Evening star., 1929-06-25
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWELL.

mind to do the same thing for Chi
cagos gangs and gangsters.
4 X
How Caesar Bandello (called Rico)
gradually undermined the authority OF
Sam VettDri, gang boss, and finally as
sumed leadership is the theme Of the
novel.
Sam vettori, in the best Maupas-
santian manner, jumps squarely into
the story in the first two sentences:
sam Vettori sat staring down into
Halsted street. He was a big man, fat al
a hog" etc. The moment we read thai
last phrase we took kindly to this story
because 1t is an honestly told tale in its
curiously theatrical way.
Ramon Otero, a Spaniard. is one OF
Rtcos gang. His devotion to Rice
would be touching If the author had
been willing to make it so, but he was
not. He was obsessed with his idea oi
writing like Guy de Maupassant.
1t is a good scene, however, in which
ne shows Otero drunk, chanting, with
his automatic beside him: IT am Ra-
mon Otero, q great, brave man.
amt afraid Of nobody or nothing. ]
can drink any man In the world under
the table and I can outshoot any man
that walks on two legs. Only Rico; he
Is my friend. He is a great man like
Pancho Villa and love him with a
great love. would not shoot Rico il
ne snot me hrst. Rico is my friend and
love him with great love"
We see Rico, after hold-up in which,
he shot police captain, going over the
newspaper and reading in the account
"Courtney's murderer was described by
one eyewitness as small, unhealthy
looking foreigner"
Rico tore up the clipping.
Where do they get that unhealthy
stuff?" he said. "I never been sick a
day in my life"
The description of the big banquet
which the gang gave to Rico on his
assumption of leadership is one of the
best bits in the book and inevitably re.
minds the reader of the feast of the
goose" in SEmile Zola's 'L'Assommoir. ;
THE table was Is feet long and was
covered by fine white cloth" Killer
Pep1 was there in a blue suit and q
brown derby with Blue Jay, his woman
on his arm. Then came Joe Sansone
Kid Bean, Blackie Avenzzano, Bat Ca.
rillo and others.
They await the arrival of Rico, who
comes In with Blondy Belle on his arm
amid the yellS of the company. At the
end of the affair Rico is called upor
for a speech, which he delivers as fol.
lows: ..All right. if you birds want me
to make a speech, here you are: want
to thank you guys for this banquet
1t sure is swell. The LIQUOR is good, sc
they tell me; don't drink it myself
And the food don't leave nothing tc
be desired. guess we all had a swell
time, and 1t sure is good to see all you
guys gathered together. Well, guess
that's about all. Only wish you guys
wouldn't get drunk and raise hell, as
that's the way lot Of birds gel
bumped off,"
The portrait Of Rico, small, pale, for
ever combing his sleek black hair, de-
termined, beastlike in persistency, Is
one which should give legislators and
psychologists pause. How can men OF
this stamp be given new perspective
in life? The qualities which they pos
sess used to a better purpose would be
valuable to the Nation.
Little Caesar may be regarded as
the very latest thing in Eight Summer
reading" Yet 1t touches upon a serious
theme. and so doing must be reckoned
with as q valuable document in fiction
form.