Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-26
FINE WORK BY 4
CUNNING SATIRIS1
CabeUs "Figres of EARTH
VIII Be Supremely Entertain
ing to the Sophisticated

James Branch Cabcll is the most
cunning satirist that the present gen
Grafton of American writing men mas
produced. 1t might be put stronger
than this, but it is always well to be
conservative. There are those who say
he is the greatest literary artist of his
generation, but their enthusiasm gets
the better Of their Judgment. 1t is
within the boundaries of reason ana
prudence TO call him "thc most cum
ming sutirist." for If the statement is
questioned emphasis may be laid on the
word "cunnng," and the objcctOr will
be hOored.
The latest exhibition Of Mr.. Cabcll 5
art is made in Figures of Earth,
which purpOrts to be rewriting from
ancient chronicles of the story of Count
Manuel of Poictcsme. Now, PoicteSme
is a mythical country, which exists only
in the imagination of Mr.. tabell, and
the author admits that Count Manuel
is a mythical character. Mr.. tabell,
, however. has made him typical aS well
as mythical. He is man making his
way through the earth, following attcr
| his own thoughts and his own desires,
and occupied all the time with the ap-
pcaranCc of things. In his youth ms
mother told him that he must make n
great figure in the world, and ne sets
+ ont to obey her by making clay image
/ of himself, but it does not satisfy him.
! And he continues to make clay images
till at last he succeeds in breathing the
/ breath Of life into one of them and then
mnrrics her His interest in making
/ images ceases from this moment and he
tells himself that his wife Is the ideal
after which he had been striving. But
! his memory goes back TO beautiful
women with whom he had commerce
before his image of clay rose from the
ground in response to hiA magic anU
spoke to him.
The book is Il tale of his adventure
from the first when he assembled the
mountain of dreams to rescue the wife
Of the dream king till he goes away IL
company with the brother of dreams or
his black horse t. appear no NOR" amoht
men, with the memory of everything but
the rcriod of his youth washed out by
the River Lethc through which he wa'
escorted. The same fantastic and r!ct
imagination which adorned the tale o.
"Jurgrn" orders the narrative. Con
sdcration Of the prudcry of certaI
social ccnSors, however, has led him Il
omit details which otherwise h" nigh
have inserted. But he has great Spor
with these prudPs when he has thu
stork bring children to the wife %
Count Manncl after the manner of thu
philistinrS. It is not regarded aS re-
snrctablc. he makes the count say, fol
babies to appear save in III" bill OF {
stork.
When he seeks to conquer the country
of poictrsmc. which has been given t.
him in return for goose feather, IN
plans seeking the assistance of th'
philistincS. But the king of the noun
taiu of dreams tells him that no Phil
; ;stinc. uny ever set foot in the country
Then the king of dreams summons ai
thc ancient gods and sends them int
poirtosmc to drive out the enemy tina
posscsscS it. and when it is conquered
Count Manuel and his wife take III
their residence there and rule the coun
,ry rightcously. And the count, from
man Of imagination, is turned into
staid citizen. forgetting ito follow atte
, his own thoughts and his own desires,
but still careful of appearances.
The ST tire of the whole book is subtl
= and penetrating. 1t will not be per
= rriyrd. however. by those most in nce'
p nf II because of the precious way il
, whirh it is done Yet those who agre
j with Mr.. Cahcll's point of view vii
find greater delight in the book thai
: thry have found in anything else for
long time.
. FIGURES OF EARTI'. \ Gomedy Of Ar
\ raarances. BY Iames llran"h Cnhel
y NV Yorh: Robert NJ, Mct'r'd" a Co. '2'5C