The New York herald., 1922-12-31
Surveyed by A. G. H. SPIERS.
Pierre HamP and the Religion of Work
FRENCH BOOKS


following note:
The author of 'Maree Fraiche' left Lille
in 1914 at the time of the invasion, leav-
ing his work table laden with manuscripts
and notes. Days passed. then months,
until an order came from the Kommand-
antur to carry all the manuscripts of NJ.
Pierre Hamp to the University library to
save them in case of fire. Upon the top
Of closets. in good order, carefully wrapped
up in paper. tied and labeled. the manu-
scripts of mis- published novels slept in the
dust They filled many champagne
baskets with them (was 1t in memory of
his volume. Vim de Champagne'?) and
adding all the loose paper which could be
found in the cupboards. carried the whole
thing to the aforementioned spot"
1t is said that Pierre Hamp's most re-
cent book consists. in part at least, of
some of the sheets thus saved.
This book. "Un Nouvel Honneur." cor
roborates the impression given by the
previous works by the same author.
namely, that Pierre Hamp is an interest
ing example of the newer Frenchman. of
that kind which is eminently Cartesian.
He examines a vital question of our day
with no regard for the traditions. the
categories or the methods of the past,
being as unmindful of the old divisions
marking the various fields of study or
the types of art as he is disdainful of
the affiliations OF schools or parties. He
is a simplifier and a beginner anew.
His great concern. the subject which
constantly preoccupies him. is labor. or
rather. work. whether he be writing es-
says. novels or treatises; and the manner
in which he treats this subject. the light
in which ne would have US consider il,
make of him pioneer. Work should be.
must be. according to him. the god Of the
successful. modern society 1t cannot be
the miserable and scorned portion of the
unfortunate. nor yet the tolerated lot OF
the majority who in their prime look for
ward to abandoning it in their old age. 1.
must be the honored privilege and duty
of all Frenchmen. evoking the respect and
admiration of the matter-Of-fact. and
arousing the enthusiasm OF the idealist
and the artist.
The past has known many ideals; re-
ligion. chivalry. science. government have
each served TO bring honor to him who
practiced them: il is now the turn of work.
The eminent soldier churchman. scholar.
ruler these have all to a more or less
degree. according to the civilization of their
modern world now calls for the elevation
Of the successful worker
Hamp's attitude is shown in part by the
opening pages Of Les Meters Blesses."
published some three years ago. I'VE
French" he writes. "have for long time
believed that in order TO remain a great
people il was enough TO think nobly. Our
nation. given over TO the cult of writer's
and artists. has been too fond OF the repre-
sentation OF life. Being no realist, IL has
diminished the material force necessary to
spread its influence in the world. a civil
izing intellectualism is not the dominant
agent in the expansion of people d.
National security and prosperity depend
entirely upon work. This war has in
validated the responsibility OF hands un-
soiled by work and the dignity Of neither
manufacturing nor selling. Our
minds still keep a trace OF the aristocratic
prejudice that 10 work Is not dignihed
The man who lives on his investments and
the artist are the two types dear to the
heart of our national sympathy. We make
fun of a man bv calIfna, h5m n nanufac-