The -man who is desig
nated as "B S2G(i" and is a "lifer" in
the Eastern state penitentiary here
evidently belongs to the latter class
of convicts, though it hardly seems
fair to classify him as a convict after
one has learned his story. Undoubted
ly he occupies .a unique niche in the
realm of erlminolegy and is ;a subject
for the psychologist.
The confessions of most -criminals
are crude enough, hut in "A Tale of a
Walled Town and Other Verses" (Lip
pincott company) Ji S2C6 relates the
story of his interstiag life in such ex
cellent poetry that William Stanley
Braithwaite, the well-known critic,
visited the poet in prison and wrote
an enthusiastic introduction 'to the
book, which is attracting the attention
•of persons who know what's what In
poetry.
"A Tale of a Walled Town," like
lOscar Wilde's "Ballad of Reading
'Gaol," is a poem of lyrical intensity,
autistic merit and powerful realism. It
is an honest confession, for the poet
■does not deny his sins.
It was only when locked in ids cell
that this unusual man turned to lit
erature and writing for consolation
against terrible despair; for he had
written virtually nothing before for
print.
He wandered about the world a rest
less youth, lie found surcease In la
bor and fell in love, buj again was un
fortunate. The woman in the case was
of a wealthy family, and tlie match
was opposed. The lovers ejoped and
for a year were exceedingly happy.
She, having been used to costly clothes
111 Treated as Child.
