New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-01
The Legion

Christopher Wren. l. A r. limo. pp 3Oi. The
Frederick Stokes Company.
There are many legions, but only one
Legion, probably in most minds inter-
preted by the mere mention, though un-
forgettable, in the old ballad OF
"Bingen on the Rhine" and by the opu
lent word painting and intense dramatic
action of 0uida's "Under Two Flags"
Henceforth the name will be insepara-
bly, associated with the volume before
US, which, despite certain obvious
faults, gives by far the best descrip-
tion Of that world famous body Of
troops that we have ever read. II the
author had himself been as much a
veteran of The Legion as his magnifi-
cent jean Boule," he could scarcely
have written of it, of its most intimate
inner life, of its very spirit and heart
of hearts, with more cOpious knowl-
edge or more sympathetic appreciation
than he here displays. IL is not merely
Legion itself that he presents upon his
nervous, dramatic, impassioned pages.
The story is not novel, but is Of
perennial interest: A gallant English
officer is left for dead in an African
jungle fight, but survives, is cared for
In the wilderness, and after years OF
amnesia is restored to perfect health.
Meantime his supposed widow has re-
married and borne a son. Learning OF
this, he nobly "stays dead" by entering
The Legion, where in after years he
has as a comrade, who never suspects
his identity, the son of his wife. AT
the end he is killed in conflict, and the
boy goes home TO tell the story of his
death to his mother, who instantly
divines the identity Of the fallen hero.
That is the story, which is really sub
sidiary to its own accessories. The real
purport of the fascinating book is its
presentation Of the very life Of The
Legion, and its account OF the Homeric
conflict between a gigantic and chival-
ric American and an equally gigantic
but unspeakably bestial Italian, and
also the passionate experiences OF
pretty cantiniere, somewhat reminis-
cent of the immortal Cigarette.
Ola few blemishes we must speak. Like
most English writers, Captain Wren
bungles American dialects badly. We
are quite sure that nowhere from Key
West to Puget Sound, from Eastport to
San Diego, are there people who talk
as the magnificent "Bucking Broncho"
is made to talk. And then, why did the
author sully his pages with the repeat
ed use of word which is simply
nasty? Victor Hugo used it once, quot
ing its actual employment on one Of
the worlds greatest historical occa-
sions, and felt constrained TO write
whole chapter in apology and defence
for so doing But Captain Wren had
no such quasi justification for using il
as he. Finally, more by way Of in
uuiry and suggestion, We must recon-
mend 10 our dictionary makers the Civ
ing of some attention TO Captain
Wren's amazing Interpretation Of the
familiar term "tsps." the flights out"
signal at night and the farewell at a
soldiers grave. His statement OF its
origin seems quite incredible. but we
leave il TO the dictionary makers TO de-
termine its accuracy, as also TO explain
why, with all their zeal for examining
their ponderous tones with as many
words as possible, good, bad and in
different, they have never yet included
this word, which has been in common
use for generations.