Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-08
SINCLAIR COMPLIES
HUMANIST HOLY BOOK
SAYS JACK LONDON
Philadelphia Firm Issues An
thology Of Social Protest
From Job to Taft
FALL FACT AND FICTION
Volumes Ranging From Sociology to
Romance With Great Many
Things in Between

Upton Sinclair and Jack London, IN
double harness. are more than likely TO
produce sornethlng unusual And that
q Just what The Cry for Justice" (John
Q. Winston Company, Phlladelphia) is
sure Of being called, Jack London. who
supplies an introduction, dubs II the Hu-
manist Holy Book to rank with the Bible,
Koran and Talmud as a strrer up Of
thought and action, Mr.. Sinclair, who
compiled Il from the writings Of think
ers and doers between Job and J. p.
Morgan, subtitles It "An Anthology OF
the Literature OF Social Protest"
AZ any rate, Il Is a remarkable 900 pages
Of great words and bitter cries. Page 496
discloses that Dante said of hereditary
nobility. mot with words. but with
knives must one answer such a beastly
notion" just across from him Plato
tells the guardians OF his new republic
that there are two things that they must
keep without their city-riches and pow
eFty. turn to the front OF the book
nnds Kenko Hoshi. Buddhist priest Of the
Fourteenth century. stating the belief on
which Bismarck founded modern Ger
many's social legislation; at is desira-
Bile for Rruler that no man should suffer
from cold and hunger under his rule.
Man cannot maintain his standard of
morals when he has no ordinary means
Of living" Page 45l shows us Luther
wrestling with the pure food problem.
Round the corner, St. Cyprian deals thus
with the land question: "No man shall
be received into our communion who
qaaafh hs nd he sold Gods
footstool is not property" Wan-An-Shih.
OF the 11th century, prescribes state So
cialism for China.
When we reach modern days we de-
scend to Irony. Shaw and Anatole France
share the field with Taft and Morgan.
France says The law in its majestic
equality forbids the rich as well as the
poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in
the streets and to steal bread" Taft
contributes his famous God knows" to
the unemployment problem; and Morgan
IL there with his answer to the Indus
trial Relations Commissioners question
as to whether $40 a week Is enough for
longshoreman with a family to sup
port. IF that's all he can get, and he
takes II, ! should say it's enough"
Many fine reproductions of pictures and
sculpture decorate The Cry for Justice"
and drive home the double puzzle Of it's
pagesi How so much that once was bit
teFly denounced as literary treason is the
commonplace OF today and how much
that the world is only tentatively turn
ins to now has been championed through
the centuries by some Of the finest minds
OF men.
Readers Of "Ths Cry for Justice" may
not like THE Promise" &c. P, Putnam's
Sons, New York;, 1t speaks with kind
ness, even appreciation, of a millionaire,
and creates sympathy for him, despite
the seven figures in his bank balance,
hscause he had a rascal OF a son. "oid
Man cRrmody's' patience was sorely tried
by 'Broadway Bill" under which name
the young hopeful fractured the speed
limit and incarnndlned the scenery along
the lane OF light But, though Bill was
an accomplished rounder. he wasn't a
tounder. So there was hope for him
and for readers of James b. Hendryx's
gflpping novel. who feared for bit it
might turn merely to another society
story The Girl came and won.
Anna Strunsky WalIing has wandered
far from the held OF economic socialism
In "Vioiette cf Pere Lachaise" CFrederck
a. Stokes Company, New York;, She
has delved deep into a subjective biog-
faphy OF young girl. who. reared in
the shadows OF the cemetery Pere La
ehaiss, grows up to worship life. and,
az the same time. not TO fear death. In
the more vital passages-those that deal
with-the girls love for mankind and her
dreams Of a more equitable civilization
the personal element is readily SEEN and
one cannot help but feel that essentially
"Vioiette Of Pere Laehaise" is very mucn
an autohlo graphy
The author looks upon death In much
the same manner as did Robert Louis
stevenson. not with fear and reluctance,
but with Joy and hope. Despite the lack
Of real action in the story, and occa-
slonai nghts into horid language quite
Inconsistent with the simplicity of Vio-
iette and the setting. the interest is well
sustained.
Jesus has been the subject Of many
literary reconstruetions. some as distin-
guished as Remains; others. like Bouck
White's Call OF the Carpenter" ad-
and London. Mary Austin's "The Man
jesus QHarper Bros, New York;, might
better have been called "The Ethical
Jeaus." for, while the book Is gripping in
interest and beautiful In style, II fails
decidedly 20 accomplish the purpose i'm
piled m the title and suggested in the
preface. One 10 also disappointed, after
. careful reading Of the book to nnd that
the author has failed to illumine to any
large extent the relation OF Jesus to the
Rofpan world, Its wrongs, oppression
tyranny and Injustice. and that too much
space has been devoted to Jesus struggle
against the mere LeVitoal and Theological
illE 0f his time. There IL not enough OF
the vital dynamic, living Christ, who
came 20 preach the sweet Here and Now
aa well as the Kingdom OF Heaven.
To turn from ethics. social and eco
Monies, 70 the heid Of romance, consider
Maurice Hewletts story Of a modern
Helen. undeniably Hewletts best is con
talned IN ''The Little niad~ u. b. Lippin-
coft Company, PhiIadelphia). his best OF
style, which means fellcltiea Of phrase,
gFncioua lines and curves. richness Of
color; his best OF moods. which means
uubtlefiRa Of satire that are pointed and
piquapti marvellous iFonles as he girds
~ current manners. contemporary men;
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