Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-15
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

fairy-tale sequence, the various stems
which led up to the marriage.
1t is difficult to think of a more
charming story than THE Devil:
Pool" replete at once with real life
and vet retaining the evanescent quail
ity of true folk lore.
These peasants are real peasants. the
reader feels, except that for the time
being he is not looking so steadily al
their covetousness, their slyness, theil
inability to see the artistic In life.
Here he meets the vigorous, hand
some peasant German, who lost his
wife eight years before, and has re-
manned true to her memory. He meets
old Maurice, the father-in-law. who i:
beginning to worry about the three
children, and who agrees with his gooc
wife, Mother Maurice, that German
should select another wife.
The instinct of Selfishness-and II
seems Just that with the French peas.
ant, if we may believe French literature
is shown, but not dwelt upon: rather
the kindly common sense of the ole
man is set forth, In which the younger
fully agrees.
The plan is for German to visit an.
other village, and there court a rich
young widow. He agrees because Il
seems just the thing to do.
When Mother Guilette, neighbor
asks that he take "the little Marie,
her 16-year-old daughter, to the same
village, where she is going to become
sheepherder, no one thinks a thing of it
German has known Marie for al
of her 16 years, and has never ever
looked at her, regarding her as Just {
child.
On the fated journey, however, II
which they become lost in the forest a.
the devils pool, with one of German!
children, little Peterkin, the older mar
suddenly wakes up to the fact that tn,
little Marie is woman in her owl
right, beautiful and good.
* * X
The subsequent flow of the story 4
as lifelike, in that there are no par
ticular scenes, but a steady progression
toward the inevitable.
German does his best to fulfill tn,
wishes of the older folks, but finds hi
selected mate not to his liking.
All the time he finds himself think
ing of Marie, who, regarding herself a!
child, had refused him at the devil
pool.
Instead of asking the widows fathe,
LOT IleF IdIlQ, GTSIHldln asks 10 see
couple of oxen!
II understand, Germain," answered
old Leonard, very calmly. You changed
your mind when you saw my daughte
with her lovers. It's just as you please
1t would seem that what attracts som,
repels others. If you seriously want tt
buy my oxen, come and have look a
them in the pasture"
~ ~ IL
So German and the little Marie arr
married and live happily ever after
ward. Not much of story, as storie.
go, but perhaps all the better for that.
Our edition is that of the Scholarti
Press of London, which specializes OF
issuing particularly "booky" books. Thu
translation is by Hamish Miles, VIII,
translated Maurois' "Disraeli."
A big book, wide margins, large type
help make this edition attractive t,
those who are susceptible to sucl
things.
THE Devils Pool" is peculiar ii
structure in that it begins with tw
chapters Of introduction and ends will
several chapters detailing the rural wed
ding. 1t is to be recommended particu
larly to those who are slightly weary o
modern fiction,