davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-12-02
(see FICTION, Page 3o.)

cock Sheds His Tail" seventh Beyond that
the local lists seem not to run to statistics
The Nonfcfion Glass
In nonfiction, the Nationwide survey
showed up Front" holding first place steadily
and not troubled by rivals. That book came
out last summer. General Marshall's Re
port" which had been on the presses only
three weeks when this was written, had
moved in that time from the bottom to second
place, indicating enormous immediate inter-
est in 1t. Following the generals ofiicial
report, however, came Ernie Pyle's personal
one, Brave Men," which is at present the
oldest volume on the entire list. fiction or
nonfiction.
Sixty Million Jobs" and pleasant yalIeys
came next. In the order indicated, both plans
for peaceful living, though widely different.
Sixth place was taken by Atomic Energy for
Military Purposes" work which had leaped
from the bottom Of the list within MONTH
indicating all too eloquently what Il means
to the anxious public. The only humorous
volume in the entire group came next, ct
seventh place-'"Try and Stop Me.
The last three places were taken by autobi-
Ographies in the following order: BLACK
Boy" by Richard Wright; "A Star Danced"
by Gertrude Lawrence, and "The Cherokee
Strip" by Marquis James The last-named
book, which is only recently out. was moving
up: the two others. which are not recent.
were declining
HosO Washinefon Chooses
But what do we get in Washington, by
comparison? Atomic Energy for Military
Purposes first and Pleasant Valley" second.
General Marshalls Report" third. "Ger-
many Is Our Problem" !" by Henry Morgenthau.
fourth. ''The Cherokee Strip" fifth, "Sixty
Million Jobs" sixth and up Front" and
Brave Men" tying for seventh. An almost
complete reversal of the order, though the
titles remain pretty much the same.
So you pay your money and you take your
choice. If you want to read what the neigh
bors are reading, the best seller list is your
guide. If you want to read what Is COM
mendable rely on the commanders - the
critics, picking out one whose photograph you
like, SO as to be sure. If you Just like reading.
60 your own gait. Tho last Is my word for
it--now, then and forever led Y MO- r.
Evening star., 1945-12-02

another work which failed to come up to
its authors ordinary standard It under
took to portray young woman warped by
an imposed-not a sincere-devotion to art.
The heroine inherits museum and, along
with it, mission to keep art alive in her
Mid West city. AS she is not fitted to per-
form her task, she comes near destruction
before she realizes her limitations. The book
is unhappily written, strained and over
emphatic. You do not like it and that is
not because the heroine is an unpleasant
person either.
Taried Themes
A work which handles an unlovely theme
more felicitously is Anne Parrish's poor
Child" It gives us boy of the New York
slums suddenly cast on the generous but
unfeeling charity of wealthy and aristo-
cratic family How the boys integrity is
broken by his sudden and unreasoned con-
tact with beauty and luxury is the theme,
and one cannot speak too highly of the cruel
delicacy with which Miss Parrish carries it
out. This is one of the really good books of
the year.
Another was John Steinbeck's "Cannery
Row." which is just pure gold-if you can
accept its basic contention that the genu-
Evening star., 1945-12-02

The Years Best Fiction
Bv Mary-Carte Roberts
BY Mary-Carter Roberts
The Stars Book Critic.

inely good people are the nominally bad
ones. Giving us for his cast q group OF
buns, shysters, prostitutes and drunkards.
Mr.. Steinbeck weaves about us his old magic
in the way of story telling, and it will be the
critic with will Of iron who can remember
at the finish that virtue Is not found by any
such simple reversal of values. It would be
nice If it were, but Mr.. Steinbeck's formula
makes it little too easy.
Reality and Romance
An oldtimer indeed. in the sense that he
has been for long time unheard from, Is
WILDER Daniel Steele He came out this year
with a novel, THAT Girl From Memphis" !"
and, as far as I am concerned, it Is the best
thing he has ever written. 1t certainly has
the most nearly mature idea that he has
ever brought forth. That is the idea of the
vast difference between the facts of con-
ventional legend and the conventional legend.
Evening star., 1945-12-02

