davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-09
Book Corner About Writers and New Volumes
ERIK DORM
4 Book of Illusions Which Are
Not.

"A hJoONh VI
Not.
Erik Dorm, by Ben Hecht. Putnams
Sons.
Erick Dorm is one of the most
unpleasant books it has been my
lot to read for some time. Mencken
says chose who like it, like it" or
words to that effect. and one can
see how that would he. for there
are things about 1t to like.
The principal character, Erik
Dorm, is we'll drawn. A Chicago
newspaper man without illusions
and with a keen brain. who gets
his only pleasure in the rush of the
newspaper office, who needs wom-
en- and yet tires of them as soon as
the mystery Is solved, who sees the
war hysteria and the bitterness of
its reaction with the same fishy
eye, and who typifies exactly the
pathetic know-itall cynicism of
his decade.
This character is convincing, too
convincing for comfort. In the
first chapters his lack of illusion,
his cold vision of things as they are
Is tonic; by the end of the book
when he has tired of mistress after
mistress, when even the JOY OF ac-
complishment is gone because he
has learned he can 10 without eEtort
what others must strive for, and
he comes back to his wife blindly
seeking what he had thrown away,
he is truly pathetic figure. There
Is no conviction that he would be
happy with her again. One feels
that he is doomed never to find
content and there Is a satisfaction
in the fact that she has gone back
on him at last and engaged herselr
to marry another man. a creature
of illusions like herself. In fact
the whole point to the book seems
to be that the only way to be happy
is to live blinded by platitudes
Seeing and understanding make In
creasing misery.
The unpleasantness of the book
Is in its erotic chapters. Ben
Hecht has evidently made up his
mind that all must be told, and one
wearies unutterably of the details
of his hero's life with his wife and
the mistresses who follow. Rachel
the young Jewess for whom he first
leaves home, Is weakened as a
character by, the failure of the
author to give her any life at all
outside of her love for Dorm. 1t
is greatly to the relief Of the reader
when he leaves her and goes to
Germany to look into matters there
after the war.
Some one has said that the book
is written IN the futuristic style.
BY this is probably meant short
Journalistic sentences. often badly
built, and with an effort for the
epigrammatic which is deadly
wearisome at times. No doubt the
fault Of q young writer doing his
first book and trying to be clever.
But in connection with the war
fever, preparedness parades, liberty
Ioaning, marching soldiers, and
especially in the chapters dealing
with the Russian and German rev.
olutions IT Is very effective.
An unpleasant book. but a vivid
one. n. r.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-09
DOS PASS0S BOOK OF
THE WAR DELIGHTS A
FORMER SERVICE MAN

Young John Dos Passos appar-
emily "hits Off the war In MS
much discussed book Three Sol
diers." The effect the book had
on a young Albuquerquean who
served over seas more than year
Is reflected in letter written
to q girl friend to whom he
sent a copy of the book.
Says this eX-soldier:
1--WE found o book!
1T have been so deeply en-
crossed in 1t the last twenty-four
hours I can't remember whether
/ I've had any meals or not.
after reading the first chap
ter l had fully decided it was the
real thing, something had been
looking for ever since got out
of the army, my own and every
one else's thoughts crystalized
and set down permanently. That is
the way Dos Pasos' Three Sol
diers' struck me, and simply
howled with glee.
II shipped you a copy yester-
day, I think. l have been In a
daze ever since finishing it and
can't remember. You Will flnd II
little rough in spots but I really
think it is a wonderful book.
las to whether it's literature or
not, I'm very frank to say I don't
know. / was entirely too excited
and pleased at finding something
had looked for in vain for so long
to read it with that in view.
Don't consider it overdrawn in
the least. because it isn't. But 1t IL
written through the eyes Of a hy-
persensitive person. as you'll read
lily see."
The Journal will publish in the
Book Corner in the near future a
signed review of Three Soldiers
written by a former service man OF
this city who saw active warfare in
France.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-09
BOOKS RECEIVED.

