New-York tribune., 1922-11-26
yuRaEN. BY James Branch cabelL Mc-

bride.
| -wURGEN went u long and curious
| way in search of Justice and end
| ed up In place where his craa-
ter never meant TO send him.
That was the law courts, where 8
| sensible Judge vindicated him. At
which one can imagine Jurgen being
greatly surprised. But law and equity
are recognized as separate abstrac-
sions; therefore. I should like to enter
plea for him In equity, for the re-
movaf OF those disabilities Of popular
misunderstanding with which the law
is powerless to deal.
Here is book which has been more
hotly discussed than any other publ
catiou of It's time: you might then sup
pose that by this time everyone must
know all about it. On the contrary,
the subject in hand. The general no
tion Of "Jurgen" fails roughly into two
divisions: one section believing it q
slightly rlsque book which, neverthe-
less, should be allowed to circulate, be-
cause we ought to run the risk by way
Of moral tonic; the other that it is
a dangerously erotic story that only
'seaped whipping by good luck or in
adverteuce.
The fact that it is really magnih-
cent piece Of satire, in the classic ira
dition, and about as erotic as 'Schopen-
hauer's foolish essay on women or q
proposition in Euclid, is seldom or new
er mentioned. 1t is also pleasant bit
Of fantasy which would probably amuse
the children, and where it deals with
sex, is quite as euphemistic as any SEN
timental love story. All love stories
deal with exactly tho same facts-in Il
slightly different manner, to be sure.
The difference is that the love story
would be more stimulating to youthful
emotions and curiosities.
"Jurgen" Is really the most hleakly
morsl book I ever read. Consider the
fable:
In the old days in Poictesms, We are
told, there lived poet turned pawn
broker, named Jurgen. Returning from
his respectable shop one night, OF sheer
charity he spoke s. word Of sympathy
for the devil--like Origen, that early
Father Of the Church. Out of too
offlcious gratitude the parsonage whom
with Jurgen's shrewish wife, Dame
Lisa So then Jurgen was obliged to
set forth, not on any frivolous adven-
ture, but to recover his spouse, like a
good husband.
On the way he met with variety Of
strange creatures and happenings; but
the substance Of them is that Of the
story OF the peasant who was granted
three wishes and wished himself around
In circle, thankful to be back where
he began. He was granted what we
ruA1 oil ell Eos
and what is generally understood TO be
happiness. All the sensual delights
wers offered him, though they are set
forth In much less glowing language
than that employed in the pulpit. In
place of his scolding wife he was given
Queen Venus herself, under her Arme-
nian name of Anaitis. I believe this
is considered the most Objectionable
portion Of the book; one must there
fore take heed not to smile over it, for
that was the authors error. He forgot
that to be licensed as moralist and
to speak Of sin ono must be earnest
and indignant; must think sin worth
SHINING. in short. But Anaitis tries all
her wiles and enchan tments upon the
questing husband. Before his eyes she
parades all the Strange sins" and
Fearful temptations" known to the
most erudite eroticist or the sternest
feIofmaf. Ihey are dlscreetly yelled;
IL you don't know what he is talking
about, then you won't know what he
Is talking about; that Is why it is quite
a safe book for children and the ig-
norant.
And Jurgen politely observes all the
customs Of the country Of Queen Anait-
is. so far as he cam But he finds them
all either tedious or funny to a man of
intelligence. "I am afraid he con-
cludes regretfully, Chat these are the
games Of mental childhood" Only of
courtesy he is willing to "try some
brand new diversion, at sight Of which
the stars will be blackened and the
earth will shudder or something of that
sort; and then will take the children
fishing, as / promised