Evening star., 1936-10-02
NEW BOOKS @
AT RANDOM
BY MARGARET CERMOND.
UNCLE SANS rARMYARD Hv Owe

lures OF the earth in his quest for en-
lightenment.
The modern sage whose booklet is
herein being noted may not nave
plumbed the depths of profundity
reached by the ancients. He has, indeed,
no admonition that Is vital to the sur
vival OF the intellectual superiority of the
race. He has merely q dozen or so
fables, predicated upon these extraor-
dinary times of chaotic thought and
confused action, in which the farm
animals speak plainly from that wis
dom which nature has given even to
mules and roosters" upon those things
about which man has shown a DISPOSE
ton not to reason.
Uncle Sans Farm is Just like any
other farm, inhabited by the animals
and fowls familiar to- all such home
steads with the exception of an elephant.
Many things happen on and around this
farm. The animals and fowls are SYM
bols and speak as oracles for the edifica-
ton and instruction Of all.
Here is part of one of these delightful
satires. in which some strange birds and
q singing clown pass Uncle Sans farm.
1t is entitled:
Animals Enjoy Circus Parade.
That sounds like steam piano,
there must be circus parade coming
said the Mule to the other animals in
Uncle Sans Farmyard
They all went over to the side of the
yard toward the highway as the first
band came in sight. Leading the pro-
cession was an diversified bandwagon.
The road was rapidly filling with people
running to get into it. The musicians
were playing Down on the Farm Be-
hind them walked an Elephant twelve
feet high. Seated on its head was beau
tiful woman, Goddess of Liberty, wav-
ing a great American Flag. The Ele-
phant was trumpeting loudly and show
ing himself to be very proud and happy
as the people cheered.
"Just then the Hired Man from the
farm ran out, set up little table and
began to cry: Peanuts! Peanuts A
Full Dinner From q Five-Cent Bag
Peanuts!'
Next came a cage of birds that
squawked and Scolded, regular Con-
gress of crowlike creatures from all over
the country. They had once belonged
W LilC Gu N1dIl 11c IldO CdllcO tf1cIIl
all alligator birds He called to them
as they went past, and flung them a
bag of peanuts.
do they eat anything besides pea
nutS?' the White Hen inquired OF the
Game Rooster.
They live on pork most of the time
was the reply. What lot of monkeysp
he exclaimed, as long line of monkey
trucks was passing. Each animal had a
nice new bureau in its cage and was
hopping around, opening and shutting
drawers and scribbling on papers that
could be tied with red tape. The mon
keys made faces at any one who no
ticed them.
"A Tiger broke out of it's cage, ran up
to Uncle Sans Farmyard and showed
its teeth and growled at the Game
Rooster. Then it went back to the Ele-
phant in the parade and pretended to
bite him. After that it ran under the
band wagon and trotted along inside
the wheels. The Farmyard Rat squealed
at him and the Tiger only waved his
tail and went on. The Elephant turned
it's head a little, looked at the Game
Rooster on the fence, winked an eye
very solemnly and marched away. The
band played The Sidewalks of New
York
"'What is that strange looking crea-
ture being carried on q bed?' asked the
White Hen.
THE Mule answered at once, with
much feeling: That is the American
Guinea Pig that has been experimental
upon for three or four years and is now
almost dead. It has been fed dough,
had its Constitution taken out, part
of its backbone removed, had most of
it's skin taken of, been dyed pink and
stood on its head for long periods. 1t
was forced to swallow dangerous tacks,
has been kicked by its foreign relations
and been deprived of its liberty. The
Hired Man intended to try new expert
ments upon 1t. but the bandwagon driver
thinks it has suffered enough
"A clown came along. He stopped
and initiated the Hired Man at the pea
nut stand and cried: I am the fnan-
cial redeemer of the nation!' Then he
sang:
"An will be right as right can be
When what is yours belongs to mel
ga noble sentiment! cried the Farm
yard Rat and the Hired Man clapped
his hands.
"As the parade disappeared a Gypsy
fortune teller stopped to tell the Hired
Mans fortune. Beware of tigers she
said, and Of Cruel Mule. I" ~"
And there are other admonitions for
the Hired Man from the fortune teller
as the parade passes out Of sight and the
farm animals turn from the fence and
60 back to their occupations as the Rat
raises his voice and sings:
"'All will be right as right can be
When what is yours belongs to mel"
One fable concerns the problem of
unemployed bees. Another relates the
sad plight of the White Hen trying to
find place to lay an egg. There is one
in which the barn burns and one in
which the Hired Man falls into a Money
Hole. Each one of the collection is a
delightful, pungent satire in which the
symbols are recognizable and the situa-
tions applicable to events that are of
general knowledge.
A small booklet, yet one which gives
pleasure and entertainment as wen as
wisdom. Read aloud to an audience, or
enjoyed alone, its mirth is contagious
and its flavor satisfying. It is illus
trated with pen and ink sketches by
Norman w. Towner.
Defense.