The Washington herald., 1910-11-02
WORLD OF BOOKS.
eThe Man and the Dragon

Politics and Journalism-what literary
sins are committed IN thy names
Why Is it that when a man intends 70
write a novel or a story about some
branch OF business or some profession
he does not take the time to go deeply
into the details OF that business and
familiarize himself with them, at least
to such degree that he can write about
them entertainingly and truthfully enough
to show that he has given the subject
some attention. and not merely dabbled
IN 1t very, very specifically?
critics are liable to poke fun al what
IS generally known as local color" but
IL Is true that there is no one thing
barring. Of course. style-that viii as
readily endear a book 90 a person who
knows whereof the author is writing as
TINS same local color, It's presence can
make book, just as surely as its abb
sence VIII undoubtedly mar II.
And il Is this same absence Of local
color, this lack Of knowledge Of what the
author Is writing about that mars Alex
ander OTIS latest book. '1The Man and
the Dragon" From the very first. when
ne gives a brief description OF the city
room OF the Carthage News and the
former career OF John Price its city
editor, one feels that the author has
perhaps taken the trouble to walk into
a real city room and 10 condescend TO
glance at the stan al work. and then he
vent home and penned his Introductory
/ chapter Of The Man and the Dragon"
John Price is absolutely a self-made
man. lie started in as a copy boy on the
News, and at the age Of twenty-nine we
Ind him as city editor and nominal
owner Of the paper all OF which is so
easy 70 accOmplish-in the land OF books
Into his office comes the "one girl, q"
! accompanied by her mother-for Il would
I not be proper FOR the one girl. nor any
other, Tor that matter 70 come into the
/ editorial sanctum' unchaperoned Once
/ there, they induce Price 10 change the
views Of the paper on "fads IN the
Schools and he at once tears I'd an
! editorial that he has just written and
pens another, giving the opposite view OF
the situation.
But this is his only detection from the
path OF duty. As though ashamed OF his
one dereliction. Price Is as adamant
! throughout the remainder Nothing Is
able to sWerve him from the path Of
| righteousness, and in the end he Is VIC
torious over the )owers OF evil. as typified
/ by the Carthage Electric Company. Of
which the ''one girls" father is the presi-
dent
Price fights for purity OF politics, for
good city government. for a cheaper
/ franchise for the dragon" and for the
| girl he loves. Indeed. he fights hts way
| through the book In a manner which is
entirely satisfactory u those who look
/ Tor an exciting story, but who care noth-
/ ing Tor style and conference. for Mr.
| OTIS. cnoice OF language and his method
( or putting his facts together are decidedly
1 crude ana detract great deal from the
value Of the volume.
IL cannot be said that the story pos
sesses much that entities IL 10 the con-
/ sideration Of The public It's story Is not
notable for It's novelty, the authors style
/ could be greatly improved upon. and his
I lack Of local colcr' is the finishing
touch 70 mediocre story. little,
Brown & Co., B0ston)