Evening star., 1937-01-23
MILITARY CASTE is INVOLVED
"Shnng Scabbard by Hutchinson Deserves Popularity as
Absorbing Worl-Separate States in Literat,re-Reve
lation of Common Humanity in Genius.
By Mary Carter Roberts.

used so generally to describe
any manner Of book that is not
i actually soporific in its effect
on the reader that one hesitates to
apply it as describing the essential
quality Of a really fine novel. Yet it
is, unquestionably, the most pat word
for r. G. Hutchinson's Shining
Scabbard." The book does absorb"
the reader. He Is drawn into 1t as
water into a sponge, he is taken up
and swallowed by it, he may become
lost in its mazes and puzzled as to
where it is taking him, but that II
does take him is undeniable. The
reviewer can think of no recent novel
that has had a comparable imperative
effect upon the faculties.
In addition, as has been said, this
Is a fine book. That had better be
repeated, for literary history has more
than one instance in 1t of works OF
trash that were invested, inexplicably,
with just such hypnotic quality, even
as there are all too many novels OF
absolutely admirable intent which
simply cannot be read for their in
tolerable dullness.
But Shining Scabbard" seems to
be an excellent thing. 1t is the story
of a family-not in its development
through successive generations, out
in its accumulated characteristics as
shown in a comparatively brief time.
1t is also the story of the pre-war
generation, which apparently IN
France as well as in America, since
this is a French story now, IN
perspective, seems to have been in
vested with vague idealism to the
point that it became wholly incapable
of decisive action, whether mental or
physical.
The family is the Severins, mem
bers of Frances military caste, but
DISTINGUISHED neither for brilliance
nor intelligence. The time Is the
period Immediately preceding the
World War. The scene is . small
French city that lay in the line OF
the German advance.
THE theme is the generally nazed
mentality of pre-war adults, as
exemplified by the Severins. From
the old grandmother to the youngest
son. they are shown to be incapable
of any realistic understanding Of their
own existence, or of any detached
Interpretation Of life itself. Tney
live, indeed, in such pathetic muddle
of aspirations and fierce but never
realized resolutions as puts one IN
mind of the Russians portrayed by
Tchekoy in 1.-THE Cherry Orchard"
Between themselves and their lives
there seems to be no relation and yet
they live with an emotional intensity
that far exceeds the normal human
outlet Of feeling. In other words,
they are a group Of neurotics and ap-
parently are to be taken as character
istic OF their day.
The novel, however, Is not one OF
those menagerie-lke affairs in which
the reader sees characters who may
be psychologically possible, but whom
he cannot conscientiously recognize
as plausible. On the contrary, it has
a deeply moving quality, and arouses
an interest in the fortunes OF its
people which is almost painfully inti-
mate. This derives largely from the
characters of the younger son and his
wife, Pierre and Renee, who, being
less of their fated generation, are
more nearly able to escape its be-
setting curse Of vagueness.
Pierre has been forced into the
army in Difference to family tradition,
but knows himself no soldier. With
Renee, his Eurasian wife, he is able
to find some degree of happiness.
When circumstances force her to 60 to
his family to live, he 50 fears for their
effect upon her that he finally deserts
his post in order to join her. AS he
arrives, war breaks out, and after a
brief reunion he sees her killed by
German shell, together with their son.
It is a book OF which goodness is
80 much the very fabric that it is
hard to analyze its merits. Sufice
it to say, then, that it is all of one
piece-all good. 1t is tender, pitying,
beautiful and strong. 1t is by no
means devoid Of humor, Of downright
comedy, either AS to whether 1t will
achieve popularity or not the reader
has no idea but, If expressing an
opinion, would incline to think that
it will. Strength, generally, is
quality which the public likes and
questions of merit aside, will usually
read a forceful work for reasons OF
its force alone The strength of Shin
ing Scabbard" is subtly achieved and
delicately conveyed, but none the less
perceptible. It seems reasonable to
hope, therefore, that the book will
have wide reading. 1t Is more than
reasonable to say that it deserves it.
1t is stating a fact.
THE BLUE HILLS. BY Cornelius
Weygandt. New York: Henry Holt
g. Co.
THE vogue for writing about the
= separate States, as set by Carl
GARNER in his "Stars Fell on Ala
bama" and Listen for a Lonesome
Drum" is taken up here in pleas
ant volume about Pennsylvania. Its
author, to be sure, is following in his
own footsteps as well as MIR. Car
mer's; he has already written one
such volume, "The White Hills" It
dealt with New Hampshire. But the
interest in what may be called local
America" has been steadily growing
through recent publishing seasons.
and Mr.. Carmer's works seem to rep
resent its high peak. It seems fair,
therefore, to mention him in the
general connection.
Mr.. Weygandt, of course, has q
rich field in the Keystone State. Its
many racial strains, the enduring
quality of its traditions (some OF
them of pre-Revolutionary vintage)
its diverse picturesque religious groups,
comprising Quakers, Mennonites,
Dunkards and others, its fertile farm
ing terrain and its contrasting great
industrial areas, Its magnificent
scenery and its not-to-be-forgotten