Evening star., 1933-08-09
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
Margaret CermOnd.

York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
Suppose it were possible to convert
all OF the peoples of the earth to the
simple philosophy of the East which
confines the ambition of man to the
attainment of just three things-health,
wealth and bliss. And suppose it were
also possible to cultivate in every mem
Der OF the human race, to the same
high degree that it is practiced by the
FASTENER, the fine art of daily medita-
ton upon the spiritual meaning of life.
Would the enormous mass movement
which Western civilization calls prog
resS' lose its momentum, or perhaps
retrograde. and bring more nearly into
balance an understanding of the cul-
tural and the spiritual? Or would the
world in general slip into degeneracy
Tor lack OF the particular driving force
peculiar to each race which actuateS
its forward movement?
The American is busy pursuing the
IDOL OF wealth. firmly rooted in the be-
lief that the requirement of riches is
essential to gain all that life has to
offer. II there is money enough, it will
be simple to obtain health and bliss.
The FTenchman is busy pursuing bliss.
confident that health and wealth are
but OF secondary Importance. to be .ac-
qulred when the quest for pleasure has
lost its glamour. If these two nationaIi-
ties could conform to the teaching of
the sages OF the East that the posses
sion of health brings wealth and bliss,
would life be found to be more worth
living?
1t takes but a small amount of con-
temptation upon the characteristics of
the VarlolS races of mankind to prompt
the question OF just how many indi-
VldualS there are who actually know
how to strive for the complete fulfill
ment of life. During a dinner discus
sion recently man OF considerable abil-
lty and common sense remarked that he
could not understand why an Englishman
who reaches the age or acquires the
means to dLSengage himself from busi-
ness life can retire and live in content
ment and happiness, while the average
American who retireS cracks up in a
hort time. The answer is simple The
EEgllShman prepares his mind as well
as his body tor retirement. while the
American plunges into retirement with
no preparation except that of full
pocketbOok
To the Fastener there is a definite
purpose in life. and he is taught from
early childhood what that purpose is
He plans his existence toward the
promise Of fulfillment. The civilized
humans Of the Western World also be-
lleve that life has a definite purpose
but observation unfortunately compels
the conclusion that they spend the
greater portion of their span of years
running around in circles trying to find
out what the purpose is. individuals
waste their energy in vain endeavor
to find themselves. Families wear
their nerves to fraZZles in an effort to
attain a vague something which they
cod =.
always just ahead Like ships without
rudders. humans without the ability to
mediate upon the inner meaning of
and reason for their being drift with
the tide OF the moment. usually never
coming to the reallZa ton that instead
OF the fulfillment Of a life of health,
wealth and bliss they have actually en-
dured an existence filled only with ex-
element. degree of contentment and
perhaps fame.
The composite of Tandem" is actually
a collection of short treatises on the
true course of peoples lives 1t is a
series Of episodes in the family of an
utterly futile woman whose errant hus-
band has been good enough to pass into
the next world and leave behind him
besides his widow and three daughters a
fortune sufficient to keep them in lux
ury. The three children are as unlike
in appearance, disposition and natural
gifts as it is possible for three in
dividuals to be. The eldest is clumsy
in thought. domestic in taste. and a
social liability, though not entirely un-
attractive in appearance. The two
younger girls are beautiful and talented
one of them becoming a clever and
famous author, and the other showing
1. marked ability as a portrait painter.
, Penelope. the more brilliant anG
beautiful. is the dominant character
| Irene. equally pretty. though less scin-
!. tlllatlng in temperament. is quiet and
lCvable, and never unconscious of the
superiority of the sister she adores
Marguerite. stolid substantial ano
, stupid as compared with the others
might have been the stabilizing factor
in the affairs of the family had they
thought her worthy of consideration
For the others life apparently held some
purpose. though little meaning. anC
with no philosophy save that of selfish,
reSs they aimed high. For Marguerite
, life meant a husky man and children. SC
: she married the first man who presented
; himself
: In this small family circle of Madame
Demetriades only Marguerite coulc
beast of health. OF wealth, there wa!
an abundance. making it possible tC
live luXuriously at all times If any OF
them knew that there was such a thing
, as bliss. they lived and died without
, having experienced it.
, Beginning the story in 1892, Wher
the predominant characters are small
children. the author carries the episode:
through to the celebration of Penelope
ejghtieth birthday in 1862, giving the
latter part of the story prophetic turn
The family is Greek. but having liVeo
almost entirely in France. they believe
themselves to be thoroughly French.
With no plan or thought for the ulti-
mate happiness of her two beautiful ane
gifted children. the mother consents tt
the arrangement of marriages which
will bring them the social position anc
the fame for which they were born
Penelope is married to a Frenchmar
with title and a huge estate. anc
Irene is married to an Englishman who
is heir to a title and an estate equally
as desirable
Penelope's novels prove to be out
standing successes, and with the adula-
ton and admiration of the entire male
population of France. ambition become:
a god and nothing is allowed to BLOCK
or impede her strenuous ride to fame
She soon finds that fame is not enough
and that she must have alteration a.
well. But adorers prefer warmth tt
icebergS, and Penelope has no warmth
Ir eighty years of life she drinks to the
, oregs of wealth and fame, but she
misses love
Gentle and lovable Irene is appalled,
by her English surroundings. Riding tt
hounds is a sport which strikes terror
to her SOUL but, brave and kindly by
nature, she is too loyal and too sym.
pathetic to wound the feelings of the
husband who mistakes a tolerant sub
mission for complete happiness. Love
beckons to Irene, but fidelity prevent.
any more than glimpse into what bliss
, might really mean.
Marguerite marrieS an ordinary, sub
, stantial business man, and develops into
the very type of heavy housewife which
the rest of her family abhors. Whatever
her notions about bliss may have been