Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-03-02
Present Day Conditions Told by
Author Of "The Testing Fire."
PLOT is LAID IN SOUTHLAND.
Critical Review of Alexander Corkey's
Thrilling Incidents of Racial Rela-
tions In the South-Star of Hope Be-
yond Dark Cloud.
BY ALBION LEWIS HoLsEY.

Corkey gives us a novel embracing an
optimistic discussion of the race prob
lem. While some of the characters
lack a touch of realism, it leaves a
much better taste in ones mouth than
Lady Baltimore Red Rock" and
the vagaries of some other writer's.
Depending upon the writings of 7.
Booker Washington as material for
building his Negro characters, the au-
thor's good intentions are slightly mar
red by failing to portray a description
of the unrest and discouragement
among the thousands of Negroes of the
south who have found that intelligence
and wealth do not give them the right
to life, liberty and the pursuit OF
happiness" but this is less cause for
criticism than his failure to capitalize
the word Negro"
Building his arguments upon the
theory that the Negro is child race,
the author strives to champion the
cause of the Negro and at the same
time offer encouragement with an al
most but not yet attachment which he
hopes will palliate the traditions of the
white south. In referring to the Negro
as a Child race" he forgetS that
black king was among the three who
came in response to the message from
the skies to pay homage to the child
that had its first peep o day" in
manger.
Perhaps Divine Providence purposely
directed the steps of the black king to
this scene of self sacrifice that he
might transmit the spirit of patience
and forbearance to the unborn black
children who were destined to inhabit
the then unknown world behind the
setting sun He forgets that the Negro
had made many notable contributions
to human civilization before the kind
hearted traders from Holland brought
them to American shores, and in using
the term child race" instead of race
of child beings he forgets that fifty
years Of freedom-nay. half freedom
have transformed 100000 Child be
ings," as it We're. stunted by 200 years
of serfdom, into 100000 beings. all
human and worthy of consideration.
The plot is laid in Dotham. Ala,
where Peter Legree, an INSCRIPTIONS
fellow who as political boss runs the
town by using the "bogy man. of Ne
gro domination to keep the white vot-
ers in line on election day. Jefferson
Lilly, a young white man from north
ern Alabama, drops into Dothan to
visit an old college chum. Donald Shell
by, and incidentally meets Florence
Ashley, the belle of the city. Mr.. Lilly
straightway gets himself into trouble
by carrying Nose Thomas, an old Ne
gro whom he found badly wounded and
unconscious by the roadside. into
hotel and at the point of a pistol Or
dering the proprietor. who objected to
having Negro in his hotel. to phone
for physician.
When Legree hears of the incident
he calls Lilly a white nigger'' and
sends word that he must leave the city
at once, but Lilly. fearless (and infatu-
ated with Miss Ashley. 'beards the
lion," Legree. In his Office and tells
him that he will not leave the city and
that he may do his worst. Rose Atkin-
son. young lady from Pittsburgh.
comes to town and thoroughly capt.
Yates Dothans smart set with her
charming manner and "rich contralto
voice" until they learn that she is
teacher in HARRISON institute. an indus
trial training school for Negroes. She
is Immediately ostraciZed. along with
the other members of the HARRISON fac
ulty.
In accordance with her determine
ton to convince white Dothan that
the educated Negro is more desirable
rs a citizen than the ignorant, she
calls on the leading white minister.
Rev. William Durham, and after hear
ing his radical views in an unexpected
manner leaves him this thought: You
are not Christs representative in Do
than in the spirit you show to the un
fortunate African at your door"
II, as the author tries to prove.
Legreeism could be stamped out by the
acquisition Of knowledge and the ac-
cumulation Of wealth on the part Of
the Negro. Mr.. Corkey would not have
performed a thankless job. But with
all the Negroes advancement Legreeism
is still rampant in the south. Harriet
Beecher Stowe found it there. Mr..
Corkey found 1t still there, and if he
looks around him he will find it every
where in the United States.
The story is well told, and no white
person. prejudiced or unprejudiced,
could read it without a feeling Of toll
Grafton toward the Negro. who simply
asks for justice and chance. No Ne
gro could read 1t without seeing in it
a hopeful sign for an early realization
Of human brotherhood. The book is
neatly bound, illustrated and contains
3O3 pages. 1t is published by the H.
X. Ely company Of New York and re-
tails for $1.25 net.