New-York tribune., 1920-01-17
More Meddling by the Censor
Cabell's Beautiful Fantasy "Jurgen''
Sent to a Magistrates Court

ls TAILS a little short of it's intention
ana loses something of its sparkle be-
lore 1T Is done, but, for all that, it is a
notable piece of work by a man who
writes superbly.
Inc novel. which is work of the
most fantastic nature, is to be Judged
ny City Magistrate appointed by
mayor Hyian. Just why Mr.. Sumner
should feel that "Jurgen" menaces pub
nc morals it would be hard to say. Ger
fanny, there is nothing in it to bring
a. blush to the cheek Of any unsophis,
tlcated person. Unfortunately, most
censors of books are persons of las
clvlous minds. Any one who looks
nard enough for shocking things is
bound to find them. Moreover. book
censorship is generally conducted un-
der the hideous theory that the truth
is not fit for publication. Beauty is
one OF the truths particularly offensive
to professional censors. Perhaps that
Is why "Jurgen' is in the police court.
The Secret Battle" (Knopf), by A.
+. Herbert, seems to us the best novel
oeallng with modern warfare which
has yet appeared. Not only does it
avoid all sentimentality about its sub
Ject, but it also steers clear of the
overstatements of that school of real
lsts,~headed by Barbusse 1t is a piece
OF art and not work of propaganda.
Herbert gives every indication of
knowing not only the material condi-
tlons of modern warfare, but the spir-
ltual side as WELL Without attempting
to gloss over the physical horrors Of
war ne does not neglect the romance
and the thrill of it all which NAV. for
a time, beat down in the mind of man
the, most repugnant conditions. In
the long run, his implication seems to
be, spirit must yield to facts. Never
theless, there is a toughness in the
soul of man which is not to be easilv
broken
The hero of the novel is sensitive
young Engllshman who goes to war
with the highest ideals and the most
stalwart fortitude in spite of his physi-
cal qualms. He begins his fighting at
Gallipoli, and the first person narrator
describes vividly the young officers
emotion when he first sees the plains
of Troy.
I've terror Of being a failure in
1T failure out here-you know, a sort
of reglmental dud. I've heard of lots
OF them; the kind of man that nobody
gives an important job, because he's
sure to muck it up (though l do be-
lieve that Ecclestons more likely to be
that than me). But that's what l was
thinking just now. Somehow, looking
at this view-Troy and all that-and
thinking how those Greeks sweated
blood for ten years on afternoons like
this. doing their duty for the damned
old kings, and now we've come out here
to fight in the same place thousands of
years afterward, and we still know
about them and remember their names
we'll, it gave me kind of inspira-
tion: l don't know why I've got a bit
of contidence-God knows how long it
will last-but | swear | won't be a
failure, | won't be the battalion dud-
and III have damned good try to get
medal of some sort and be like-like
Achilles or somebody"
Herbert goes on with his story and
tells just how far this inspiration car
ried the young officer and what were
the factors which broke it down, SO
that he was eventually shot for cow
;'rdice. The story is told concisely
and the interest is gripping through
out. The book is among the finest o.
English studies in the psychology Of
fear.