Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-23

so to speak, for better understanding, better
outlook and better practice on the part of the
general reader. 1.-The Endocrine Glands as
Centers of the Dynamic Energy of the Or
ganism" will be Of value for your study. The
Problems Of Old Age" also. THE Struggle With
Senescence," too. And to certain students,
Cancer as Problem of Biology will be re-
vealing and profitable. An adventure into
ones biological self is offered here, simple as
may be and ~understandable-yek not in the
common sense pcpularized discussion.
BALzAC: The Man and the Lover. BY Fran
els Gribble author of 'The Romantic Life
OF Shelley" etc. New York: e. p. Dutton
CLEARLY. Francis Gribble, historian and
biographer, believes in the dependence of
genius upon the passion of love- No less than
dozen of his deeply interesting studies OF
famous men and women are based upon this
theory and approached from this point of view.
Leaving purely literary appraisals of these to
the professional critic, Mr. Gribble holds him
self largely to consideration of the love life of
the great artist as the unfailing source of high
achievement and sustained power. Not always
happy love. Indeed, often disappointment and
suffering from this fountain head of literary
creation have produced the Hottest and most
enduring results But no other emotion serves
genius as does this one. either as ecstasy or
despair.
90 with balzac, possessed of but two pas
sionate deSireS-to be famous and to be loved"
Rather pathetic in its outcome, this double
yearning. For Balzac was not famous until
after he had died, not greatly famous. And
that he was loved at all is question. Ger
tainly he was not in the measure of his seek
ing.
The story of Balzac in his human OUT
reachingS this way and that-for friends, COM
panions, lovers, for recognition and praise of
nus gigantic literary programs a poignantly
SAD story. demon for work, for surprising
work, here is a child in habit given to excuses
OF any indulgence-aI night work the rule,
with no sllstenance save oceans of coffee al
ways at hand, or at mouth. A devourer of the
women he loved-exacting pleading CRYING like
child. The story of Nine. Hanska, set down
here in such revealing simplicity is not a pretty
story. And Balzac dies of HanSka and hard
work and no attention to his body Dies with
ous knowing his fame, without knowing that
ne was to be a pattern and inspiration for
genius beyond his own day. The record is very
interesting also because Of the spread of its
1mplication-which is nothing less than the
truth that love is largely an act of creation
on the part of the lover, male or female
Balzac created Nine Hanska that in reality
CID not exist That is the program of love.
That is its power, its weakness. Men make
angels out of the women that attract them
as Balzac did. Women set up gods, or try TO-
In clodhopper boots-and then are heart-
broken at their awkward and rtinous clump.
ingS within the seemingly sacred ptrlieus of the
woman's dream Of him. However that is an
other story. Yet the case of Balzac given here
with such complete understanding, turns the
particular into the general, the personal into
the univerSal-which Is the way with every
truly great story like this one.
MY AUNT ANGIE BY Roy L. McCardeI,
author of The Jarr Family" etc. New
York: Farrar 81 Rinehart.
HILARIOUS fooling upon a foundation theme
as serious as sermon. Getting married
and unmarried and married again--on and
on and on-such is the familiar modern se-
quence upon which Aunt Angles" adventures
make Roadway in this exciting world. Married
at Is for the first time-Inany ''times" follow
this one-my youthful aunt would seem to
have so much time ahead of her that over
been either necessary desirable. But, active
and forehanded, Angie Is taking no chances
on having idle moments at her disposal. So
potential Spouses lurk around every corner and
peer from many humble watch tower--or so
this modern young woman construeS the mas
culine activity around her. The beginning Of
"a ribald Saga"-saga Of the Crutch fanlLy--
is the Identifying tag pinned to this story or
many marryings and as many repentings Nat
uralIy moderns are sensitive to burlesques built
upon Its most sacred Notwithstanding and
the home, family and all that. And here is
the highest sort of handling of o deep matter.
But It is good fun from Angles first appear.
ance straight through her pyrotechnic matri-
monial career. True, too, under its extrava-
gance-and that Is why the humorless will
scoWl at 1t while the good sport VIII enjoy the