The San Francisco call., 1910-11-06
"My Brothers Keeper"


BY Charles Tenney Jackson. Published by
the Bobbs Merrill Co. Indianapolis. Price
$3.50.
My Brothers Keeper" is as unlike
the first novel by the same author,
1.-The Day of Souls" as it is possible
to be, and in its way quite as strong
and virile a story. Chicago is the
scene of this tale; San Francisco was
the first books setting. Both stories
are remarkable character studies Of a
man. but in this book We have a sec
ond man who holds the interest al
most as intently as does the chief
character.
The brotherhood of man Is being
preached from the housetops from all
corners Of the world just now and in
as many different fashions. Mr.. Jack
son has selected two men to preach
this doctrine and the reader may
choose between them at the last.
Herford Rand, the hero, is a charac-
ter as difficult to describe as he was to
understand. Neither his family nor
his acquaintances did him justice in
thought or act. He is an actor, mad
man, genius, fool, preacher, a cut
throat, a poet, a philosopher, a tramp.
But always he is honest; never does he
deceive himself or others. When he
appears in the story he is a fugitive
from justice, a cutthroat and he does
an old acquaintance, who takes him
home in her carriage. In a tired. half
serious fashion, with the manners of
buffoon, he sketches a handful of his
adventures since he has last seen this
girl:
"A trifie tired and fat-there are no
adventures for a fat man. And here I
am in Chicago after years, Eth, but
I've lived. I've been bucko mate on a
n IA 10 nd hpr
rotten tinbers sink beneath me; I've
mined in Queensland and down the
Peruvian coast; I've smuggled opium
into the French islands and done time
marooned on a reef for it; I've slept
and ate and fought with every race
that fronts the Pacific, and here I am,
hotfooting through Chicagos streets
after the Bull Hill war-tired, getting
fat-there's no bloom on the peach for
a fat man."
Rand had been educated for the min
istry, but declined to be dictated to
by some bigoted old deacons, so gave
up his work The question was one
he declined to explain to the deacons
and they and his father misunderstood
him all his life. In consequence his
father a Judge of the supreme court.
and millionaire mill owner, disowned
him. He wandered out into the world
and had all sorts of adventures and
experiences. He lived the life of the
man of the people and knew from ex-
perience what most of the preachers
and teachers knew from books and
theory. When he returned to Chicago
and was taken home by the girl he had
about decided to ask his fathers for
giveness and live at home.
The other man in this tale who just
comes second in interest is Doctor En-
nesley, college professor who is de-
voting his life to the teaching of the
brotherhood of man. He has interested
Judge Rand to such an extent that he
has been permitted to lecture at the
Rand mills and Judge Rand will even
finance some of his schemes of uplift
work. AS a result of his teachings.
poor, ignorant Pole who does not more
than half grasp the meaning Of il all
throws bomb and several are killed.
He flies to Chicago and searches for
Ennesley. who he has been told will
help his brother" in trouble. When
this climax is reached, the professor
sees clearly that If he recognizes the
Pole he himself will be ruined and all
his schemes OF years will tumble. about
him in ruins. So he denies the knowl-
edge of the boy and decides to stick
to his teachings. His cold blooded ar
guments will shock many readers. but
he is a fanatic and can see only his
goal
Rand. though spectacular, proves
himself more than a hero. He has the
courage Of his convictions and saves
the situation for all concerned but
himself, poor fellow. He goes TO his
death nobly laughing and scoffing, but
we suddenly see his soul and realize
his greatness and nobility.
The characters Of the story are well
drawn and the tale itself will interest
readers. We find the melting pot
idea here again when the professor
tells of his theories of the results of
the mixture of all the races in this
great country. There is scarcely as
much story in this novel as in The
Day of Souls" but there is quite as
intense character study and as much
earnestness of purpose. It is a book
10 be read slowly and discussed