The Daily Worker Newspaper, August 9, 1924, Page 9

DANKO-:: In olden time there dwelt a certain race of men on earth. I do not know where they lived. I only know that vast trackless forests surrounded their encampments on three sides, and on the fourth My the steppe. They were strong, brave and merry men, content with little.... They may have been gypsies. And lo, one day trouble came npon them. Alien tribes appeared who drove them into the depth of the forest, There darkness brooded over the marshy ground, for the forest was old and tall, and so thickly were the boughs interwoven that the sky was invisible through them and the sun could not pierce through the.thick leafage to the bogs. And did rays of light strike the stag- nant water of the marshes, a stench arose, whereby men perished. And then their women and children rose up crying, and the fathers grew thoughtful and sad. They must needs leave the forest, but only two roads led away from it: one—back to their old haunts, where the fierce and mighty foe lay in wait, the other— forward where stood the giant trees, their boughs embracing each other, their gnarled roots deep in the clutch- ing mire of the marshes. While day lasted the trees stood silent and mo- tionless in a grey twilight, and of evenings, when the fires were lit, they crowded closer about the tribe. And the people were ever surrounded by a suffocating circle, they who were wonted to the free spaces of the steppes. And even more terrible was it when the wind beat upon the tree- tops and the forest resounded with muffled thunder, as # were tolling the death-knell of those who had found refuge there.... And the men sat and pondered through the long nights, to the voice of the forest’s muffled thunder, in the poisonous stench of the marshes. There they sat, while shadows thrown by the boughs leapt round them in a silent dance, and these seemed to them not playing shadows, but the gestures of the evil spirits of forest and bog in their triumph.,... They sat, they pondered. . There is nothing, neither work nor women, that so drains the bodies #nd souls of men as do the sad thoughts that suck the heart like snakes. And the men grew weak with thinking.... Fear rose among them, fettering the strong arms, and terror sprang from the mourning of the women before the corpses of the dead and over the fate of the living—and cowardly words began to be heard in the forest, spoken low at first, then louder and louder. . Already some wished to surrender themselves and their will to the foe, and none had fear any more of the life of a slave.... But now came Danko and saved them all, Danko was young and beautiful to look upon. The beautiful are always brave. And he said to his comrades: “Reflection will not alter the course of a stone. Who dares naught, achieves naught. Why waste our powers on sorrowful meditation. Rise, let us go into the forest and pass through it. It must have an end—all things have an end. Forward!” The people looked at him and they saw that he was the first among them all, for stregth and fire burned in his eyes. : ‘ “Lead us,” they said. So he led them. Danko. All follow- ed him and all trusted him. The road was difficult! Darkness fell about them and at every step the marsh yawned with foul and eager jaws, swallowing men, and the trees reared a mighty wall across the path. The boughs were intertwined like snakes, and the roots stretched in all direct- ions, and each step cost blood and sweat to the marching host. Long, long -they marched. The forest grew dens- er, and their strength melted! And then they began to murmur against Danko, saying that it was on a vain journey that he, in his youth and inex- perience, undertook to lead them. But he moved at their head, confident and serene, But once a storm burst over the forest and the trees roared with ajtinguished by pity. He loved these muffled tumult. And it grew as dark in the forest as though all the nights that ever fell upon earth had gathered there. Tiny men trudged on amidst high trees in the fierce play of light- nings, and the giant trees swayed, in- tening angrily, and lightnings, flying over the tree-tops, lit them for a mo- ment with cold blue light, and vanish- ed as swiftly as they had come, terrify- ing the people. The trees, lit with the cold fires of the lghtnings, looked alive. They streched their long, gnarled hands, reaching after the people, who fled from the prisoning darkness. They wove their arms into a net, trying to catch the people. Chill terror looked at them from the black- ness of the boughs. +»+.-The road was difficult, and the men felt ‘a sinking of the spirit. But they were ashamed to acknowledge their weakness, and with vicious wrath they turned against Danko, the man who led them. And they began to scorn him for his inability to govern They halted and to the trium- them. MAXIM people, and he feared that perhaps without him they would perish. And lo, his heart was aflame with the fire of desire to save them and to lead them upon an easy road. And the light of that fire sparkled in his eyes. But they, beholding his burning eyes- thought he had grown furious, and they became as wary.as wolves. They pressed closer, so that they might the more easily seize and slay him. But he knew at once what was in their minds, and therefore his heart burned within him all the more brightly. Still the forest sang its gloomy song, and the thunder resounded and the rain poured down. By MAXIM GORKI evening, and the river grew crimson in the sunset, like that blood which pulsed in a hot stream from Danko’s torn chest. Proud in. his passing, Danko glanced before him at the broad spaces of the steppe. He cast a joyous glance to- ward the free lands that unfolded before his eyes, and laughed trium- phantly. Then he sank in death. The amazed trees behind him whispered softly, and the grass stained with his blood murmured in aaswer. Meanwhile the people, joyous and full of hope, did not notice his death, and did not see that Danko’s brave heart was still blazing beside his “What shall I do for the people?”