Evening star., 1937-08-21
GIBBS ON ENGLAND OF TODAY
Sir Philip Sees Lack of Brilliant Leadership but Observes Middle
Road Eforts-Scene Shifts to Far East-Modern Writer
Classed With Ancient Homer

uiIlOll.
A T THE same time he goes into
China's side of the case with
sympathy and understanding. As he
sees 1t, that country was without any
generally recognized authority from
the end of the Tang period to the
rise of Chang Kai-Shek. Chang Kai-
Shek, however. he says, has built up
a strong government in Central China
and is introducing modernization of
the material and spiritual life Of
China with speed and thoroughness
unequaled anywhere In the world out
side Soviet Russia. The result is
that China can now point to the fact
that she has shown herself capable
OF dealing with her own problems,
and that the case for japanese inter-
vention, which rested on her inability
to do this, is accordingly weakened.
Unfortunately, says Mr.. Tiltman, this
Chinese renaissance has come late,
and whether it can stem the Japanese
tide is highly problematical
AAS AAShe SoAAoiASio GllC
complica tons which may arise from
this situation. If Russia should clash
with the japanese on the Mongolian
border it would almost inevitably fol-
low that France and England would
be drawn in, and Germany would
hardly stay out. In that interesting
event We would find ourselves alone
in the world-unless we, too, for the
sake Of our Hawaiian base, should
decide to take hand. Then. of
course, we would have plenty OF COM
pany.
The book goes very thoroughly into
the economic factors which are driv-
ing Japan to her expansionist course,
1t also discusses the amazing jingoist
variety OF patriotism which seems to
infect that people. They want, the
author says, Victorian empire.
AS to Americas present stake in
the Far East, Mr.. Tiltman, who is an
Englishman, sees it to consist chiefly
OF a sentimental sympat thy for the
Chinese, naval base in the Hawaiian
Islands and profitable market in the
Philippines, which latter advantage we
are in process of renouncing. There
is, in his mind, no doubt as to who
will profit by this remuneration. 1t
will be Japan, probably by way OF
another puppet state, rather than by
open conquest.
The book is somewhat hard to read.
but only because it is so solidly factual
AT the present time that would hardly
seem to be point against it.
THE SONG OF THE WORLD Bv
Jean Giono. Translated by Henri
Fluchere and Geof1rey Myers. New
York: The Viking Press.
THIS strange and splendid novel Is
from the hand OF an author who
has not heretofore been published in
English. Europe has hailed him with
acclaim and, his publisher tells us,
he has been compared to Homer
Walt Whitman-D. H. Lawrence,
The anti-climax is all in his favor.
He does bear a likeness to Homer
and Whitman.
HIS novel is at once extremely COM
pllcated and extremely simple Its
simplicity lies in its motivation and
action. 1t is the story of the meeting
OF two young people, their sudden over
mastering love, their marriage in op-
position to the girls father, the feud
which developed out Of this opposi
ton, their final escape after the Young
man has contrived single handed to
burn the buildings of his father-in.
laws bull farm as punishment for the
murder OF his own parent bv his faith
er-ln-laW's followers. In other words.
1t is story Of love, hate and revenge,
And as such it is simple.
The complications lie in the authors
intricate mind, which Is so variouslv
aware Of all the phenomena Of life.
from the movement Of the fish at the
bottom Of the stream to the trembling
OF the avalanche on the mountain
top, that his pages are like gorgeous
landscapes painted with the inner
vision OF the interpreter as we'll as
with the dazzled eye Of the worshiper
OF beauty. His story is set along a
river in the French Basses-Alpes-his
own country-and, while the action of
the human beings within it is savagelv
direct, he draws into their conduct
all the forces OF nature as il these
forces were to him inseparable from
human behavior, as If, indeed, they
not only influenced human behavior,
but were one with it. This makes for
a background at once complicated
and beautiful, as the backgrounds of
old tapestries and illuminations are
often complicated and beautiful.
The people Of the story are country
folk Of various degrees. The young
woman is the daughter of Maudru.
whose clan rules the river country
The young man Is the
son OF WoodSman He Is aided in
his bride-theft by Antonio the fisher
man and Jerome the healer, both
characters. The scenes-in-
colorful and clear-are be-
tween pagan countryside and the
small market town which serves that
country.
The quality of the book is intangible
1t is the quality OF an unspoiled pagan
land seen through the eyes of an
earthly visionary. The author himself
says of it that he has wanted to write
a story Of adventure in which there
should be absolutely nothing timely.
wanted to make a book with new
a new river, country,
forest, snow, and men all new" It
Is in his success in this endeavor that
his Homeric quality Is shown. His
people are new, as new as old, old
Greece. They seem to live In morn
ing of the world, although they are
placed in our own sad times. Such
q work can only be recommended
1t is, to those who can read it appre-
OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE! BY Lewis
Browne. New York: The Macmil-
Ian Co.
THIS il a hila rio,,s noyoI oiva, oyor