The New York herald., 1922-03-05
THE SOUL OF 4 CHILD. BY Edwin
Bjorf1nan. Alfred S. Knopf.

the making or America. the
largest, most impressive melt
ing pot experiment of history.
the story Of foreign born persons Of
quality who throw in their lot with
US is OF much moment. Over and
above its general human interest it
has the interest of enheartening us
in the colossal struggle upon the re-
suits of which depends the future of
this land.
Therefore, when individuals like
Jacob Riis, Edward Box and Edwin
Bjorknan tell us of their inner life.
so well as OF their outer fortunes,
all good Americans can afford to stop
and listen ana mediate. In the Pc
rusal Of such documents those whose
roots go deep down in the native soil
get a reyivified sense OF what the
United States means TO the compara-
tive newcomer, what it can do for
them and what they can do for it.
We learn from such testimonial rec
ords the deeper meaning of the very
word Americanism. II is a different
and equally valuable contribution
from such admirable recent volumes
as MIR. Garlands a Son of the
Middle Border" and "A Daughter of
the Middle Border" and Mr.. Quick's
'.Vandemark's Folly"
Hence one approaches Mr.. Bjork-
mans "The Soul of Child" with a
lively sentiment of anticipation, and
receives, let me say at once, a rich
reward. for nothing more vital in its
Kind has appeared of late years. Al
though the book is to all intents and
purposes autobiography, the writer,
wisely, has thrown his narrative into
fictional form. viewing himself objec-
lively in the third person. This
method has the double advantage of
surrounding the central frankness
which is of confessional value with a
veil of art. while it makes the case
typical, less personal, yet with no loss
to the ingratiating charm of person.
alty. In other words, the reader
can, If he choose. enjoy the chron-
fcle as work of imaginative art
and perhaps this will be for most
the primary appeal-while those who
care for psychologist analysis and re-
gard autobiography as a contribution
to that study of mankind which of
all things is OF compelling attraction
get their full satisfaction here.
II.
The worth Of such a record looked
at simply as the story of a human
being during the plastic period of
development would be unquestion-
able, even if not fortified by the
background fact of Mr.. Bjorkman's
own career. As many know, he is a
Swede who comes to this country in
maturity. at e5. learns the language
ESQ that in this book the grasp OF
idiom is so complete as to reveal
nothing of its late acquiring), works
as newspaperman. publicist, editor
and literary producer and finally
wins his present dignified position as
critic and translator of Scandina.
Wan literature, notably the intro
.ducer OF Strindberg in English
dress. and the author of several iIlu,
minating volumes OF essays. In the
light OF all this his right to assume
interest on our part is manifest.
But the proof OF the pudding is
always in tho eating. and the funda-
mental question is, How is the thing
done? The answer must be, with
convincing truth. power and beauty
We get a picture Of the life of little
Keith Wellander in his Stockholm
home from his earliest childish mem.
ories up to his sixteenth year when
dissatisfied with his school expert.
ences, he decides to break away from
formal education and secure a busi-
ness position. There is no attempt
at climax in the telling: the account
ceases because the aim was TO de
piet child life. That life is ended
now comes boyhood and young man.
hood-not yet set down. The read.
er's appetite is whetted for more