Appreciations on works of Theodore Dreiser
作者： (美)西奥多·德莱塞(Theodore Dreiser)著;文斌等编著
出版社：武汉测绘科技大学出版社,1999
简介：
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.
