New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-06
HOMO SAPIENS.

~ ltA 4AlNL lDNtl.
HOMO SAPIENS.
HOMO sAPIENs Novel IN Three Parts by
Sallslaw rrUlyszeNskL Translated from The
Polish hy Thomas solver. limo ID 400. New
NerE Alfred A Knogf
Here, then, we have at last the we'll
advertised translation of the mdOnupt
ODus Of "the greatest Of living Polich
writers" The book is accompanied by
neat little pamphlet containing
brief biographical sketch Of Przybys-
zewski pronounced Psheebeshe'f
Skeel by the translator, and an elab0-
rate analysis of his writings, their
meaning and tendencies, by John
Weichsel. which is a remarkable pieca
Of highfalutin, ultra-modern literary
and philosophical preciosity. IL Is
sonorous, 1t brings all life and its mys-
teries within this Polish authors
scope by the simple process of reduc-
ing the VIII 10 Live to the level o.
uncomfortable animal passion, bur
dened, in the case of this particular
Homo Sapiens, by an inconvenient con-
science, weak in the face Of tempta-
ton, easily persuaded, but very insist
ent after the transgressiOn. II l.
somewhat difficult 70 dig through Ny.
Weichrers lUXuriant verbiage to his
ultimate conclus ion, but it is abundantly
clear that in IrZybsZewsSl's system
he is a physiological Psychologist
conscience is the fatal weakness that
prevents the full development Of the
Ego. From all Of which it may be
seen that his hero is a super-individr-
alist. which is something far beyond
Nietzsche's Superman. Only, this su~er-
individualist's concern is not with
Power beyond good and evil, but with
sex alone. "Only passion breathes life
into hstless chaos. Out Of the infinite
mass Of cosmic dust nature chooses
passion 10 mould it into life-sway ne
power. IN one way or another passion
Creator or Destroyer rulrs life and
ia life" Thus Mr.. Weichsel, who
ranges his author with Lops, Lautrec.
Beardsley, Baudelaire in a torrent ~
grandiloquence He might have added
Sacher Nasoch and his eighteenth
century French antithesis. And then
the eulogist let's the cat out OF the
bag in a quotation from one Of
Przyhvszewskis other books;
One must not fear neuroses
which. after all, only determine the
way seemingly chosen by the pro-
crossing development Of human
spirit. Medicine has long ago
ceased 10 consider debility such
thing as neurasthenia; this seems
20 be rather a most recent and
absolutely determined evolutionary
phase in virtue Of which the brain
win become more active, and, con
ecquently, more productive.
Evolution through ncurosis, there
fore. From this point # view, in
deed, Homo Sapiens" becomes intelu-
gible. If not in the least convincing, for
its hero does not evolve. He merely
moves in an ever-repeated circle, and
the Increasing activity Of his brain
points ever more insistently 70 insanity
or suicide. or both. Instead, we take
leave Of him holding the hand of still
another woman.
The story is a case for n psyche
patbologist, rather than for a book re-
viewer, who can only reach the conclu-
sion that Przybyszewsh is an added
mixture of Polish and Russian mysti-
cism, Scandinavian gloom and ultra
advanced German philosophy:
love you dearly and it drives
me mad. I'm suffering the torments
Of hell.
lie examined his own feelings.
Really. Pm not TO blame. Judge
for Yourself. | enter the room. A
magic red wave Of light. 1t envel-
ones a woman whom / know even
better than you. although ! had
never seen her before.
Was il the fault perhaps Of that
red light? You are an artist TO
your fngertips, you should know
how a red light affects soul.
There is a certain Du Bois-Rai-
mond who SAYS the color red IS
composed Of waves that make five
hundred billion vibrations IN sec
ond. These vibrations cause Viora.
tions in the nerves, as result OF
which | tremble, culver
Now do you understand why !
have fallen in love? Because
tromble.
1t is as clear as the sun. ] trem-
bic. ergo love. q,
Przvbyszewski neRlects matters or
time and place. He IS on ly concerned
with mental states. He does not de-
scribe his characters; he only dimiy
indicates where, for the moment theS
owe residing. in Berlin or in Poland
The lapse OF years is negligible mat
.e~ "a him. which is quite proper, since
his nero. tNbAF lliE 80. if''''+ -
not evolve at all; and his pages are
cverloaded with endless, often irritat-
inglv irrational dialogue and self-com,,
innings. The book is nightmare OF
national and mental "whirls," "yor-
t;ces" "maelstroms" -brainstorms; IN
the language Of the moment ana OF
what one suspects are cataleptic seiz-
ives In essence this is the story OF
man Of genius. lacking will power ana
moral sense. with a philosophy based
an The lack Of both and in opposition
IN his post facto uncomfortable CON
sc;erce. who runs away with m ms
fy.end's fancGe and marries her. The
fyiend commits suicide. lie thereupon
seduces a Young girl. who browns her
self: is denounced TO his wife by me
byo,ber Of another Of his victims, ana,
,yben his wife leaves him, turns to sun
arother woman for consolation. be-
tween these episodes he reasons win
his conscience, philosophers upon tse
lie Force as he chooses 70 see II 10
iustifv his conduct, and has his mys-
,erious illnesses. II is perhaps need,
less to add that he drinks great deal
Homo Sapiens" Is not a WORK OF
Genius. II is an abnormality, az least
ur..,arr world In Berlin, al