Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-27
THIS AND THAT
by CHARLES y. TRAcEWELL.

Some books ought not TO be written
II written. they ought not to b
printed.
II printed. they ought not TO be read
Thus we dennolish all claim to exist.
ence OF the French novel reposing on
our desk. Tomorrow we shall put Il
into the garbage can. where II belongs
or loan II to friend. who, OF course
will never return IL.
The title OF this work, It's author and
publisher shall remain unspoken here;
the reader Is faced with review which
shall tell nothing a not unusual state
of affairs when II comes to book re.
views. alas.
who has not read some review
which leaves the reader as utterly al
sea about book, and especially
whether he might like II or not. al
when he began? Too often the aspir.
ant for honors In Keeping up with the
new books thankless task at the
best---wonders II the game OF book re-
viewing does not consist mostly In con.
cealing rather than revealing the work
under question. We conceal today foi
purpose, but we do not believe thai
any one will be In any doubt OF oui
opinion OF the book In hand tour hand
not yours; we want to keep 1t out oil
yours.
Having refused the palpitating reader
the names of book. author and publish
er. We feel that we are doing our duty
We have no grudge against the French
novel. Some of the greatest stories In
world literature have been written by
Frenchmen. The immortal land some.
times immoral line OF French fiction
has given US many an hour of pleas
ure, profit and, we might even say, In
SEPARATION, for what can be more insplr-
ing than real narrative that puts life
into words?
The best French novels are not great
It seems to us, either because they are
immortal or immoral, but simply and
hugely because they do tell tale In a
fashion TO keep the reader interested
every moment OF the way to the end.
The way this Is done is at once the In
spiration and the despair of writers OF
other nations.
The sort Of French novel which we
cannot stomach Is something else again
RI Is narrative report OF a medical case
rather than q fictional work 1t spe-
cializes in abnormal psychology. The
writer fancies he is doing great Job OF
revealing motives. We believe that any
medical doctor could show him how to
do 1t better. The ease reports" OF the
perversions which sadly fill insane asy-
iums and correctional institutions offer
splendid material for such stories.
while such reports generally make poor
reading for the average iaymar, II Is
probable that such novels sound ridic-
ulous to the general run OF medical
practitioners.
French novels OF this peculiar stamp
have long had reputation. They have
been banned In perfectly proper Anglo
Saxon homes not because they are not
interesting. in sense. but because they
are literally and figuratively suggestive.
And somehow the English-s speaking
world has insisted on making a distinc-
ton between an outspoken book and q
suggestive one.
feelings immortal land somewhat
immorail story, Tom Jones'" Is an cx-
ample OF the FIRST class. The nameless
book upon our desk belongs to the sec
ond group Call such a distinction
prudery or Whist you win. IL exists--just
as our obnoxious novel exists, Yes, IL
exists We think so little OF 1t that to-
morrow we propose 10 cast 1t to the
swine--or whatever takes the place OF
pigs in 4 m6dern municipality. There
are many, even In America. who Will
pooh pooh this attitude. but We are re.
lentless. We feel behind US the solid
backing OF the solid citizen.
And right here we would like TO ask
II any one thinks that the sentiment OF
a people Is nothing? Does any one
think for moment that the millions OF
persons who somehow or other have had
and even now have the idea that card
playing was and is wrong are inescapa-
bic fools? or that the millions VINO
voted against the corner saloon were