The New York herald., 1922-03-26
sspslon Of a.y tsnpsrtapce. We have

the case of the Jew; ether emigrant
Europeans have not been neglected,
and the Japanese have had abundant
attention. But Mr.. gtribling's book
is the first modern attempt to treat
at length and competently the pa
thetic, even tragic puzzle of the
mulatto. There has, of course, been
some cheap ranting. some hysterical
fiction dealing with the negro, but
that is negligible.
This novel is not negligible. In
the first placc-iUith one very pecu-
liar drawback-it is a finely artistic
production. II is intense, passionate
in its emotion but told quietly. with
dignity, restraint and entire sanity.
1t is highly dramatic in its situa-
tions. which hold true tragic ele-
ments and in particular a knowingly
sinister dramatic irony. It's manner
is also admirable; fun of color. apt
and striking phrases, but always
natural and simple with the sim
plicity of sincere art. From the
standpoint of construction, as 4 work
of literary art. its very singular de-
feet is that it remains unfinished. 1t
is left ragged at loose ends. 1t rises
steadily and impressiveiy toward an
obviously to be expected climax-a
necessary scene between the mulatto
hero and his white father and then
simply evades the issue entirely!
Instead il goes of to a slightly con-
ventional ending along what is, after
all, minor line of the whole plot.
It IS hard TO believe that so efficient
and conscientious an artist as the
author OF this story did that Of his
own choice. II suggests-censorship:
some concession to a supposedly
popular requirement 4 sternly log
ical end would place the blame for
the situation as ii is upon the South
ern white man.
The only other plausible explana-
! ton is that. recognizing the problem
as essentially insoiuble, or at least
with no available answer in sight.
Mr.. Stribling felt this evasion of the
real issue to be the best way out of
a blind alley. Or he may have felt
that the reader could be left to make
the necessary logical deduction for
himself. But il remains an evasion
of a dramatic necessity OF the plot.
Secondly. Mr.. Stribling seems to
have entered into the mind and heart
OF the mulatto to an extent that Is
truly astonishing for any white man.
1t is the work of a Very knowing
white man who is In deep sympathy
with the negro; genuinely able to
| put himself in the colored mans
place and see things as he must see
and feel them He has even man
aged 10 make his style conform to
the educated mulatto's natural mode
OF expression: little OF the colored
brothers love OF a big word. a sound
ing phrase, an innocent enjoyment
Of the sonorous for it's own sake.
As TO the deep essentials OF the
situation one feels positive that Mr.
Stribling secs them with absolute
accuracy. in the case OF the beauti-
ful and intelligent octoroon girl as
well as in that OF his hero and also
as TO the fully black people in theil
own Niggertown. and. as might bt
expected. in the treatment Of the
whites Mr.. Strihling. indeed. is un-
sparinS in his presentation OF tho
Southern white folks: almost cynic-
ally 50. bat nevertheless recognizing
a certain hard logic in their attitude
4 The gist Of the whole theme may
be suInmed up in the heros reacc-
ton: The black man would have t.
change his psychology or remain
where he was. creature of poverty
hoyeis and dirt: blt amid such sur
roundings he could not change hi.
l psychology" One way out is indi.
Gated BY the further Thought thai
"thc negro question was a matter o
individual initiative" and that crit
les forget that race Is composed o
individuals" But that leaves tn,
mass untouched: the problem as
huge whole remains. even IL a fev
select individuals escape from it