Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-29
Book Solves
Nation Need
Of SC Words 1,
The American Prim r
Simple, Forceful
BY EDWIN c. HILL

Df LIZ w ~ ~ Ahhs<L
1T HAS long seemed TO this
i locker that what this count
needs is not only Tom Marshall
good five-cent cigar, but a be,
rock book about America cor
tanning only good five-cer
words. Here it is at last. viii
out a two-dollar word In il, an
it delves deeper and stirs mor
concern than many more pre-
tentious books. 1t is "Thc
American Primer" by Dorsh9
Hayes, published by the Alliance
Book Corporation.
Arthur Brisbane would be
writing a piece about it if he
were alive today. II is easy,
everyday talk. but informed,
spirited and stimulating and it
rattles none of the dry bones of
the theological battle of the
pedants and the deep-dishers
who, like the Cabots and the
. Lodges, talk only 10 each other,
but probably not with God.
1t shunS the parroted phrase
and the shoddy verbal insignia
of tub-thumplng patriotism. and
builds. block by block. an edifice
of understanding and belief in its
inventory OF our material and
Spiritual resources her Lore
word, Miss Hayes writes:
ffTLn Ia. -
primer about their government
and So did the Nakis. What
have they got to offer the world?
What have we got? I'll tell you
what we've got"
CHE does, indeed. in simple
- language, as above in short
sentences and short paragraphs.
in a book which Is beautifully
adapted geographically TO her
basic idea OF clarity and SIM
plicity The type is large and
clear. with ample spacing be-
tween the lines, with wide mar
gins which enhance the sugges-
ton OF a leisurely and informal
T look at our country and its IN
situations.
But il is no Kindergarten pat
ter. You who are stepped IN the
! more preientious OF orr political
/ PHILOSOPHERS viii find here an
awareness of deep social forces.
quite as diScernible as if il were
framed in the usual hocus pocuS
of "determniSm. and 'IaiSscz-
: faire" and the like. Miss Hayes
without becoming jingoistic or
too lyrical about II, takes 4
bird's-eye look at our vast ma
terial resources and energies. in
a summary that is a startling
reminder of our unrealized re-
serves of land. energies, skills.
industrial establishment and our
vast living. working, creative or
ganism undreamed OF IN any
other place and time.
CHE takes5full account of our
~ waste and failures. our po-
! litical corruption. our looting Of
our national resources. and of
f today's peril Of diSunity and
class strife, and without dis
counting any of IL. brings for
ward a balance of achievement
and hope which seemed 10 mo
TO be the most effective answer
: to croakerS and deieatists have
yet seen. She wades through the
Constitution and tho Bill of
Rights. breaking them down into
chunks Of living substance, and
in so doing gives A luminous
view Of the utter uniqueneSS and
/ self sufficiency OF our political
structure.
Can we 20 sheads" asks Miss
I Hayes. "Can We: Look at
America. look what It's got: Ii
has ideals of what an American
Il. Out OF these ideals II has
built a brotherhood of man. II
has a system of government
built upon great idea. There
IL our hope, there Il our faith.
1t has a record Of progressive
achievement. We know our
strength, we know what We can
do. II has magnificent beauty
and enormous resources.
"Oh, good earth, sweet earth
Of America. IL has the greatest
industrial development I'm the
world. World leaders we have
been and are. IL has growing
art, an expanding science. \
civilization that i too fine, too
valuable 10 lose. IL has proud.
heroic past. A past tn carry in
our hearts and let mingle with
the dream Of what is Ia he. II
hasa future NTH all The max
ings."
Copyright. 1871, King Features synd., Inc