The sun., 1918-07-21
Tell Me What He Reads

peace because, from the story about them prepared
by our reporter, it is evident that they are propa-
ganda Of the disguised sort. Propaganda that
shows its colors We don't object to; but when Pro-
fessor PAxvoBIsCUM writes book limiting or "prov-
ing the allies of America to be no better than the
Imperial German Government and labels his book
with title implying detached treatment of war
in general We shall not knowingly take any notice
of his effort. The Postmaster-General and the De-
partment of Justice can do the reviewing
We notice that most of the books affecting to
treat of in general and peace in general treat
of this war in particular and a particular peace
The particular peace is frequently which would
occasion great JOY all the way from Berlin to-wel
not quite to Bagdad. The professor is particular
about the peace and are particular too.
There are things more important than "litera-
ture.'' One of them is the United States of Amer
lea.
By the way, where are the young men who used
to be despised because, simple souls, they reveled
In the stories of RICHARD HARDING DAvIsf In the
army, or waiting the call. And where are the
young men who used to read the distinguished lit
erary work of CoILAPsEov1rCH, Ru1NsKY and
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES They are reading the
works of CoIL.APsEovITcH, RUNsKY and Gross
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Khaki" by Freeman Tilden.
d ESIDES the Great War Novel that We all won
~ der if we shall be seeing one of these days
there is the Great American War Novel, the thing
that shall do for America what Mr. Britling did
for England We have to remember that it was
not what Mr.. Drifting did for England in England
but what it did for England in America that counts
chiefly in any estimate of Mr.. WEISS book The
Great American War Novel will be the novel which
will do for America in England and possibly in
France what Mr.. Drilling did for England here in
America make us, people, somewhat better
understood
Almost are you persuaded that Khaki: How Ire
dick Got Into the War, by FREEMAN TnDEN, is the
American equivalent of Mr.. B-tling. You suspect
that Khaki may do for us among our allies what
some of their writings have done for them among
us Say what they please Khaki is a wonderful
story. You feel you would not like to be the
American who could read it without little ache
back of pair of moist eyes
d
TnDEN s story is not of one town but of thousand
With all its faults with its crudties its badness
its fervor, we have read nothing approaching it
as picture of America in the years 1915, 1916,
1917. The very faults the crudities are American;
the preaching is gospel, the truth as we have
come to it, the light as COP gives us to see the
light
An "Authentic' Story. 49,
Mr.. THDEN has written real story the plaus-
bility of which in some of its details simply doesn't
matter; the vigor, the excitement, the thrill of
which matter immensely. Tredck is a sleepy vii
lage nested in the hills and run, so far as a per-
functory public administration exists by Deacon
BRADSHAW. For reasons of his own the Deacon
that selected Tom GIIsTAR, the town s gentlest
young man, giant in physique to be the new con-
stable. Every one knows that Tom is a-well, a
coward. Might as well say it. Tom admits it him
self
Ton had brother, SHERIDAN, who got into so
much deviltry that the angered Deacon drove him
out of the place years before the beginning of this