The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-23
BY WALTER d. HICKMAN.

BY WALTER ID. HICKMAN.
TIAVE before me a new edition
IL of Gray's Elegy and it is i'm
portant for two reasons. First, it
is illustrated by John VaSsos.
In the second place and equally
important, it is published by E. P.
Dutton g. Co., Inc.
This edition is dedicated to KOS
ties Palamas, the Modern Incarna-
ton of the Hellenic Spirit"
Here is a book of rare beauty on
the part of the nan vino first wrote
"Elegy" and still nor beauty be-
cause of the modern beauty placed
in the drawings of Vassos.
l am quite wild over the drawing
which brings forth the beauty and
the meaning of the lines-"Or
craz'd with care, or cross'd in hope
less love-"
And still more suggestive beauty
in the drawing covering these lines
SLOW through the c%hurch-way
path we saw him borne:-"
Here is a rare art work with
poetry that has a close touch or &C
quaintance with all people.
What are they reading in New
York? The list 1 have collected
is as follows: THE Story of Julian"
by Susan Ertz, and Shadows On
the Rock" by Villa Cather-two
books 1 have mentioned often in
this department. "a White Bird
Flying" by Bess Streeter Aldrich
and THE Good Earth" by Pearl
S. Buck.
What is A. A. Mines latest? The
answer is Two People," published
by Dutton. This is his first novel
and it is a love story, concerning,
you will never guess it, a happy
marriage. Different? Yes.
If you want a comic section in
your book case, then 1 recommend,
"Still More Boners," which is a
continuation of funny answers Civ
en- by those who should know on
examination papers. 1 know these
answers have killed many an edi-
torial room. Yes, you will laugh.
Clara Clemens through Harper
and Brothers has just given to the
world a book. Its title explains
everything. 1t is My Father -
Mark Twain" And she is OF Bonded
knee all the time in this picture.
1t is one of devotion. They are
going to talk for and against this
one. That helps business.
r OUISE MAYHEM, 234 Circle
- Tower building. wins this
weeks book review contest with her
ideas of Helen of Troy" by John
Erskine.
She will have the choice of one
of several new books by letting me
know when she can come to the
editorial room of The Times.
Her review is as follows:
In this novel we are given a picture
OF a ~woman-Helen of Troy-who thought
love without beauty and marriage with
out love are wrong. She had beauty, the
world knows, and she inspired the love.
Marriage did not always matter. other
wise. Helen was a conventional woman,
and she was, in the most up to date sense
of the word.
When she returned to Sparta with
Menelaos, that delightful character of an
outraged husband, she took becoming
matronly control of her daughter, whom
she had not seen for twenty years; though
Menelaos objected hercely when she want
ed to invite Pyrrhus down, fearing the
daughter stood small show with the
mother around.
There is much here of the younger gem
eration. of its love and its attitude to-
ward the conventions. Youth is ever
youth.
Erskine. in his Helen Of Troy paints
for rs her immortal beauty and draws
aside the curtain of the ages for us to
see her real self.
In his prose he has adapted the story
from the Greek legend and fact with
brilliant wit and spirit. giving it the actual
feeling of modern time and conditions.
Sometimes it seems all satire; some
times it seems all story, and sometimes 1t
seems all beauty. 1t surely brings de-
light If the reader likes s~atirical writings.
q q
George S. Hellman, author of
"Peacock's Feather" claims a family
tradition of direct descent from
King Solomon. His father. Francis
Hellman, celebrated for his tranSla-
lions of Heine's poetry, collected for
many years documents which give
evidence of direct descent from the
wise king, through the p%aternal
line.
In his latest book, "Peacock's
Feather" Hellman tells the story
of another famous sage, Aesop.
Rumor has it that the story is an
-allegory of some famous living
genius.
y u n
Want to read a sensation? Well,
It is Just that in England. The
title is 'Loveliest of Friends" 1t is
to be published Oct. IS, by Claude
Kendall, New York. Concerns "a
wife who was spoiled for marriage"