The sun., 1916-11-26
Hoosier Holiday With Theodore
preIser,

IL Readers OF 1.-THE Genius" "sister
Narrie." Jennie Gerhardt" and the
nther books OF THEoDoRE DREIsER may
learn what manner Of man this author
~ In his latest volume. A Hoosicr
H0hdoy John Lane Company. His
nook Is four books: the record Of an
automobile trip from New York to
Indiana In company with the Hoosicr
Artist Franklin Booth. whose draw
.4nGs adorn the volume; n criticism Of
Americas democracy, with special at
tention to the mingling OF native and
alien elements; an autobiography and
philosophy Of life. For any one of
yhese Mr.. Dreiser's readers must ex-
,taorc the whole volume.
Ike Theodore does not hide behind his
Wages: ne sprawls all over them. His
alf-drawn portrait may be set beside
this one. made by Edgar Lee Masters.
IL Of spoon River:
hex o. Lantern tall shouidered.
One eye set higher than the other.
Mouth cut like . scaiiop In q pie.
Aslant showing powerful teeth.
Moving about rhythmNally. exploding IN
.. laughter.
Pill Of questions. objections.
distinctions, Instances.
,Sontemptuous. iron!cal. remote,
Cloudy. irreverent. ferocious,
Fearless. grim. compassionate yet hateful.
I Old yet young. wise bu, virginia..
70 whom everything Is new and strange;
whence he stares and wonders.
Laughs. mocks, curses.
The silence of him is terrifying
s4As II you sat before the Sphinx.
'kIhs look Of his eyes makes tubes OF the
r. air
xzsxhroush which you are magniaed and
" analysed.
GDsui snwrapped demi-urge.
= Walking the earth.
4tsiking Lfei
fAuaintance could make this strange
Subscription seem true and fit It Is
.sSsrheodore Dresser stalking life In this
$Hoosier holiday.
At Buffalo the maker Of the senti-
s1nental journey feels most strongly
the contrast with old Europe. Suppose
400 years hence historians were to tell
the story Of a great labor leader who,
shaving endured many injuries. was
@lred Of the exactions OF the money
Sarons. and. securing a large following
III the working people. seized the city
9and administered 1t comparatively"
:-snnally to be overthrow "by some cap
t~talistic force" and hanged from the
highest tower? Or suppose a great re-
.:Hellion had begun In New Mexico and
z swept up through the Great Valley TO
Ihe Great Lakes, and that here a bat
lie had been fought: How we should
SA1tare at the towers as we came across
this plain! How great names would
rise up and fash across the sky! We
would hear old war songs and dream
old wal dreams. Or suppose there were
= great cathedral or n great museum
crowded with the almost forgotten art
inf the twentieth century, But let II
mot be thought that Mr.. Dresser fails to
appreciate the industrial wars Of Pitts
burg, Cleveland and Buffalo. II he had
been visiting the battle grounds OF the
civil war he would have done some
( thing like what he wonders II the man
: Of 231e will do.
= Comparison with Europe Is always
: In his mind. and the effect Of immi-
: grafton upon American character. He
g concludes that America "is making
2 over the foreigner into Its own image
- 8u0 Ikeue8. but TIC Hdu OHiy n
: glimpse of the hordes OF Poles, Czechs
= 0ilesians. Hungarians. In the coal re-
: gions about Wilkesbarre and Scranton
The true Americans are dear. crude
{ asanine. i~lusioned." Let the great
Wen Of brains. plotters Of treason. Of
& taxes which are not honest, of burdens
:. zoo heavy to be borne. beware!" Lei
&them not awaken "these simple souls
singing simple songs In childish igno'
lance and peace"
The small towns show "a flare. I
frOest for Just living" In England
tS1rance. Germany. Italy. Holland, Bel
s~0tum. Switzerland, there Is Away
E 6omething memorable OF quaint o
strange or artistic to see." In Americ,
al of rus II cast In one mould. all o
urbs in another. But. summing uI
America 10 the better, because Of
certain indehnable something. eithe
Of hope or courage or youth or vigo
or Illusion" The typical" American
has more grit. verve. humor'' thai
! even thA "averaR0" VronchrNAn. III