The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-12
WORLD OF BOOKS.
NV Brother's Keeper. .

2ANb4ANA AANSPSAs
The term 1.-The Great American Novel;
has been applied so often, In the flush
of critical exuberance. TO so many books
that have failed to realize the appella-
ton that the phrase has become TO be
regarded as a false alarm. One Is ir-
resistibly reminded OF Aesop's time-worn
fable Of The Boy and the Wolf" May
be. when the great book does arrive.
no one viii pay any attention 10 st.
AZ any rate. as a measure OF pBaise, the
designation is superflous. To produce "a"
really good American novel is enough.
and Charles Tenny Jackson has certain
~ earned the sufficient degree OF praise
with my Brothers Keeper" his lat
est volume. That il is a story OF Ameri-
can life. showing vivid pictures with
the current atmosphere for a back
ground. is perfectly true. and that If
IS true novel. and not a series OF argu-
ments, Is likewise obvious
The general tendency OF the novel Is
altruistje, and It involves in it's dis
cussion the current talk about the uni
versal brotherhood Of men. socialism.
labor problems, and class distinction.
aiming 10 show one would suppose from
the perusal thereof. how these things
are really regulated. as they have al
ways been regulated. by simple human
nature The main lesson is inculcated by
the dOings OF the hero, HerfOrd Rand,
and shows how a man hampered with
some of the attributes commonly con-
sidered vices, yea. even crimes. may rise
TO the heights sublime OF self-sacrifice.
While il is not, strictly speaking, Sid
ney Carton revivihed, IL embraces the
same general process. This man is by
nature a poseur. an actor, one who
| loves 20 attract the attention OF the
world by bizarre action and Wordy eX-
preston, with no one denying the acute
ness OF his intellect. and has been in
reality and IN succession. the rich mans
pampered son. minister OF the church.
labor agitator, tramp, convict, End homi-
| eide, yet at the critical moment he ex-
! emplifes the logical contamination OF the
| doctrine OF universal brotherhood by
| sacrificing himself for a creature even
lower than himself Beginning his career
with implicit faith in the truth of this
doctrine, he is weaned away by circum-
| stances. and seems 10 have become a
rank materiallst. sitting in the company
| OF men scoffing at the talkative and
/ id sallstic disriples OF the cult Ringing
his sneers right and left with brilliant
Wit but when the time comes to act, he
acts as II there had never been a fall
ing of from the faith. and puts 10 shame
both the theorizers and the temporiZers.
He is placed In a vivid contrast 10
/ Corbett Ennisley. sOcialistic theorizer,
who talks and writes, bat really does
nothing. which character, -.ey the way
IS also made OF great interest.
The two principal women involved IN
the story are OF alien extraction. and
IN this connection Mr.. Jackson branches
out into the melting pot" problem. and
at times seems TO be doubtful of the
issua. At least, he is not absolutely GER
tain as 20 the perfect absorption or all
this "riff-raff,'' yet he makes one OF MS
characters, the mother OF Ennisiey, an
old lady OF simple mental processes,
seem 10 have abiding faith IN the
strength of the old customs and institu-
tons. and we find his alien characters
readily taking on the dress and social
usages of the Anglo-SaXon, which fact
e also observable in everyday life, and
would appear 10 prognosticate the IN
evitable repetition Of history. race
which could in 500 years completely dom
mate an army OF conquering aliens VIII,
In all probability, perform the same be-
nevolent service for an oncoming host
OF suppIiant foreigners. These people
come 20 receive, not 10 give, and up 10
date there is no visible signs, either on
the part OF native or immigrant, OF q
widespread disposition TO substitute the
Latin tradition for the English code, the
, | ,ooperchical system for the republican
idea. or the Talmud for the New Tes'
lament (The Bobhs-Merrili Company
. Indianapolis)