The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-10-21
RY WALTER D. HICKMAN

day and reports show that it is
demanding unusual attention.
BY WALTER u. HICKMAN
DEFORE me. l have one Of the
ID most unusual books Of the
present season. 1t is Night Flight"
by Antoine de Saint-E xupery as
translated by Stuart Gilbert.
II deals with the men who smile
and kiss the stars" in bringing the
airmail from the southern tip Of
South America to the northern
point where it goes by ship to Eu-
rope.
You meet Fsbien, "the pilot
bringing the Patagonia airmail
from the far south to Buenos Aires, "
and it is this man, who was a hus-
band for six weeks before he kissed
the stars" in whom you are chiefly
interested.
was not so much interested in
Fabien personally as I was the sys-
tenn that Riviere, the head master
at the airport, was teaching the
pilots.
Storms meant nothing to Riviere
but he steeled himself to see that
the planes left on time and that
his new system of night air mail
would be a success.
This man we'll knew that his
pilots, some Of them, would be mar
tyrs to march in civilization but
he kept sending UP the planes re-
CARELESS Of weather.
My story Of Night Flight" may
seem trite, but it takes on tremen-
dous beauty in the words and the
short chapters.
1t is seldom that have encoun-
tered such beautiful writing as in
the chapter where Fabien and his
radio operator run into an earth
quake and the storm in the heavens
that followed.
On page ISL there is a paragraph
whcih tells of Fsbien getting alti-
tude to escape the storm.
Read this and you will agree with
me that it is beautiful-"too beauti-
full. he thought. Amid the far
flung treasure of the stars he
roved in world where no life was,
no faintest breath of life. save his
and his companions. Like plum
derers OF tabled cities they seemed
immured in treasure vaults whence
there is no escape. Amongst these
frozen Jewels they were wander
ing. rich beyond all dreams, but
doomed.
Here is modern classic for those
who want to read the better things.
Night Flight" is published by the
Century Company.
Have received word in a letter
from Claude Kendall, the publisher,
that he is sending me a copy of
Tangled Wives" by Peggy Shane
for review.
Aaron Sussman, representing the
publisher, in his letter tells me-
Let there be no confusion, this is
not the great American novel, it is,
however, swell entertainment.
Peggy Shane was born in Indiana
and was brought up in Chicago. Her
father was a columnist on the Chi
cago Daily News.
Miss Shane also worked on the
same paper with Ben Hecht. This
is her sixth published novel.
Knowing that you are interested
in movie and stage stars, am going
to tell you of new book concern
ing Lillian Gish.
1t is called Life and Lillian Gish"
and was written by Albert Bigelow
Paine. published by the Macmillan
Company. 1t sells for $3.50
Lillian started her career on the
stage at the age of six, according
to the author Her life as a child
was spent in dreary dressing rooms
and smoky day coaches.
Today she is star on the stage
and the screen. This book gives the
facts on her interesting career.
A reader Of this department asks
me-What is the name of the latest
book by Norman Thomas. 1t is,
What's the Matter With New
York, published by Macmillan and
sells for 50. Paul Blanshard is CO.
author with Thomas.
This book is an exposure of graft
and mismanagement in the city
government Of New York. Here is
gigantic study of how grating
was reduced to successful sys-
tenn" 1t is more than a handbook
on city government.
n
Bobbs-Merrill has best nonfic-
ton seller in Lets Start over
Again" by Wash Young. This man
has cure for personal depression. :"
have reviewed it in this depart
ment.