Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
BY IDA GILBERT MYERS.

Autobiography of the Wandering
Jew. BY George Sylvester Viereck
and Paul Eldridge. New York: The
Macaulay Co.
<lT AIRY thou till come" These
S words OF Jesus gave rise to
the legend of the Wander
Il ing Jew, theme that for
twice thousand years has
held the common mind and engaged
the best powers Of genius itself.
The story runs that one standing
near to the Cross took this imperative
to himself and accepted the mission Of
waiting for the second coming of the
Messiah. In the course of time this
man became o miracle to the few. To
the many he stood as figure in the
pliable and accommodating body Of
legendary lore.
Here he comes again-Isaac Laque-
dem. Cartaphilus, possibly Ahasueros
himself to the deliverance of the Jews.
Whether one or all of these, or none
of these, here is the Wandering Jew.
A stupendous tale which, in illumi-
mating intent, these authors put into
the words Of the Jew himself In this
recital, however, the story is much
more than that OF going over the face
of the earth, more than the authentic
history that such a course would per-
nit, more than the quest of abstract
truth even, or the searching out Of
mans ultimate destiny. Including all,
or much of this, the story turns di-
rectly about here, facing in upon the
spirit, the powers, the capacities, the
hidden understandings of this imme-
mortal wanderer. To be sure, here, as
in other treatments Of the theme, his-
tory Is set out in certain of its large
aspects, in some of its deeper signifi-
cances-set out, always, in the person.
the experience, the effect Of Isaac
Laquedem or Cartaphilus, himself upon
the current life ut whose center he was,
for the moment, standing. So from age
to age Cartaphilus tells Of himself, HIM
self In the midst of changing courts and
Kings, changing Queens and loves, the
passing Of one kind of power into an
other--he instrumental, or he an in
spired and understanding onlooker. In
this respect the story is not strikingly
different from others on the same sub
ject, except that 1t is, without any
lapses whatever, always swift moving.
alive. urgent with the press Of this great
matter.
The world has moved on. however
The Wandering Jew must have moved
with 1t. How, for instance. could man
of so great an age have carried his lusty
and conquering part through the years
and throughout the then known world?
The Wandering jew is young, peren-
nialIy young. He had to be. How about
1t? Ask Steinach. Asked, Stomach de-
clares that in the shock of that moment
beside the cross under the excitement
Of that terrible command to "tarry" the
Jew underwent just maybe complete
arrangement Of the glandular system, a
shock that purged away, permanently
all wastes and aging clutter, and that
Laquedem, automatically, came upon
the secret Of perpetual youth-that
boon sought by all the ladies of the
modern day under the tutelage OF this
same man, Stomach. Then, in another
partial explanation OF the man, these
authors summon Mr.. Freud to the serv-
ice Of the restless Jew, in order that his
long recollections may explain the race
memory that lies In the subconscious OF
the individual shaping his outlooks and
determining his behaviors. It Is sheer
art that Is operating here. Unthought-
fully, one might expect this modern
turn to throw q shade of the ridiculous
over Cartaphilus. Not at all. Instead
this fronting in the light of modern in
quiry serves, through these two wholly
competent writer's, to give new lease
on life to the Wandering Jew. making
him good for-well, nobody knows how
long.
Within these two men Is, you see, Just
the kind Of imagination that can con-
struct this tale, give it credibility of eff
feet, season 1t with irony that is whole
some and telling, round 1t to the meas
ure OF current acceptance. reanimate a
great theme with the life that has
dripped away In the long years. An
achievement, distinguished, as clear
triumph Of art applied to the fresh en-
bodiment Of theme to the new and
great movements OF q day far In adj
vance OF the day when the Wandering
jew set out on his "tarrying" pilgrimage
the world over. An experience in art
and an experience in life are waiting
for you here by way Of this legend.
*% %k
THE COAST OF PLEASURE. BY Grant
Richards, author Of "Caviare," etc.
Illustrations by Tom Van OSs New
York: Harper 81 Bros
NOV and then we come upon an ac-
claimed best seller" In a short
time its author Is advertised as one of
the pleasure seekers at Monte Carlo or
thereabout. We have come, therefore,
to associate literary success with the
Mediterranean coast - 1.-THE Coast of
Pleasure" about which Mr.. Richards
tells US In salty fashion many enjoyable
and interesting facts that are done up
in his own personal impressions of them.
on hand, one pictures the Riviera rs
the camping ground of Slapped and ex-
hausted fabricators Of popular novels
a aANk ktaAxR a. Dr. n
slow and painful girding up Of their
loins. so to speak, for another tri-
umphant bout with the muse of make
believe. 1t turns out, by way of this
author, that we are all wrong. Here
he takes us in hand for q recasting of
this fallacious notion of the Coast OF
Pleasure" AS matter of fact he pro-
vides the way for us to 60 along, for
us to see for ourselves just what the al
lurement OF this famous stretch Of sea-
side really Is. Definitely he points the
way, quite in the method Of the pro-
fessional guide-not really that. though.
to be q guide. happily not possible.
While he Is seeming to be definite, and
dull, about the roads to take and hours
Tor taking them, about the attraction Of
this point and the blemish OF that one,
he Immediately gets away from such
usefulness and lapses, comfortably. into
reminiscent moods about some interest
ing man or other who sought delight at
Cannes, or Nice, or Hyeres-and then to
Monte Carlol Once there the adventure
settles down to the prime business OF
Monte Carlo. The approaches to this
business are given In real detail, the
methods of its pursuit are amplified,
the stole philosophy needed for its is
sues, and 50 on. All about gambling
steps out here in high humor, and, then.
antoher chapter, "More About Cam
bling closes the story Of still one more
leisure period passed ct this focal point
OF human interest and entertainment.
The pictures going along here talk quite
The whole is useful. II you insist on
having q book useful. but utility Is not
the prime purpose. It Is adventure,
mild adventure, turned over to you.