The following late volumes have
been received from the publishers
for review in the Journal Book
Corner:
The Blood OF the Conquerors.
BY Harvey Ferguson. (Alfred A.
Knopf).
If Winter Comes. BY A, 5. M.
Hutchinson. (Little Brown x
Coz
Seeing Things at Night. BY Hey
wood Broun. (Harcourt Brace
& Coz
Three Soldiers. BY John Dos
Passos. (Doran).
Mary in New Mexico. BY Con-
stance johnson. (MacMillen.)
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-09

and conveniences,' Representative Cannon said.
Look at the revolutionary changes gas and cleo
tricty other public utility services have wrought
These are the happy days but few of us real
lie it."
With all the modern things that contribute to
human happiness there pessmists to
the square mile than ever.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-09
BOOK ENDS

I------------ s---------=--------s- =-----s--=-t
Villa Gathers book of short
stories, youth and the Bright Me-
dusa," has just been published in
London. One English reviewer
takes pleasure in finding that she
confines herself to the speech COM
mon to her country and ours, avoid
| ing that constant use of ephemeral
slang which makes many American
books so puzzling and Earring to
English readers"
"The Golden Fleece" Padraic
Columns new book, completes the
lin 1.-THE Children's Homer" to
which it is companion volume.
The subtitle, "The Heroes Who
Lived Before Achilles points its
relation to the Homeric tales and
implies that it is not only the voy-
age of the Argo, but the stories and
beliefs of the Argonauts that are
related. Like the Homer, 1t has a
general makeup in the Greek spirit
and in the best manner of modern
bookmaking. Instead of four-color
work, the illustrations are photo
gravures in black and red by Willy
Pogany.
Sherwood Anderson, winner of
The Dial award of $4,000, ad-
dressed number Of people at the
! Civic club, on December 81, pre-
senting what he believed to be the
reasons for the lack of real artists
in the United States. The life of
experimental thought, he declared,
was thing that the average Amer
lean in the middle west could not
understand. Mr.. Anderson stated
that he believed the artists of to-
day would,eventually be merely soil
for the growth of the future great
American writer's that were to
come.
Another novel by Knut Hamsun
is announced for early publication.
i Tt is "Wanderers," which COM
hines the two Norwegian novels.
"TTnder the Autumn stars and IA
wanderer Plays with Muted
Strings"
The best selling novels in Eng
idnu, dccNrultlS 10 " ItNeHL Iepoit'
are r. r. Benson's "Lovers and
Friends" Ben Hecht's eric Dorm
Tohn Galsworthy's '"ro Let" w l..
Georges 'TTrsllla Trent.Y Jeffrey
Tarnols MARTIN Ccr'shvs Ven
geance" and A.. s. M. Hutchinson's
"If Winter Comes"
Professor 7. Arthur Thomsor's
"Outline of Science" will be pub
lished in this country shortly nv
! putnams. who have iust comnleted
arrangements with Newnes, of Lon
don Newnes is bringing out the
work In ENGLAND in twenty tort.
! nichtIv nafs. with advance orse~e
NJ 10000 for the first part The
American edition win be slm'lar t.
the fpliv illustrated orioinal Eus-
! teh edition of Wells "Ou'llne OF
History"
Vachni lindsay. tho noet, went
, from Albuquerque to Denver. where
5 he has been verv husv nreaarins
another edition Of lis "rhe Art 81
$ tho Movin~ Picture" which Is oas
! OF Mr.. Lindsay's prose books.
-
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-09

Miss V. A. Drummond, who has
concluded full apprenticeship as
an engineer in one of the big ship
building plants on the Clyde, is
the granddaughter Of the first Ba-
ron Amherst.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-09

Vachni lindsay. tho poet, went
from Albuquerque to Denver. where
he has heen verv husv preparing
another edition Of his "rhe Art OF
tho Movinr Picture which Is one
OF Mr.. Lindsay's prose books.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-09

Journal Want Ads bring results
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-09

Another novel by Knut Hamsun
is announced for early publication.
Tt is Wanderers" which COM
hines the two Norwegian novels,
finder the Autumn Stars" and IA
Wanderer Plays with Muted
Strings"
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15
BONUS FOR SOLDIERS
CARRIED IN KANSAS

kansas City. Nov. I5. More than
IS Per cent Ct the Kansas voters who
went to the polls November : voted
either for or against the adjusted
compensation measure. a tabulattoa
BY The Associated Press indicated
today. Twenty counties taken al rzn-
dem showed a total vote on governor
OF e0.0ls and on the compensation
measure Of Ss.T73
A foil vote on the measure x-as
urged BY American Legion officials
because the state constitution re-
quires that such acts must receive a
majority of the votes cast rather than
= simple majority. Failure TO vote in
the referendum was in effect a half
vote against compensation. il vas er-
planned
A favorable ration Of 21-2 "a has
been msintsined as belsted returns
were received With I.s7l precincts
to complete out Of 2.sss in the state
the vote stands: Yes 2o5. .sSs: No s.
sss.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15
Gouemor Robertson Issues
Thanksgiving Proclamation

