Evening star., 1938-10-19
NEW BOOKS AT
RANDOM
Bv MARGARET GERMOND.

THE KING WAS IN HIS COUNTING
HOUSE. BY Branch Cabell. New
York: Farrar & Rhinehart.
Branch Cabell again appears on the
literary scene-still minus the James
which one time seemed an inseparable
part of his name-With fantastic tale
about the ruling family Of mythical
duchy in Sixteenth century italy. 1t Is
a tale of treachery and Of murder, of
avarice and Of lechery, Of thievery
among nations and Of graft under die
tatorial administration OF the affairs
of state to the wholly illusionary end
that the beloved subjects Of King Ferdi-
nand of Melphe might enjoy peace and
prosperity and receive the cultural en-
tertainment provided by regular band
concerts in the park.
Opinion as to the convictions OF the
actual man who hides behind the genius
that promoted him to literary fame
varies with the reading OF each Of his
books. He has by turns given proof
that he is realist, a mocker, an au-
dacious egoist, rOmantic1st, satir1st.
and an ultra -modern jester who enjoys
f1outing the conventional standards Of
literary decency for the fun Of shocking
the mOralists and making cenSOrS claw
the air. Whatever he may or may not
be at heart. to the readers who have put
aside their prejudceS and accepted him
as brilliant. If unorthodox, writer he
remains an unknown quantity. 1t seems
incredible that the man who wrote Be
yond Life" is also the author of THE
King Was in His Counting House"
The avoWed theme of this present
novel is that growth Of altrusm and Of
social responsibility which makes
civilized every human life, should that
life be prolonged sufticingly.' The
theme is assuredly sane and quite safe.
Yet Mr. Cabell elects to dress it in color
full costume, push 1t back four centuries
and set it down In an Italian duchy
where immortality is the prevailing code
of national and individual conduct.
~ 4
Ferdinand del Vetori is not an un-
familiar type in either ancient or mod
ern history. He and his family bear
resemblance to several notorious and
many less popularized groups who
climbed to power over the bones OF
murdered Instructors. Ferdinand's ac-
ceSSjon to dukedom had been accom-
plished through the sudden death OF
Duke SigiSmund. Prime Minister Car
neschi had managed affairs with fine
precision and nicely to gain his own
ends for which service he was promptly
betrayed by Ferdinand, who sought the
honor and was granted by the Pope the
title of King Of Melphe. Four sons had
been born to the Duchess of Melphe,
only one of whom was probably the
son of Ferdinand. AS princes of the
house of Vetori their positions in public
affairs were specific. Gratiano was made
a cardinal. Loranzo was slated to sue
ceed Ferdinand when that little gray
ruler died. and Sebastian was placed at
the head of navy which did not exist.
Cesario the youngest, succeeded in con-
vincing Ferdinand that there was no
need for his services. which left him free
to marry the beautiful daughter of
Greek lord and to develop his talent
for composing poetry.
Through Cesario the theme Of altru-
ism and social responsibility is made
manifest. Disappointed by Hypolitas
unfaithfulness, the young prince is per-
suaded to marry meek and colorless
Hernia But before the marriage takes
place violent death has removed one
ordered into the priesthood. He escapes
to Brandon, the enchanted forest where
minor poets enjoy the delights of life re-
moved from the cares and woes of civil
lization and: profit by the philosophy of
forest.
The years 60 by and Ferdinand sees
the kingdom that he has built slip into
~ sc Ftnr hi o
takes Hernia, whose marriage to Cesa-
rio was made impossible by his appoint
ment to the church, to wife and they
retire to a seaside retreat and settle
down to life of domestic tranquility.
The hard, aged tyrant, however, keeps
in touch with the affairs of state and
knows that Lorenzo and his grasping wife
are reckless spendthrifts and political
incompetents. He seeks the return OF
Cesario, but the druids decline to re-
store him to Melphe.
Eventually the druids inform the
hopeful young poet and dreamer that
the tottering foundation Of the small
kingdom is about to collapse altogether
and that Ferdinand is nearing the end
of his long and active career. He returns
to hear the wishes of the dying king and
to witness a murder of which he was the
intended victim.
All in all. Mr. Branch Cabell has sue
ceeded in shooting accurately, If subtly.
at modern politicians through Sixteenth
century theorists consumed by the hui
manitarian ideal of sponsoring, at any
cost, "the more abundant life" The
book sparkles with the usual Cabell
rhetorical brilliance. Prosaic funda-
mentalists will reiterate the time-Worn
formula about not making sewer OF
the mind-not yet having learned that
the mind creates its own level-while
followers of Mr. Cabell will get just
about what they have learned to expect
from an extraordinary writer whose idea
seems to be to divert fine intellect
from its natural course and compel it
to serve a purpose of doubtful benefit
to mankind For it must be remem-