Appreciations on works of Theodore Dreiser

片断： 戴维斯松了口气，找到报务员，在邮电所里写下了关于这桩事情的 通讯稿，描述了一场未遂的私刑、一帮吃了败仗的暴民和努力维持法律 的郡长大英雄。 夜里大约十一点，鲍德温村里忽然传来隐隐约约的马蹄声，一队人 马由远而近，在惠特克父子的带领下卷土重来了，他们直奔郡长家而 去。郡长丝毫没有放松警惕，他对自己应付暴民的勇气非常满意，期望 再次运用哄骗、吓唬的手段将马队退回。可这一次情形不同了，在脾气 火爆的惠特克老爹的带领下，他们很快就制服了郡长。人们涌进地窖， 把吓得瑟瑟发抖的黑人杰夫不由分说地拖上大车带走了，然后将他吊 死在桥柱上。 这突发的变故使戴维斯满心难受，无法接受这一现实。第二天回 到村里，戴维斯又去走访了有关的一些人。郡长虽然仍然发誓要惩办 违法者，但戴维斯看得出他不会再有所行动。黑人杰夫的家里一片凄 凉，他的母亲一个劲儿地哭泣，那凄惨的叹息和呻吟在戴维斯心头久久 不去。他怀着无限的感慨喊道：“我要把这一切全写进去！” "Readthat,Davies,"Midthecityeditor,handinghimtheclipping. 'Tlltellyouafterwardwhatlwantyoutodo." Thereporterstoodbytheeditorialchairandread: PleasantValley,Ko.,April16. "Amostdastardlycrimehasjustbeenreportedhere.Jeffingalls,a negro,thismomingassaultedAdaWhitaker,thenineteen-year-olddaugh- terofMorganWhitaker,awell-to-dofarmer,whosehomeisfourmiles southofthisplace.Aposse,headedbySherifr(3)Mathews,hasstartedin pursuit.Ifheiscaught,itisthoughthewillbelynched." Thereporterraisedhiseyesashefinished.Whatateniblecrime! Whatevilpeopletherewereintheworld!Nodoubtsuchacreatureought tobelynched,andthatquickly. "Youhadbettergooutthere,Davies,"saidthecityeditor."Itlooks asifsomethingmightcomeofthat.Alynchingupherewouldbeabig thing.There'sneverbeenoneinthisstate." DavisfoundthevillageofPleasantValleyaverysmallaffairindeed, justafewdozenhousesnestlingbetweengreenslopesoflowhills,Hetook notesofthewhitenessofthelittlehouses,theshimmeringbeautyofthe smallstreamonehadtocrossingoingfromthedepot.Attheonemaincor- nerafewmenweregatheredaboutatypicalvillagebarroom. Thewholecompanywasapparentlytensewithinterestinthecrime whichatillremainedunpunished,seeminglycravingexcitementandde- sirousofseeingsomethingdoneaboutit. Justthenayoungfarmercamegallopingup.Hewascoatless,hatless, breathless.