Evening star., 1926-11-19


won the award-whatever 1t was-but
l certainly did not try for It,.
'Understa nd me, - snarled the voice
Il did not try for It,"
Here the author warmed up TO his
subject and apparently placed his be
whiskered face nearer the monthpiece
settling down for a good chat.
Look here" he remarked. enthu
siastically. 'How's this for an ideaT
and he whispered, almost conflden
TALLY: Lets have 1t out in the press.
! Without awaiting a reply, he went
on to say that he most assuredly was
interested in Sinclair Lewis assertion
that prize giving had tendency tt
influence writer's to keep an eye and q
half on the prize and the little sight
that remained on the work itself.
AS the author took breath the
! interviewer wentured to ask: dc
you agree with Lewis?"
| 1t was at this point that Shaw rat
tied the phone-earpiece. monthpiec'
and everything it seemed by replyins
in his deepest and gruffest voice: 81
don't agree with anything
| There were few seconds Of silence
and the interviewer thought he heart
series of chuckles. which thteatener
to become real laughter. but didn't
| Then the voice at the other eIsd, be
came milder and took on quite q
serious tone. saying:
Lets have general discussion fr
the press as to whether awards are
really good for literature. I certainly
will he interested in the outcome
| Some one in the house banged a
door. but this distracted Shaw onl,
for a moment.
What's that?" he remarked aside
quite clear about american million
aires" and the interviewer ventured
to ask: what was that. please
about the millionaires?"
Where Would 1t End:
There may he more prizes for lit
eratu.e at any time" Shaw continued
"Suppose any American millionaire
or millionaire anywhere else. gets
the idea of making awards and the
idea begins to spread-where may II
end?
But don't misunderstood me-. l de
not say that prizes are apt ito cause
writer's to write with bias. ! really
haven't any thoughts on the subject
and. as usual. have nothing to say
az to my views.
"Oh, yes-my letter of yesterday
| II WcHL tHTOuS IUc SWcufSIl
ter. He In a personal friend of mine
] wouldn't think for a moment oi
doing anything to ruff1e him. The
whole matter is now up to the acad
emy. I am not Worried put the
onus on them.''
Then chuckles came over the phone
again, and after the lapse Of a few
seconds the author remarked that he
really must get hack to work. ant
kindly and politely said gocd-by.
MIR. Shaw's declination Of the priz'
money was handed to the Swedish
Minister in London, who forwarded i
to the Swedish Academy at Stock
holm. where the award was made. II
his letter Shaw said:
THE award of the Nobel prize foI
1925 to an English work is a very wei
come reinforcement of the cordial un
derstanding between British and Swed
ish culture established by the famous
bequest of Nobel. 1t will not be los
on my native country, Ireland, which
already claims one distinguished Nobe
prize man-W. B. Yeats, 1923.
ut is naturally very gratifying t,
lot to furnish the occa sion for such al
act of International appreciation.
Il must, however. discriminate be
tween the award and the prize. Fo
the award l have nothing but my bes
thanks. But after most careful cor
sderation l cannot persuade mysel
to accept the money. NV readers an,
audiences provide me with more tha
sufficient money for my needs, and a
TO my renown, it Is greater than i
good for my spiritual health. Unde
these circumstances. money in a lift
belt thrown to swimmer who ha
hA uA@ "a
| therefore respectfully and grateful
beg the Swedish Royal Academy I
confer on me the additional and fins
honor of chasing my works in tha
respect hOrs cOncours tout of cempet
tion).
Urges Exporting Of Books.
"Should this event have been ur
foreseen and unprovided for by tn
founders of the prize. it may have tn
effect of placing at the disposal of tn
Nobel directors sum as to whic
they are not bound by the difficult
and occa sionally impossible condition
OF prize giving. May l therefore seiz
this opportunity to call the attentio
of the board to the following consit
Grafton:
"Some of the most adva ntareou
sites in London are being rapidly file
up with agencies in which not onl
the British dominions overseas HI,
European powers exhibit their choices
products and advertise the attraction
and travelling facilities of their couy
try. Fruits, cereals. stuffed animal
and birds and fabrics of all sorts temr
the importer. The one thing that
rarely exhibited Is a book. Swede
invites us to buy her paper, but ther
Is nothing printed on it. The functio
OF swedish paper, it seems, is to wra
! Australian. apples in. And vet Sw,
den's most valuable export is her lit =,
ature. of which we in Britain are 4,
plorably ignorant
J The Swedish Minister in I,Ondo,
Baron Palmstierna, who is a prove
friend of British men of letters and a
indefatigable champion of Swedish ii
efature In our country, has informe
me or swedish books Of great valu
which. for lack of means. cannot r
translated. and of organs working fc
lntel!ectual intercourse between u
wnlch are In need of support Their
lOre venture to propose to YOU tbs
the money which accompanies tn
award be funded by the Royal Aca,
emy or by the Swedish Minister
London. and that the annual proceed
he used to encourage intercourse IN
understanding in literature and Al
. between Sweden and the British Isles
1T would be desira bic for manv re,
sons that the Swedish Minister shoul
he member of the board contro,lin
the fund"