|corpse. One man only, a cautious man cried Danko, outshouting the thunder.| beheld it, and moved by a vague fear And suddenly he tore his chest open|he trod upon the proud heart. And as with his hands, and wrenched out his|it crumbled, its sparks were scatéered heart, and held it high above thejand extinguished forever. heads of the multitude. It blazed as brightly as the sun, nay, brighter. And the forest grew silent, lit with this torch of surpassing love for mankind. And the darkness GORKI. LLL I phant roar of the forest in the quiver- ing darkness, tired and troubled, they began to denounce Danko. “You are a puny soul! You do us injury! You led us and you _ out- wearied us,” they said, and for that you shall perish.” ~~. And the lightnings and thunder con- firmed their verdict. “You said, ‘Lead us,’ and I did so,” cried Danko, thrusting out his chest. “I have the courage of leadership and so I led you. And you—what have you done to help yourselves? . Your courage does not last through a long journey. You travel like a flock of sheep.” His words only inflamed their anger. “You shall die! You shall die!” they shouted. ' And the forest roared, answering their cry. And the lightnings tore the darkness into shreds. Danko looked at those for whose sake he had made his effort, and saw that they were even as beasts. Many men stood about, but there was no nobility in their faces. He could not hope to be spared by them, Then indignation boiled up in his heart, but it was ex- fled before it, and in the depths of the thicket, shivering, it was swallowed by the foul jaws of.the marsh. The people turned to stone with amaze- ment. “Forward!” cried Danko, And he leapt to the van of the marchers, holding high his burning heart, and therewith lighting the road. They flocked after him, curious and fascinated. Then once more the forest lifted its voice, swaying the treetops in wonderment, but the roar was lost in the tramp of Danko’s followers. All forged on, swiftly and bravely, drawn by the miraculous spectacle of the burning heart. And some perished, but they perished with- out plaints or tears. And Danko was marching before them, and his heart burned and blazed. And lo, suddenly the forest’ parted for them, parted and remained behind ense and dumb. And Danko with his followers plunged into a sea of sunlight and pure, rain-washed air. The storm was there behind them, above the forest. But here the sun ‘shone, “the steppe breathed gently, the grass scintillated with rain-drops, and the golden river glittered. It was | Book Reviews | AS SOME SEE THE NEGRO By GEO. McLAUGHLIN The May, June and July issues of the “World’s Work” contain a remark- able series on the Negro. It is re- markable since the author honestly tells what he saw without Race prejudice, without anti-labor bias. Im the “World’s Work” this—marvelous. His mistakes—and they are. dazzling —are due to ignorance alone. He tells (July) of the reception Claude McKay received in Russia. He tells too that Gene Debs kissed a black girl at.a negro meeting. This typifies the communist and socialist position, he says. The Communists want the Negro to join hands in the huge task of fighting for freedom. The socialist is willing to kiss. Judas once gave a kiss. The author sees what a fertile revolutionary field the Race is. He is wiser than many of my comrades. Naivete The June issue is exquisitely naive on the labor movement. He says “there has been some ground” for the charge that the unions exclude Ne- groes. The unions are different now. His proof? Some twenty needle trade unions inserted May day greetings in the “Messenger”! (This was a dis- gusting misuse of union funds. The magazine felt no call to give space to May Day or the labor movement or the poor Negroes, but devoted pages and pages to two successful Negro parasites—one an insurance man, one a real estate dealer. Why should such a paper be supported by union funds?) He discusses ,soberly the influence of Gompers among the black masses. He thinks it would be infinitely great- er were he black—ebony black if pos- sible! Imagine Sammy sighing sadly because he is not the hue to appeal to—the Negro highbrows. That is the heart of the matter. All this twaddle represents the information given the author by the Negro “leaders”. The ignorance of these gentry is incredible. Negro “Wealth” The author discusses the Black Belt. It is acutely comic. In spite of my literary fastidiousness. I quote: “costly rugs”, “a library replete with sumptuously bound volumes”, “abun- dant silver gleaming superbly”. He tells of costly cars, of Race pride, of colored girls in riding breeches or in fashionably expensive costumes. In the name of Denmark Vesey, is this the Black Belt? I too have studied the Belt. Not .01 per cent live in lux- ury, not more than 2 per cent live in comfort. For the rest—it’s hell. A Negro who lives in a well built brick house, with sewer, running water, and electric light is lucky, remarkably lucky. A hideous per centage have outside privies and flies swarm from there to their food. The barns of America are better built than the hovels of the Negroes. Gallant “Defenders.” Mayors of the sixty Illinois cities with populations of 10,000 or more will tieet at the Chicago. Athletic Club at the invitation of the Illinois defense day test committee this eve- ning. ans for the state-wide observ- ance of defense day will be discussed.