Deal in Wheat, and other Stories. By Frank Norris. (Grant
Richards. 6s.)—The late Mr. Norris described his book as being a collection of stories "of the New and Old West." The stories certainly deserve the American adjective "bright," and they contain many touches of that pathetic humour, or perhaps one should rather say humorous pathos, which has given English readers so strong a liking for Western American tales. This is a different spirit from that which inspires the epitaph on "Cock-eye Blacklock," given by Mr. Norris, though that spirit too is popular with some people. The epitaph runs as follows :—" Here lies most of C. Blacklock, who died of an alliance with a stick of dynamite. Moral : A hook and line is good enough fish-tackle for any honest man." The story which has the most serious interest is the one that gives its name to the book, which might have inscribed above it as a motto: "Cursed is he who withholdeth the corn from the people."
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