Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-10
ny j. A. EUHANIl.

In "The Surprises OF Life" b!
Georges Clenenccau doubleday
Page & Co. Garden City, y. W. which
Grace Hall has translated for Ameri
can readers with great skill in pre-
serving the delicate shades OF mean
Ing in French expression. the versa
tility OF the Tiger OF France" Is re-
VealeJ in such striking examples o.
enhance their previous estimates OF
his genius
To mis- own countryncn. George:
C.emenceau has been known as :
man OF letters for the last fertJ
years, but 1t was not until the pub
,icat!on last year OF his novel, 1.-The
Strongest" in IN English translation
thnt American readers discovered
ancy aAd fncas that distinguished his
political career, with which all we'll
informed peoples are quite familiar
Indeed. the great French states
man and outstanding man OF the hour
in Frances supreme crisis has cX-
pressed himself in many literary
forms. the novel. essay. treatise,
dra:na--a onc-act play WAS adapted
as musical comedy and made a
marked success in Paris-but his
liarly Latin form. half story. half
sketch.
This latcs, work OF his. The Sur
prises OF Life" contains sketches and
stories which are reminiscent OF
3emenccau's boyhood spen; In the
Nendee, and record his Impressions
oi--the sturdy race which so long
wagcd guerilla warfare against the
new republic. There are glimpscs Of
the French peasants, slow TO wit. still
cUnS!ng TO old conceptions and re-
;aiRinS the imprints OF Old beliefs.
Swift portraits OF the .mprovisad
solomon, Flower OF the Wheat
CtauG!t, the lock maker: Aunt Rosa lie
o. Nd HAt st,.-. al
the psychology OF this race sprung
from the soil. animal in their de-
sires' and needs. their demands OF
life. yet withal touched with a deep
n!E-s1tcisn projected like Il shadow
frent the past.
agrees with II 81 Hyndinan tina. il
is vivid with irony and graceful
Win poetic thought" Occasionally
IN us indulgence OF this particular
phase OF expression. Clcmence- as
pen foragcs Into the city. and here
mis- keen. renorseless irony ctches, as
WIZ acids. clear and Illuminating
picture OF contemporary life In
Fer instance, what biting com
men; on present-day eminence and
how regulations are made and un-
made in the story OF Mokoubamha's
Fetish:
The fakir told me that the uni.
Tcrge Is bu, one huge agglomeration
OF Fe,tshes. There are as many as
strong and some are weak 1t is A
great battle as 10 which shall come
on, on top. The wicked are those
who work evil on others to &c, the
USE Eentleness. persuasion. art. One
had better be On the side OF the
5000 unless one Is stronger than
~ CO, p
lnS OF Fet!shes or OF men,
"Ha-h You want 10 know AL y,
"a! Another little glass (ot BRANDY
and YOU shall have your answer. Ex
G.!!ont! / can refuse v"u nothing
wei. then. the fakir affirmed thar
same th!ng, for every man makes his
etish according to the strength or
ms interest in himself. and the viii
I've ne e%pends in satisfying It.
i iore,e!l happy fortune for neo-
pie II but strengthens Their Fat-
lsh. their chance OF happiness is in
e'e ..sS. they en- JOY IL in anticipation
forms and shifting denominations,
You maintain tina; the only FETISH 10
Wnom you have remained unnI,nr,bi,
lallhin!, and which has rcwarJc5
s sU nqe!Lty by pulling YOU through
eFerSthiHg in the world
rs Mokcubamba himself. Tbcro
Il tx Ike sI ;Sa Sc. secret Mediate upon
,saail mediate upon a.. hava
lear. hut Go YOU suppose this rrn,t
secret Is known in+,Is2narcs alene %.
u have often ASKED n,Ssejf: 'i M,
question. Judging bF"actions, cve e,r'
one seems perfectly aware ~ 49,,
Is ABOUT. But ! have never know
any one e1ccp; the falir or Dnnor.s
s'.te things as they are"
a" th!s from Chapter WI c,t;,,os
DOMESTIC Drama" ~ am 60 -
e en;,,, animals, real ones Who Sc
nIp5.l. taa not been perverted nv ~ =
inSnuerab!c prctcnsc and annct3,, nv
Mhch are all too often acc6,nn., - !"
inehts OF tho human form W.
ever watches them with , eani,..
.S Ss ma may Eathcr deep Lessons from
~ lctiy!ties OF animal life, In NV
anu neAstS The motions OF bcInp 80
go 81 .cu 10y one philosophy. how.ynr
huch trouble the sacristans Of Lit,
EHy ,ake 10 separate under III. hc,ds
OF instinct and .thorrh., ,hs
phenonena differing in degr.e hm,
!oentica! In nature or "a
tuFai tendency is to ohenrva -
thoughts and feelings of onr e,,,.is
Iather than those OF animals !rho;,
toucb us more nearly, and we oftoa
heeo, IN the course o. our studv ~
humanity. to balance the Indulgence