for His boundtni blessings ana
manifold nsrcies % Us as a people
during the past year. il our Freedom
from famine and ressiiencs and from
fore lrn STRIFE Our hsrvssts. sf nos
abundant. have been sufficient TO
Place rs shove want and 70 snsble
Is to lend helping hand 10 others
n worse oondsion-
While our domestic and indus
trial problems have made the past
year one Of sore -rial and discomfort
70 great masses q our nation. let
rs on this day invoke the Divine
aid and counsel TO help Us solve
our difficulties and ask God TO d.
rect the chosen leaders OF the stats
and nation in shs path Of wisdom
snd justice to al classes and ccn-
ditions 0, men and women.
Let US pledge ourselves anew to
cur recognized duty and obligation
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

Calling upon Il. citizens os Okla
hczns % invoke Divine aid in help
Ing solve The 6isfiou.ies and ask
God 10 dirsct the chosen leaders Of
II. safe and n2tian N the path oi
wisdom and justice 20 all classes
and conditions Q. men and women,
Governor Robertson issued =
Thanksgiving proclamation Tuesday
setting TAa-sdsy. Noyember 50. as
Il. date.
Proclamation f,rows:
-Fc,loving the time -honored Gus
tom of the American people and in
obedience and respeo q the law
n Oklahoma, !. J. B. A Robertson.
as governor. do hereby appoint and
So apart. Thursday, the thirt.sth
day Of November. A. D. 1922. and
the year o. our national independ-
snce. the one hundredth and fo-1E-
seventh. a. q day Of pubic thanks
swing and praise 70 Alnishty God
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

. the wounded snd disabled vs.-
erans Of ths World War and 10 or
sovsrnne-4is nolll rsspouk y5.lay
"a render % al surviving service
men and their dependents. r-o1pt
iasties in due consideration OF their
services IN behalf Q; liberty and
humanity.
In wi'nsss whereof. / have here
unto set ny hand and csused - be
hersto affixed tie Erss. seal q he
sate Of Oklahoma. tbs ths i4th day
of November. 4 D 1922. and Ct
the Independence Of the United
States the ons hundred and forty
seventh.
Attest: J. B. A. RoBERTsoH.
.lSssn GcTsraor
JOE S MORRIS.
SecrstarF o. State
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

Oklahoma City-The public utility
infsr-nstion bureau of the Okiahoms
Utilities association. has arranged
vita r G. Tyler. dean OF the school
OF engineering. Oklahoma A and n.
college at Saltwater. for a series of
lectures during the present school
year on subjects pertaining 70 the
various branches OF the pubic utii-
ity industry. The first address viii
be on the subject OF what Is 4
Pubiic Utility and viii be delivered
at the college tie night OF December
Il BY Dr. George A. Davis. assistant
T. vice president oklshotna Gas &
Electric CO. Oklahoma City Eight
lectures in all are scheduled fer the
present school year.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

dress Oklahoma teachers al the state
meeting Ct the education association
here February {. 2 and 70. il vas an
nounced following 8 meeting CT the
program committee. Ehcih IS planning
the meeting. IT, A. Mash. secretary
o. the association. and newly elected
stste superintendent Of education. is
chairman cf the committee
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

NcAlester-W. T. Yoskun, former
Z county agent and cvner of one of the
bes; farms on the west side of Pitts
burg county. is coming back home
from Coal county. where lie has been
located fo- the past three years. Nr.
Yoskum never did honesi-io-g goodness
leave Piftshurg county He has al
ways Just been loaned 10 the neigh
boring farmers Il the southwest
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

Ptnca City-Orvilie n Savage. al
touotiie dealer. Is the new president
q the Ponea City Retaiiers' zssoc.a-
ton. succeeding Ralph Z Morris, who
has held the office two yearz- Tie
annual election vas held Saturday
Other officer chosen we're; Harry
Keller. X. ". NcDoxell. Paul Srtzer
and Ben II. Frank. vice presidents.
and sliss Carrie B. Thomas. re-elect-
ed secretary.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

band q Bristox made its first pub
lie appearance Tuesday. The band is
composed Of 81 members of the junior
high school and made q very credit
able showing under the leadership Q;
Joe Lyday, who Is also bandmsster O:
the American Legicn hand.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15
STATE NEWS

