Evening star., 1928-03-02
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES r. TRACEWELL.

, two Jumps ahead Of even the most
knowing reader. After you have read
this. 60 to bookstore and buy copy
of Stcelcs latest novel, Meat" which
has lust made It's appearance. THE
brutal frahkncss of this novel may
shock you" hopefully warn the pub
fishers Well, not after reading "Thc
Man Who Looked Through Heaven"
In the interesting foreWord. Some
Persons of Importance" Henry Wy
sham Lanier, editor, says that Pushkin's
"'rhe Queen of Spades" would prob
ably have to be included in "any
comprehensive list of Worlds Best
Stories" 1t is pointed out that the
story does not appear, however, In two
recent anthologles. We do not wonder
at this. The story does not strike us
as SO whopping great. although 1t Is a
fine tale holdirg that same sustained
interest felt in most Of the stories Of
great writer de Maupa5sant. The
Russian atmosphere" in a short story
is something unique. sinister, cold
sort of thing. utterly un-American. and
we'll for Americans to read about for
that very reason. There Is cool
plalsibilitv about most Russian stories
that is gripping.
In this sinister story (Which will ap-
peal more to men who like to gamble
than to those Who dO nOt the picture
of Hermann, the young officer Of engi-
nccrs. who wrests from the ancient
Countess Anna Fedotovna her precious
secret. is done il breath taking man.
ner. The old Lady knows three cards.
which. If called one after another, on
three different days, will infallibly win.
Such combination" has been the
dream of those with the gambling in
stinct in their blood since the time of
the building of the pyramids. The de-
sire to beat chance at its own game
seems literally part Of the brain struc-
lures of certain tcmpcraments. One
will see them on street cars in the
morning. fcverishly porting over dope
Sheets" firm in their belief that If they
stick to it they can figure ont COM
The scene in which the officer
frightens the magic secret out of the
old woman land thereby scarcs her to
death. lterally) Is done in the best
Russian manner. with all the ability Of
the master story teller. II YOU like
Russian Storics--and who does not.
now and thon?~you will like THE
Queen of Spades"
The second installment Of "A Land
OF Mystery" by d. dc Pereyra, pur-
ports to be the narrative of real trip
to the edge of the unknown Mon
tana." In South America, where the
IncaS still live This is a pretty tall
tale to swallow, as the editors seemed
| to think themselves. but Of its interest
| there Is not the slightest doubt, Here
one runs into the most astounding ami
mails, water snakes of terrible viSagc,
| tropical storms. queer plants, gigantic
| vampire bats, and at last the sight of
member Of the ancient Inca tribe.
But the author admits that this may
| have been a dream. or vision on his
part: he is not sure. and neither Is
| the reader. On the whole. however, 1t
makes a gorgeous tale. The first in
| talmcnt in the February numbcr)
showed drawing OF the capybara. an
animal you can find out at the Ma
| tional geological Parkand If it wcren I
! for him. We wouldn't believe word in
this Land of Mystery"
| All In all. the Golden Book Is q salts
! flying magazine to have around the
house. Readers who may class them
! selves as either high brow" or low
| brow" will find common meeting ground
| in these pages, united in admiration of
/ a good story. In mtchbeWrlttcn
world there is nothing more satisfying
| than a good short story; and It is be-
cause the Golden Book Is full of these
! selected from all ages and all languages.
| that II is the good book II iS