The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-12-19

rewritten and there are a large
number Of photographs and draw
rings, many of which are published
here for the first time.
Mr.. Sandburg devotes most of his
attention 10 the personalities who
directed the des;inies OF North and
South during the crucial FIVE years
of war. In brief sketches he gives
keen apprsisals Of Jefferson Davis,
.of Lee. Grant. Rhett. Sheridan,
Sherman and the others who domi-
mated the scene. Lincoln and his
cabinet are we'll drawn. By using
this method of presenting the char
acter sketch as he introduces new
figure on the scene, Mr.. Sandburg
escapes the choppiness of many
books of this type. He never under
estimates the numerous factors in
play on any particular individual
or group and men and events stand
out in full perspective.
OF the southern mind-set the
author has this to say. and it is as
descriptive of the South today il
one changes the word slavery" to
denial of basic rights:
He Davis personifies the South
ern planter class in its pride, its
aristocratic feudal outlook on life
and people, its agrarian isolation
barred from understanding the frac-
ton OF the North which held the
Union OF States a dream worth
sacrifice; its lack of touch with an
almost worldwide adherence of
slavery as distinguished from what
was called "nigger-loving."
Mr.. Sandburg's prose like his
poetry moves smoothly; he injects
color and life into persons and
events which are the most impor-
tant section Of our nations history.
The Civil War years have a lesson
for us today and STORM OVER
THE LAND presents the lesson in
very unacademic fashion.
Our favorite magazine, the New
Yorker, had a short story in the
November % issue which told Of a
young man introducing his Jewish
wife to his family who profess to
"have nothing against the Jews"
but whose prejudices are revealed
in numerous sly ways. The story
is by Robert Mclaughlin and is
called Everything Runs Backward
in Chicago" II is expertly told with
no preaching and is far more effec-
tive than much of the self-conscious
writing we have about prejudices
Of one kind or another.
Three new books in the Poet-of.
the-Month series have been pub
lished by New Directions in Nor
folk, Conn. The last called "a
Wreath of Christmas Poems" Is a
selection from many lands and
centuries" There are poems by
Milton, by Chaucer, Ben Jonson,
Virgil and Christina Rossetti, all
dealing with the Birth Of Christ.
The poems are interesting not only
for their excellence but for the wide
range Of time they cover and how
well they reflect d5e periods which
they represent.
The other two books are Poems"
by John Bergman and The Teeth
Of the Lion" by Kenneth Patchen.
We prefer Mr.. Berryman's poems
chiefly because we like our poetry
clear and not obscure. In Poems"
there are two WHICH deal with De-
troit River Rouge. 1882" and
Thanksgiving, Detroit" and are
concerned with lockout at Ford'sS
in 1882. Others tell OF the fall OF
Belgium and the attack on Poland
Mr.. Berryman's choice Of words and
his rhythm are excellent. His work
is thoughtful and sincere.
Kenneth Patchen, although often
obscure. has a gift for images SUI
perior to Mr.. Bergman. OF this
group liked especially Legend.
For Small Child" and "Kibali-
Ituri."
These books, all with paper
covers, sell for only so cents. The
publisher, James Laughlin, Is doing
a real service for poetry In this
country His choices for Poet-of-the-
Month are chiefly young poets who
have not yet gained wide acclaim
but whose work deserves a hearing
on merit alone. One unique feature
Of these small volumes is the truth
full. critical appraisal on the cover
as opposed 10 thu exaggerated
claims usually found in cover
blurbs. v
When Braigadier-General Benja-
min o. Daris went TO England to
investigate reports Of trouble be-
tween Negro and white troops there
and in a few days issued a state
ment 10 the effect that the troops
were getting along fine together,
most Negroes realized that his state
men was probably in line with
what was expected OF him and
took the report with shaker full
of salt. The Nation in its December
5 issue has an article by Joseph
Julian called "Jim Crow Goes
Abroad which states in part:
Perhaps General Davis did not
get around as much as he should
have, or perhaps he did not con-
slider It wise to make an issue of
the matter at this time. An ugly and
dangerous situation does exist, and
it impairs the efficiency Of the
troops and depresses the morale of
the entire American Negro popula-
: ton. already near the breaking
point" Mr.. Julian particularly de-
cries attempts being made by the
military authorizes to inject Ameri-
can prejudice into the English way
of life. All the Negroes to whom he
: talked said the same thing: The