Oklahoma C;ty-woodrow Wilson,
former president. and J. c. Walton.
governor-elect. are on the list Of
speakers who viii b invited to ad-
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

Sallssw-N-hst is said 10 have been
the elimination Of q family rcv cane
Saturday when Charlie Enberion. Al
enplore of Wheeler Stevenson Fur
nitn-e company. was shot through the
right arm by Ira Farmer. his brother
in-i2~. Both men are under errezt.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

University Of Oklahoma to succeed
Annieoe Moassa & Krebs. who re-
signed this year.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

vinisa-The first carload Of iron
ripe for the wzterEorks system has
been u1ioaded at this place. and IS
being distributed Along the iiae 70
Grand river.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

Norman-Andrew 1. Hsn-ica OF
Tuttle has been appointed secretary
Of the state high school debating
league. which has headquarters at the
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

Bristor-Ths iuaiOr hssh school
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

y. "|0I-NI0r y - TIaI Nt
mean II these are salesman samples
and are q little s0iled from handling
Bach garment is very carefully made
nicely trimmed with lace eiging. and
is tailored 10 fit; do not wait ioo long
Is We have only abont Dozen 10 SOL
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

Colors are green, black. flesh,
brown, navy, tan. and pink; these are
irregular goods but IS near perfect
as can be made, : wonderful garment
and viii give entire ssiisfaeiio1
sizes 81 TO IS.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

Just received 80 dozen Of the O D.
Five-finger. Wool Gloves-not ike the
ordinary glove These are very heavy
weight, come above the wrist, are very
warm but not clumsy S5c pair,
PAIRS. csc.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

These are well woven an white coi-
,on towels, they are stamped M p t.
$ A which viii easily wash out
with the price Of cotton steadily ad-
vsnciug this is q remarkable value for
towels Of this size-l9c each. Si9S
dozen
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-15

Size 6sx76. We just received 90
pair that were bought before this big
advance in cotton goods; We want yon
TO take advantage and lay il your
supply at this priee-now Is the time
10 buv blankets.
The Washington times., 1922-09-03
Unsatisfactory.

put on my very best
lingerie. was particular to see that
1t came from the drawer where my own
daintiest scent has perfumed each silken
thing with subtlest essence After that |
put on my smartest street dress, my pref
tiest black satin trotteur shoes, my smart
little black satin hat, my new cape. AS
the last chic finish to my careful toilette
| drew on my very best white gloves, of
finest, softest kid. 1t was a silly fancy,
perhaps. Of course, know that none of
us ever appear in the next world in gar
mentS we wore here. Still, curiousy, |
half imagined that thus well dressed |
would make a much more prcsentable inn
preston when, waking into the next world,
| should be seen dressed very smartly ac-
cordng to the styles of the world | was
leaving behind. We have strange fancies,
don't we?
"At the slip boarded the ferryboat for
Weehawken, N. J. | felt happy-as any,
one must feel having at last taken de-
cision that is to release them from much
fret. | waited, serenely, till the boat had
gone out into midstream and then |
climbed over the rail, took off my cape.
rested one minute on the small space out
side, poised my arms, and dove. You see
| am sQuite a swimmer, so | took the
plunge in good form to land far under
water.
81 went down. Very, very far down
Always before when | dove | never went
more than ten or at most twenty
feet under. But this time tried to fall,
heavy weight. know l reached the
rivers bottom. And everywhere the great
rush of the river, the surge and the stress
of the paddle-churned waters came beat
ing on my body. I felt the crashing of
huge eddies in my ears. l felt the water
seeping into me everywhere. felt the
urge of great death and the mad desire,
and with it, stronger than the urge for
death, swept over me passionate regret
Why-why-had l ever tried death this
way? Why had / tried this loathsome,
filthy, Shiny way of going?
'T had read that death by drowning
was so easy. This is the most monstrous
lie that ever was promulgated. Death by
drowning is a shocking, painful, agoniz-
ing, torturing death. It's so helpless.
There> are the mighty waters all around
you SO very much greater than you. You
The Washington times., 1922-09-03

