New-York tribune., 1920-05-30

that gives the book It's titla ia a
p@an TO the French Revolution. The
author glories in the most ferociou,
excesses OF that mighty upheaval. in
the September massacres, in the terror
In prose Of extraordinary power and
vlvidness he depicts the mos. spec-
tacu!sr scenes of the Revolution. the
trial and execution OF the King, the
sittings OF the convention, the great
surging, billowing movements of the
Paris mob. CARLYLE himself seems
tame and spiritless compared with this
Russian who goes even beyond
Rohespierre and st. Just in his fanat-
ical zeal for Liberty, Equality. Fra
ternity."
"Dies Ire IS another hymn to free
dom, sung by Sicilian bandit freed
from prison by an earthquake. And
reyevs ecstatic elcquence Is we'll ex-
emp!ihed by this remarkable outburst
or rhythmic, measured prose:
IF |. gather from all over the world
al the GOOD words which people use.
all the tender sayings, all the ringing
songs and ding them all into tho soy
Gus air;
IL I gather al the smiles Of chill
dre'e the laughter Of women whom no
one has Vet wroneed, the caresses Of
gray-haired mothers, the faithful hand
shakes Of Sriend-and weave Of them
al an incorruptitle wreath for some
one beautiful head;
If ! pass over the face Of the earth
and garner al the flowers that grow
upon it; N The forests and in the
fields, in the meadows and in the
gardens of tie rich, IN the depths Of
the waters. upon the azure bottom Of
the ocean; if gather all the precious
sparkling stones, bringing them forth
out Of hidden crevices, out Of the
gloomy depths OF mines, tearing them
from the crowns of kings ard from the
ears Of the rich-and pile them al, the
stones and the Aowers, into ore radiant
mountain;
IF I gather al the fires that burn in
the universe. al the lights, all the rays.
all the flashes. fares and silent g.ows,
and in the Glare Of one N ighty CON
Aagration iNumire the Quakin2 worlds:
Even then shall be unable 70 name
thee. to crown thee, 70 Iaud thee-O
Freedom
Several Of Andreye9s stories are
based upon Biblical themes. His Judas
Iscariot" IS q remarkable study Of tnat
classic traitor. Andreyey describes
Judas'S betrayal as due 70 4 morbid de
s re TO test the reality OF Christs di-
yinity and the loyalty Of His disciples.
When the disciples made no attempt 20
defend their master. when 10 mira Gle
saved the innocent Teacher from the
cross, JUDAS hurled back his thirty
pieces of silver into the faces Of the
Il gh priests and went OF and hanged
himself. Andreyevs Judas is like Mil
tens Satan, an ennob.ed and ideaIzed
power Of evil.
1t IS difficult to imagine more grue-
some tale than The Lille Of Father
VASTLY" Father Nassily IS parish
priest afflicted by the most terrible
misfortunes. His VIE takes % drink
and gives birth TO an idiot son. whose
foul and british character poiIutes the
whole house. Finally the wife, in
moment Of drunkenness, sets fire to the
house and perishes IN the flames.
Throughout al these trials Nassily
ciings 70 hs belief IN God. But faith
tested so cruelty becomes species of
insanity; and tne story comes % d
cloee with q titanic outourst, in which
the loneliness and help!essness Of rnan
pitted against the elemental forces Of
tie universe is wildly portrayed. The
Life Of Father VASTLY is unquestiou-
ably one Of Andreyevs most character
istlc stories.
Andreyev viii scarcely be counted
among the immortal names Of Russian
literature. His utter LACK OF restraint
his constant emphasizing Of the NOR
bid, the CrotesQue, the horrible, the
obscur.ty that sometimes appears in
lis hichAown, dec,amatory style. ali
these things tend 70 impair and weaken
MS artistic effects. His work IS almost
invariably pitched IN a shrill, high key.
The gift Of contrast. of subtle alter
nation between loud and soft tones, is
not his. Yet he is d notable figure ii
modern Nterature. He is prophet Of
soaring fights, Of great. romantic IDEAL
ism. And his word effects are often
nothing short of marvellous Few
writer's are better able to shape their
words into weapons, blows and caresses
His recent death, after tyrically We
hement denunciation Of Bolshevism,
was a great artistic loss. not only 70
Russia, but to the entire world.