IN THE chart herewith our readers
will find sampling Of critical
opinion from outside Washington.
The contributors to it were chosen with
an intention to reach daily papers in
other cities East and West, and also some
literary magazines.
Considering, however, that popular
taste is as much guide in book buying
as the taste of the professional reviewers.
we have also made Nationwide survey
of best sellers for the month past. A
comparison of the findings Of this report
with the best seller records of Washing
ton for the same period follows:
On a Nation wide scale the favorite novel
for the four weeks past when this was written
was "The Black Rose" There 1t stood,
steadily at the top of the list. displaced by
nothing. But "Cass Timberlane" was de-
veloping at that time as q decided threat.
1t had begun at the bottom and had jumped
in four weeks to second. BY the time this
is in print, it may well be leading.
"The White Tower" was staying pretty
steadily around third. 1.-THE Peacock Sheds
His Tail" was moving up from low down to
hold fourth place, while $50 Well Remem-
bered," after months of popularity, was losing
ground and had slid back from second to
nth. Moving up steadily to take sixth was
another recent book which had been q rather
slow starter-"Three O'Clock Dinner" 1t
was followed by another oldster which seems
to be on the way out after q phenomenal
run-"A Lion Is in the Streets"
An Endurance Record
But majestically solid in eighth place, week
after week, was amber" who first appeared
last year and is, to endure, we are told.
Forever" 1.-THE World, the Flesh and Father
Smith" and Captain From CASTLE" made
ninth and tenth places, respectively. The lat
ter Is one of the most remarkable endurance
performances of this year proper. The book
came out last January and has hardly been
off the best seller lists since it appeared
Comparing Washingtons own tastes. how
Evening star., 1945-12-02
SINCLAIR LEWIS.
Author OF the Best Seller
"CdSS TimbeYIane."

portrait of Hitler which Is practically photo
graphic. That seems to me very striking
answer to the claim that Hitler was unique
phenomenon when Heinrich Mann, Ger
man, wanted to draw picture Of typical
German popular leader, he made synthesis
which came out Hitlerian In every essential
detail. The book is violent In Its assault on
German slavishness to authority and German
crudeness Of conduct It matches In hatred
the most incandescent works Of the most
recently arrived refugees.
Andre Maurois' novel Is study Of woman
incapable OF being happy IN love. It has lit
tie significance. It's title is Woman With
out Love-"
Long Chain sNoueI
Jules Romans work Is volume u (books
% and 24) Of his long chain novel, "The
Men OF Good Will Series" It follows the
general pattern of that work, which II to say
that 1t contains a large number Of characters
whose identities and relationships are never
clear and that it has unmistakably been writ
ten to state the authors views rather than
to portray living men and women. The series
began with the early years Of the century
and now. after IL volumes, Is up to the third
decade At that rate 1t should last forever
for it seems mathematically impossible that
Mr. Romans catch up with himself. The
thought moves me only to resignation.
War Novels
None OF the novels mentioned so far has
dealt with the war. I have kept the war
books In a separate group They now follow.
From American writer's, the best was
Apartment in Athens" by Glenway Wescott.
With quiet understanding Mr. Wesc0tt treated
Of the psychology of the reputable and hon-
ored citizen of q conquered country who
found himself abruptly reduced to serfdOm
by the victorious Germans. think that In
future generations this may be the classic Of
our war.
war novel which was fine writing but
which fell short of its obvious purpose was
Evening star., 1945-12-02

ability and makes Sergt. Greene young
man worth watching.
John Sedges is the pen name under which
an unknown writer brought out solid good
novel called "The Townsman." 1t tells of
mans devotion to his community, pioneer
Midwest town growing from village to city
under his watchfulness.
Finally would rate a little work by Sergt.
Edward T. Wallace as belonging in this
group a volume that is half novel, half-short
story collection, and is called Darlington"
1t is a portrait of typical Midwest village
in the early years of the century and Is
neither of the debunkers' nor the sweet
school, but catches the quality of the time
and place with the reality of experience.
The work was criticized for its loose structure,
but found that satisfactory in relation to
the subject.
Quite a number of veteran novelists added
to the years output, too. The most con-
Evening star., 1945-12-02
Reviewer'sChoice

The author of the accompanying
article lists these books as her seiec-
tion OF the best in this AeId during
the past year:
CITY OF TREMBLING
LEAVES, hY Walter Van Tiburg
Clark. (Random House; 49,
POOR CHILD, by Anne Par
rish. (Harper; $2.50.)
APARTMENT IN ATHENS,
by Glenway Wescott. tHarper;
$2.50.)
THE WHITE TOWER, by
James Ramsey Ullman. Gip-
pincott; $30
INTERIM, by r. C. Hutchin-
son. (Farrar & Rinehart; $2.)
Evening star., 1945-12-02