are trapped. So | felt as | struggled
And | reached the bottom, | slipped
in and out among the Shiny river grass
on the floor of the Hudson. My eyes were
open. could not keep them shut. And
they smarted, sorely. | saw-things. Mud,
cozing, mostly. And bits of sodden wood,
watersOaked and sunken. And then felt
myself going up. Still felt the ache at
my heart which had urged me into the
river. | wanted to die, but my animal
instincts kept me swimming. I am told
that | struck out beautifully. That
swan with a master stroke. ! know that
for awile | must have swan uncon-
sciously While senses reeled and the rift
widened between this world and where
ever | was bound; while the beating of
the infinite roared in my ears and flesh
and spirit cringed. Then shut my eyes.
Later | wakened in the North Hudson
Hospital. | knew in a minute was still
in the same world. | was so discouraged.
"'All to do over again. said I, all.
that dreadful suffering-for nothing.
That suffering which should have brought
me redemption from this old ache still
gnawing at my heart
"And then when all the well-meaning
people spoke to me | told them, 4 shall
try it again and next time | will not try
it by drowning. That is the worst death
of all. | shall shoot myself instead. I
shall aim the bullet right through my
heart; place the gun right over my heart,
and shoot-to kill.
Don't talk to me about taking life
which ! can't replace. After all, it's my
life. And | really must, some way, cross
into that next world. To get more
strength-to fight with. And more cour-
age. When | waken there shall say to
whatever God there be:
Here am, God. had lot of pain
in that other world just arrived from.
| wasn't very happy. | don't mind fight
ing pain, but give me strength to fight It,
Hand me out some object to be reached,
Lord, not just a blind riddle that can't
be solved. I'll strive, but give me some
thing that | can get by striving Not the
impossible
That's what III say to whatever Gods
there be over yonder. And, | believe,
whatever Gods there be will pity me. Pity
and understand"
The Washington times., 1922-09-03
Willy Geiger's Powerful
Cartoon Of the Suicide
a Manikin at the End of
a Broken String Of the
Harp of Life.

Live she replied, 'for what? To
carry round my tormenting insides for
all the rest of my life?'
(Which is exactly what now she is do
ing"
Cora Meredith, on her bed, convalesc-
ing, considered gravely the plight of "the
little girl only seventeen" Then she e&
planned from her experience.
No, death by poison | never would
have tried after | knew that little girl.
For | had to put her out of my house
after shield been with me for awhile. Be-
cause her weeping all the time got on my
nerves so. | needed, you see, space for
my own sorrow.
Poison eliminated and what have you
left? Not so much. Before | tried to
drown myself in the Hudson had almost
decided to step in front of an elevated
train. That would kill me at once, if
did it right. mean, of course, if threw
myself in front of the train as it was
going fast, right in front so the driver
would have no chance to jam on the
brakes and leave me half crippled, with
my job to do all over again. But death
in front of train is so agoniZing.
Though efficacious, just think of the few,
awful minutes while with concentrated
perceptions | heard my limbs crunch and
my hot blood squirt under the grinding
wheels. | considered and l knew l had
not the stamina to endure the awful
agony under that crashing, grinding train; ;
the awful seconds which must come be-
fore extinction.
"Then I thought of stabbing myself.
But that was so hard, too. And so likely
to be unsuccessful. Then, one weekend
few months ago was returning home
on the train and l thought why not end
it right now so soon as l arrive in the
city?
1T will be death by drowning said
to myself. 1t will be the Hudson
$50 l prepared for my last good-by.
told my friend just casually where the
insurance papers were. l didn't tell her
what was going to do, of course. Then
l dressed well, because il was the last
The Washington times., 1922-09-03
A Pensive Photograph of Miss
Meredith Contemplating Perhaps
Another Way of Quitting This
World for What May or May Not
Prove to Be a Better One.

these things always, though our hearts
are breaking.
"Then, there are the same weary meals
at the same weary hours. And the tedium
of being polite, when you would prefer to
hurl knives; there is days beginning and
days end, and the usual things to say at
the usual times, and the appointments to
keep, as If time or tide mattered to you
any more; and, finally, there is bed to
get into at night, and out of in the morn
ing, when you dress to go through the
same programme again, and again and
again.
81 thought. And made up my mind
that, the purpose gone, living was brain