New-York tribune., 1922-08-06


V cal City" she trespassed on
the territory Of dozens of
writers and of millions of New Workers.,
John Trustworthy has said that every
man has two countries--his own and
france. Similarly every one in the
United States has two home towns
his own and New York. But there is
difference. New York does not re-
main for long the Americans second
love The original home town, once
the native son moves to Manhattan. Is
relegated to the background, forgotten
unless attacked, at which time the dy-
ing embers of loyalty may be famed
into momentary fame.
But New York claims and receives
prlmacy In devotion; and it is indeed
q tempestuous and jealous passion
winch infuses every one of her swains
Not one will let any other claim her
acquaintance. Each resident lifts his
nose at the other and exclairs "You
don't know the half of it, dearie."
This hugging of the skyscraper city
80 ones bosom, this assertion of ex-
elusive and special familiarity, is not,
however, surprising. New York is like
The Truth--an absolute concert in
theory, vet so intricate and extensive
as to be cemprehended by no one.
Each New Yofkec, seeing in the city
that which he desires, exhibits his tiny
detail under the title of the entire
canvas.
This Manhattan scope, this versatil-
ity, this euswirling of the individual
is part Of the city's peculiar charm.
Inc bobbed~haired girl from Bad Axe,
Mich, can find her place in the Follies;
the Oberlin graduate can be at home in
the broadway Tabernacle Church; or,
perhaps the situation is reversed. At
any rate there is no limit to the vari-
ETY. of types of life offered. Imagine
the divergent New Yorks of Mayor
Hylan, Mrs, Willard Straight, Egmont
Arens. John Roach Straton; Mary Hay
and Mary Garrett Hay
WHAT wonder, then, that the reader
w seizes with curiosity and with
something of porcupinity q volume
which calls itself "The Vertical City,
Just like that. VIII it be the New York
of Edith Wharton, of O. Henry, Of
Julian Street? Will it concern the
it, perhaps, picture one or more Of the
many foreign infiltrations?
The readers bristling, however, is
uncalled for. Miss Hurst has not told
more about fields already explored, nor
mas she surveyed any new areas. The
title Of the book is the only essentially
New York quality which it suggests.
All the stories are laid in Manhattan,
1T is true, but not essentially So The
tale, which bears the same name as the
collection Of stories, concerns a girl,
Liliom, Coney Island and foreseen
tragedy. 1t might take place in the
underworld anywhere, or more likely
nowhere.
Guilty" boarding house story hay
ing a bizarre plot, and Back Pay"
concerning high class prostitute, are
smartly told, but have no especial ear
marks of New York
The books particular contribution,
however, is the picture of Jewish fara-
lily life as shown in "She Walks in
Beauty" and Roulette" Here one has
the feeling of being on West End Ave
nue., or on Broadway anywhere from
too, might perhaps be equally well
staged in Chicago or Baltimore. They
somehow seem to miss the pace, the
clan vital which infuses all OF New
York's many lives.
The book can hardly escape compari-
son in manner and in much of its sub
ject matter with o. Henry's "The Four
Million" Where, Miss Hurst, are the
humor and the fnesse? There is
scarcely u smile III Inc Vcrticai
City" Yet aside from it's places of
abounds in laughter. The subway
riders, the shipping clerks, the ste
nographers, the factory workers, sprin-
kle their leisure moments with banter,
The salt Of humor savors the porridge
of the four million and should not be
missing from any book in the milieu
which Miss Hurst aims to present.
And finesse. There is too much self
consciousness, too much the feeling
that the author is going Summing, too
much unwarranted pride in pseudo
realism "There is undoubtedly an un-
savory aspect to this story" she writes
in "Back Pay" For purposes of fic-
tion it. is neither fragrant nor easily
digested. But it is not so unsavory as
the social scheme which made it pos
sible," etc, etc.
Nor does she have a sense of the fit
ness Of things in her technique. She
walks verbal tightrope, at times
lurching sickeningly. There is scarcely
moments relaxation: Miss Hurst re-
minds one Of suburban host who in
sists on showing his weekend guest
every piece of property he owns, from
his motor car to his wife. After one or
two paragraphs the reader Is willing
to admit that Miss Hurst has a high
keyed and highly readable style.
As an Interpretation Of New York or
of humanity "The Vertical City" can
not be given an immortal, nor hardly
temporary, niche. Yet it entertains.
1t has enough fuidity and simmer to
make one ask that it be written better.
What is needed is more concentration
on the composition, less on the rhet-
orc; fewer rhinestones, and more
pearls. j. G. LONG.
40 East Forty y-ninth Street, New
York City.