Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-13
THE HARVEST
OF HEREDITY
Joseph Hergesheimer, of West
Chester, Writes of Three Cen
erations of Iron Men

Heredity. always an interesting theme for
tho psychologist. has setting removed
from the domain of science In "a novel writ
ten by native Philadelphlan Joseph
Hergesheimer whose short stories In tho
Saturdl ~ Evening Post havo added to the
reputation which no achieved In Tho Lay
Anthony" and Mountain Blood" There
Is novelty in the way Mr. Hergcshcimer
traces the Influence OF racial strain and
environment in his story oc "rhe Three
BacN Penuys'-Pcnny being the family
name or the central figures Of the romance.
which is carried through three generations
OF men. The three are called black" by
their respective households separated by
long stretches Of years because Of their
dark complcNiOns. the welsh strain" that
has prevailed in individual cases in family
tree that had its roots in England Not
only the brunette habit. but certain and
inerlt tblc characteristics dominate the in
dividualS who occupy the center Of the stage
100 a history which proceeds against tho de-
Nclop.nE background Of steel from the prlmi-
tive IRON forgos and furnaces OF the Prov
inre Of Pennsylvania in prc-Ecvo.utionary
days TO the gigantic mills Of today that arc
monarchs in the world Of modern industry.
Ihe course Of this wholly admirable ro-
nance winds its way with consistency and
literary artistry and with due regard 70
historical truth through tho early forests
or IennSN lNanla, ObN bNiously not far from
tho enNirons Of Philadelphia, with incur
sions into the present site of the huge indus
trial plants at Steelton and Harrisburg
over land hardly broken by the scattered
settlements, on through the solidlfviug nl-
! tion Of lSiO, and so down to the complex
problems Of the twentieth century.
In addition TO the "threo black Peunys''
! stand out boldly in Mr.. HerEesheimcr's pie
| ture the figures Of three womeu-I.udowika
| a passionate product Of Poland transplauted
| 10 PENNSYLVANIA Province as the young wife
| Of an elderly aud cynical Briton; Susan
! Brandon. a spiritual woman, who is seen
| In the intermediate phase Of the story, and
| Mariana, woman in whom passion and
! spirit meet and in whom these attributes
I are interpreted in smiling disregard Of
/ prciudices and convention.
! This altogether unusual rom lnce is con-
{ cerned with no other purpose than that OF
/ human happiness and the author works II
, out with viri.c but not indelicatc touch,
/ In detail the lives of the three black
! Pcnnys' are pictured as showing the in
! cvltable effects through a century and n III
+ OF needless and overwhelming love, the
! influence Of hcredty strihnsy displayed
! There is great possession, rCtributiun and q
! crown Of victory
The author of this book. as has been said
/ is a product of Philadelphia. lie was born
! m this city some thuty-seycu years ago,
: member of % Pennsylvania family settled
for generations IN this immediate nciEhhor.
! mood. His father was an officer in the
! United states Goudctir Survey and his
! mother the daughter OF Thomas MarHeill lr
, tho type founder In his home, an old stont
! house in the pretty borough Of West Ches
, ter, We are told by his publisher, lives Mr.
| H0rgcsucmcr pursuing his literary career
/ amid surroundings -uEu,urIy free from ro
/ mance-barring of course. 81 happy marriage
/ and void OF interesting details. This lat
| ter part Of the zen picture r. hard to be
! liCvc when il :. added that our author h1'
| candid friends lawn with trees Airedalt
D. lfTIl al