THE THRESHOLD

A concentration of the representative evils of society as embodied in the detainees in Ellis Island, waiting for deportation or release. In the days' emptiness and boredom there are plans for escape- attempts to dishonor the hated matron- schemes to revolt and upset the monotonous routine. Focal points are the Slavs, Kala and Alexandra, against whose self-contained personalities break the hatred of the Negro Isold, the fear of a stupid German, the shame of a Jewish refugee, the dream of an Italian's escape, the discontent and envy of assorted other women and girls held for judgment. Alexandra takes the way of deportation, while Kala, with a chance at release, chooses suicide as the answer to her problems. If it were not for the accenting of obvious types and nationalities, this, in its grim to bitter picture of the life, would have greater validity.