New-York tribune., 1918-10-20
After the
Orgy
" JAR fiction is one means provided
w to let the world stand aside and

ike WellS ana May Sinclair ana Henrl
Barbusse--have turned out most of it;
but now comes an extraordinary picture
of the war from n Spanish pen. "The
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" by
Vicente Blasco Ibanez, Published in
translation by +. +. Dutton & Co.. has a
spaciousness and a perspective that no
other writer has yet achieved on the pres
ent conflict. 1t is without the passion of
q protagonist, but by it's air of cool obser-
vation and its detached irony at the ex-
pense of the Hun, it manages to condemn
Germany more surely and powerfully
than any amount of invective could do.
The story concerns the fortunes of a
family, half Argentine. half French, liv-
ing in Paris at the outbreak of the war.
\ large part of the book is devoted to
i vivid description of the Battle Of the
Marine, seen through the eyes of the head
of the family, Don Marcelo, who, when
every one was fleeing from Paris, went in
the other direction to see that his castle
near the Marne was unmolested. The old
mans experiences turned him from
apathy to an active, burning hatred of all
5hings German. An excerpt from this
part of the book follows:
lie awakened by the light of candle
n his eyes. The wardcn's wife had come
~ again to if he needed anything.
"Oh. what night, master Just
them yelling and singing The bot
les that they have emptied! They
in the dining room. You better not see
them. Now they amusing themselves by
breaking the furniture. Even the count is
drunk drunk. too, is that commandant that
you were talking with and all the rest.
Some OF them ore dancing half
uaked."
Apprehension for her daughters safety
made her hurry restlessly away, saying over
md over:
God has forgotten the world. . Ay.
what is going 70 become of us!"
Don Marcelo now tinglingly awake.
Near him. on the same floor, door
had fallen with crash, unable to resist q
succession Of formidable gatherings. This
vas followed Immediately bv the screams of
u woman, weeping, desperate supplications,
me noise of a struggle, reeling steps, and
thc thud Of bodies against the wall He had
a presentiment that it was Georgettc shrek
ing and trying to defend herself. Before he
could put his feet TO the door he heard a
mans voice, which he was the
keepers; she safe.
'Ah- you villain,"
Then the outbreak OF t second struggle
shot silencel
Rushing down the hallway that ended at
ne stairway. Desnoyer saw lights, and
uany men who came trooping up the stairs.
bounding several steps at time. He
almost fell over a body from which escaped
II groan OF agony. At his feet lay the
wardenc his chest moving like pair of
bellows. his eyes CLASSY and unnaturnly
distended, his mouth covered with blood.
near him lay kitchen knife. Then
ne saw man with d revolver iii one hand
md holding shut with the other a broken
door that some one was trying to open from
within Don Marcelo recognized him, in
spite of his greenish pallor and wild look.
II was characterization Blumhaxdt with
hesti%l expression of terrifying ferocity
md lust
Don Marcelo could see clearly how it had
All happened the debauche rushing
through the castle in search of his prey, the
anxious father in close pursuit, the cries of
he girl, the unequal struggle between the
consumptive with his emergency weapon and
nc warrior triumphant The fury Of HIS
youth awoke in the old Frenchman, sweep
ng everything before it. What did it mat
ier if he did die?
"Ah. you villain" he yelled, as the poor
athcr had done
And with clenched fists he marched up so
he German, who smiled coldly and held his
revolver to his eyes He was just going to
shoot him but at that instant Des-
noyer (Don Marcelo) fell to the floor.
Knocked down by those who were leapinr up
ihe stairs. He received many blows, the
heavy boots of the invaders hammering him
With their heels He felt hot stream
pouring his face. Blood, He
did not know whether it was his own or that
OF ~hc palpitating mortal slowly dying be
side him. Then he found himself lifted
rom the floor by many hands which pushed
aim toward man. 1t was His Excelency,
With his uniform burst open and smelling
Of wine Ewes and voice were both trem-
bling
my dear SIR he suffered, trying to re-
his suave irony, 81 warned you not to
Interfere in affairs and you have not
obeycd me. You may now take the consc-
guenceS of your lack of discretion"
He gave order, and the old man felt
himseH rushed downstairs to the cellars
underneath the castle
THE next morning he was released by
the woman. The Germans had gone.
Her husbands body was in the pond AS
tor Georgette, she was still alive, but
they kept her in their power until the
last minute"
Don Marcelo remained at his castle,
saw the tide turn and the Cermars foo