evening Post came the knowledge
that tie story was BechdolGts and the
style pretty much Hopper's. And each
deserves q fair share OF the books
undoubted success.
The reading of "sOO9" gives you the
impression OF something big. awe
inspiring and almost unbelievable told
IN words OF one syllable. Its IS no
shoulder bound vocabulary. but the
staccato manner Of the telling carries
the idea OF simplicity-the effort TO
explain to child the vastness OF the
universe That's Hopper. After the
reading you forget the language and
stand held by the thing-gripped by
the rush OF conviction that a great
social tragedy has been portrayed
through puppets led before your eyes.
That's Bechdoldt.
X is not pretty story. It is not
a book to be read in the boudoir,
propped up by pillows and under deli
cately tinted lights. It's a book for
the open air. TO be read under the
shade OF forest giants or IN the cleft
OF storm beaten cliff, and with
barred head. It is q prison tale, aimed
at the system Of TRUSTEES and stool
pigeons through which most prisons
st least on the Pacific Coast, are gov
erned, and II deals with facts. And
the facts are hard AS the preface
explains, all the things told Of hap
pened somewhere at some time. They
did not all happen to one man and
they did not ali happen at one prison
but they are the things that prisons hav'
seen and they are not the worst. Tht
scene IS a combination of San Quentin
Walla Walla and Salem, and many o
the facts were gathered through mucl
patience and long effort from a mai
now old and broken, who has spen
lar more Of his life in these prison
than out Of them. and who executes
at least one criminal coup that wa
world famous.
The characters are all brutes. Their
Is IS no exception, save as to lay hgur
here and there Only now and the
= IS there even A glimpse Of the human
and for tho rest the brutality differ
only in kind and to some slight ex
tent ia degree. But they serve thei
purpose and they serve II well-so wel
that no book OF the year has mad
q stronger impression OF originality an
none has through steady increase 1
demand given more evidence OF per
nanency. There is some forcing c
situations and some straining 70
novelty Of expression, as for instanc
the constant recurrence OF the phras
carrying II loosely, like a hunter!
But on the whole II is strong, com
pelling. well drawn as to character
and consistent as to their development
and # brings to the front a new autho
with an evident patience. capacity fc
research and gift of Imagination ths
should produce much good work.
And by no means least. II tells
tale that should lead TO somethin
more than mere sense OF injustice. ]
itself Il IS sufficient basis for legisls
tive Investigation and action.
This IN passing: Many good wor
OF serious and laudable purpose hs
been spoiled by a word OF ridicule,
the burlesoue OF a careless phrase.
one OF the early eastern reviews
"e00s" the title was read "goog." II
q strong book that can outlive q laug