Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15
Culture

close to us here in Washington the feel of
ready reference" so to speak, lying in this
fact. DR.. Theodore Koppanyi, newly appointed
professor Of pharmacology in Georgetown Uni
versity has by way Of his latest book con-
tributed with the distinction of knowledge plus
clear and interesting writing to the current
project of bringing science in certain of its
important immediacieS to the mind and into
the intelligent practice Of the average COM
monalty.
RIVER GOES WITH HEAVEN BY Harold
Vines. Boston: Little, Brown & Co.
THIS Is q first novel. It's author is Southern,
as Southern as away down in Alabama,
where he was born-and all his folks before
him. He went away to school, as boys do. Har-
ward, maybe Now he is a teacher of English
in a college in Georgia. Once, jHst once so far,
he wrote story. Oddly enough, he chose for
the theme Of this enterprise that about which
he knew more than he did about anything else.
Nothing seemed to him quite so well worth any
writer's while as the old place where he was
born, where he had lived 80 long that the soil
and the seasons, the days work and all the
doingS Of tree and bird and sun and cloud were
like the palm of his own hand fcg intimacy
of knowledge like the beat of his own heart
for a close and hugging interest And so he
wrote that story-the story Of q cabin in the
forest away down in ALBANIA, where he and his
old grandfather lived from june TO September
Not "old grandfather" at all That wise
and gallant and winning man wouldn't be Old,
not If he could count like Methuselah himself.
Let us get along. There Is love story, quite
beautiful Is such 60. However that is by NO
means the whole matter, not to us, at least
You see, there were two rivers, far apart up in
the north, but nearing toward that cabin in
the woods OF Alabama And YOU can hardly
think Of the company they were as they APP
preached each other, socially, negotiating for
an ultimate friendly union to make impressive
mergence with the sea- the Gulf, mean Like
couple Of hermits, that Summer, the young
fellow and his grandfather, save for that Occa-
sional counting interlude that without much
disturbance took charge Of some hours here and
there. Woods and sky and river-and solitude
Age and youth meeting so beautifully, feeling
just alike under the hushing hand of nature,
who, in terms Of mere man, knows nothing Of
years.
That Is about all there is to this story Doesn't
sound so much-from me- However can think
Of no keener regret for myself than that this
young man should decide not TO write any more
novels.
Do you know what an idyl is? No, don't rub
your head. You'll not find it there I've been
to school, too. Never mind about it, either its
definition or its form or its contents. Let it CO.
1t is frazzled to death any way by the wear and
tear of trying to force entrance where it was
not wanted. Read this story of that Summer
clear from June to September-in a cabin down
in Alabama, where the rivers ran, and the birds
nested where old man and a young one
talked and lived and Tejoced The reading
done, you win find that the face and form and
spirit OF the idyl have come into you, alive and
beautiful and yours. Then with it. turn TO
Theocritus himself. And, waking he win say,
Who's been changing one of my poems into
prose?"-or something like that.
THE ROAD TO CULTURE. By Charles Grav
Shaw, Phi. D. professor of philosophy, New
York University; author of The Value and
Dignity of Human Life etc. Decorations
by Irving Polizer. New York: Funk 81
Wagnalls Co.
EVERYBODY, nowadays, wants culture No
body knows what it is. Over statements
both. indicative, nevertheless of a growing
concern in the ideal of culture and of indubi-
table vagueneSs besides, as to the essence Of
that ideal. Is learning its foundation? No,
not that alone Is it riches, or travel, or high
company, or fine manners? Not any Of these
not even with music and art and literature
thrown IN. That is, not any or all of these
unless or until, the chemistry of the spirit and
the mind works upon them so that, ultimately
a tranquil soul gives triumphant proof of an
individuals possession of that ardently desired
treasure, culture. And what are its signs? Oh
there are many of Dissatisfaction deep and
full in the SURPRISING beauty of life, even when
lie seems to behave in ugly fashion. For, then,
understanding trims this unbeauty to a source
that may be quite lovely. A kindly way, a
bright fronting upon the day, never a spoken
harsh judgment, gentle manners-these but q
few of the common signs that culture is near
by, passed over, too, many times while the
ardent seekers looking for something that
is in fact, quite apart from that which they
desire.
1t is something in such casual and friendly
and easy way that DR.. Shaw comes to readers
out Of his long experience and ripe wisdom
for consideration Of this thing that. today,
seems so greatly TO be desired. A philosopher
whose theories have for many years been
whetted by keen student minds, this friendly