ven Arts_, May, 1917.

[25] The _Nation_, Dec. 2, 1915.

[26] 1186-1189. So translated by Floyd Dell: "O ye deathward-going
tribes of man, what do your lives mean except that they go to
nothingness?"

[27] The New York _Evening Post_, Dec. 31, 1915.

[28] Despite the comstockian attack, Dreiser is still fairly well
represented on the shelves of American public libraries. A canvas of the
libraries of the 25 principal cities gives the following result, an X
indicating that the corresponding book is catalogued, and a - that is
not:

Sister Carrie
| Jennie Gerhardt
| | The Financier
| | | The Titan
| | | | A Traveler at Forty
| | | | | The "Genius"
| | | | | | Plays of the Natural
| | | | | | | A Hoosier Holiday
| | | | | | | |
New York X - - X X X X X
Boston - - - - X - X -
Chicago X X X X X X X X
Philadelphia X X X X X X X X
Washington - - - - X - X -
Baltimore - - - - X - - -
Pittsburgh - - X X X X - X
New Orleans - - - - - - - -
Denver X X X X X X X X
San Francisco X X X X X - - X
St. Louis X X X X X - X -
Cleveland X X X X - X X -
Providence - - - - - - - -
Los Angeles X X X X X X X X
Indianapolis X X X - X - X X
Louisville X X - X X X X X
St. Paul X X - - X - X X
Minneapolis X X X - X - X -
Cincinnati X X X - X - X X
Kansas City X X X X X X X X
Milwaukee - - - - X - X X
Newark X X X X X X X X
Detroit X X X - X X X X
Seattle X X - - X - X X
Hartford - - - - - - - X

This table shows that but two libraries, those of Providence and New
Orleans, bar Dreiser altogether. The effect of alarms from newspaper
reviewers is indicated by the scant distribution of The "Genius,"
which is barred by 14 of the 25. It should be noted that some of these
libraries issue certain of the books only under restrictions. This I
know to be the case in Louisville, Los Angeles, Newark and Cleveland.
The Newark librarian informs me that Jennie Gerhardt is to be removed
altogether, presumably in response to some protest from local Comstocks.
In Chicago The "Genius" has been stolen, and on account of the
withdrawal of the book the Public Library has been unable to get another
copy.

[29] The _North American Review_, Feb., 1916.

[30] Another competent valuation, by Randol