The sun., 1919-10-05

for a time.
Perhaps the greatest Of all problems,
undoubtedly the one that causes the bit
terest of feeling, is the breaking down of
old standards that the way may be clear
for the new. The inconoclast hews his
way through a wilderness Of superstition
generally to the jeers and hatred Of the
people he is trying most to aid. Radical
ism is the tonic of an age 1t is necessary
that the dose be not too extreme, that is
all. The radical of to-day Is generally the
pathfinder Of tomorrow If he is sane
enough to be on the consistent path. 1t is
of such national unrest, both industrial
and spiritual, that M. H. Hedges's maiden
novel, Iron City, has to do.
The book has its moments Of gravity ;
its seriousness of purpose is apparent,
but it is hard to see wherein it contains
anything especially new. The problems
that John Cosmus troubles his mind and
heart about have been perplexing more
than one novel hero during the past five
years, and Cosmus gets no nearer to solv-
ing them than those who have gone be-
fore. His idealistic goal is International
ism, Utopian conference between all the
peoples of the world. It Is all left rather
vague. The book leaves Cosmus with this
foundation to build his future years
rpon: "There are no races nor countries,
only brotherhoods Of men. b. Shall
it be slave OF freeT
As a story, presentation of life in a
typical American city, the book is worth
while For a first effort it is extremely
good. There is vigorous, often vivid,
,mpressing of turmoil between the old con-
servatism, so selfish and astigmatic of
spiritual perception, and the new and par
lonably raucous democracy.
The brief prologue, quite symbolic,
starts John Cosmus on his long journey to
a realization of Americas objective. He
becomes a junior instructor in Crandon
Hill College, an institution small and
labid in its viewpoints, admittedly snOb
bish in its attitude toward the rest Of the
world. 1t exists for the chosen few; its
teachings are those of compldAent reac-
rionary sort Small mindedness, bigotry,
On unquestioning acceptance Of "histori-
cal backgrounds" mark its course. Sup
porting and directing the destinies of this
college is its principal trustee, R. Sill,
owner of huge industrial plant. Union
ism creeps into the plant and there is
strike that reaches its climax in violence.
Such setting affords the author oppor-
:unity for his varied characters, each one
expressing viewpoint to be found in any
modern American city.
There is the young iconoclast, Cosmus;
he revolutionary radical, Walt Kuhns,
who dies from injuries received in a strike
riot; R. Sill, brutal and direct in his
power; his waster of son, Randolph;
President Crandon Of the college, subser-
Went to those above him; Morton, the shop
foreman, whose religion is his employer;
Ezra Kimbark, who dies in France search
ing for an outlet; every one of them a
cog in the great shuddering machine called
America that plunges on so dizzily to its
unforeseen goal. Then there are two
women, Sarah Blackstone, cold and re-
pressed, unable to let her sex blaze forth,
and Margaret Morton, all sex, seeker
too in her way, but unthinking and print
tive. These women are absolute opposites
in temperament and rather broadly drawn
by the outhor.
The sincerity of Iron City is apparent.
1t presents thesis, but it does not answer
IT. There is much to ponder over in its
events; it awakens the reader to the old
theme that has been posted before-that
rev forces in America are clamoring at
the doors of the old order, that they must
have entrance, that the rewards of exis-
tence are not for the few but for the
many.
IRON CITY Ry NJ Fl HEnaFS ROui A.