He takes Tor MS story q Pc
culiarly gritty and difficult
love affair between a pros
titute Of the mining camps
Of the old West and q
dreadfully pure young man.
A ballad has been written
about the pair making
them typical romantic fig-
ures. Look, says Mr.. Steele
by contrast, this Is what
they really were. The book
is too long, but it has a
sober, thought : catching
quality.
Similar in theme but
done with much greater
artistry is the novel which
returned Rosamund Leh-
mann to the literary scene
after a long absence, "The
Ballad and the Source"
Evening star., 1945-12-02
Favorite Books of Leading Critics
'Orld-TelegrGnl.
NONFICTION.
L., Dsvy HK>.I< <lsr~


anne Rams
UIman Material Oliver
by
Conpmssar.
A Lion Is in the Streets by Adra Arthur Koestler
Locke Langley. Doctors at edited by Morris Fish
Contributor Quarterly
The White Mauldin.
Interim c. Hutchison. America,
Philadelphia Record.
Lewis. Front
Rtckshaw Bog, by Shaw A. Woolcot by Samuel Hopkins
ester: F.
This Is Beverly by Bishop Wilson.
Tom
Most Secret w. !
M by
the Editors of
Magazine.
Daisy Elizabeth State
The White r.
CdSs Sinclair Walter
JOSEPH
Apartment
DURABLE Fire, Dorothy WechSberg
Roberts The Future OF Japan, by W. c. john
Evening star., 1945-12-02

OplCuOLLS Ot y II Z Z, VI
course, Is Sinclair Lewis,
but as far as I am con-
cerned his "Cass Timber
lane" did not add anything
to his glory. 1t used a
theme which requires a
deep and thoughtful un-
derstanding-love in mar
riage-and what he DEM
onstrated was that his
genius remains a genius
for attack. He Is not q
man to attempt delicate
analysis of the heart. He
Is q sort Of Mr.. Punch. If
he is to be good, he must
knock the puppets down
and kill them and stamp
upon the bodies.
Booth Tarkingto toms
"ImaQe of JoSephine" WAS
Evening star., 1945-12-02

n TOWELS. when cut of and measured
m In 12-month strips, for some rea-
l. son fall into two main patterns. You
have the strip where all the talent seems
to go into three or four great peaks with
virtually no lesser eminences. And you have
the strip where there are no peaks but q lot
of sturdy and respectable hillocks. Nineteen
hundred and forty-fiye was q hillock year.
1t produced = crop Of good novels. But
II 1t produced any great ones, I have not
seen them
number Of these good ones were written,
as 1t happened, by new or young novelists.
One Of the best of these was Walter Van
Tlburg Clarks "City Of Trembling Leaves"
q biographical work of fiction which just
missed greatness by very close shave It
tells the story Of a young American musician
growing up in the modern Far West and Is
full Of exuberance, poetry and first-rate writ
ing. It fails of the ultimate, however, in
being rather too particularized Your biogra-
phical novel, to attain greatness, must be
something Of every mans story, and this is
just the story of its hero.
The Folded Leaf" by William Maxwell.
was another novel by a young writer which
showed decided merit. 1t is story Of a
phere of a large American city. It was SEN
sitive and wise and beautifully written.
Young Wrifers and Veterans
A talented, though not wholly successful,
entry into the field Of the naturalstic novel
was made by Sergt. Josiah Greene with his
prize winning mot in Our Stars" The book
was representation OF life in a modern
industrial community-a dairy farm. 1t was
obviously planned with full reverence for the
naturalistic method. but the author proved
to lack the necessary detachment to carry
out that plan Before the book was ended
r. s,,., I~1Al %I,1
mouths of his characters and in his own
right. Even so, the work showed decided
Evening star., 1945-12-02
Best Sellers and Choice Books of the Leading Critics

second Forever Amber" has been no farther
down than third. $50 Well Remembered"
was fourth Three O'Clock Dinner fifth,
Captain From CASTLE" sixth and 1.-THE Pea
Evening star., 1945-12-02

ever, we see that there is a considerable
difference. Locally. in the same period of
four weeks, "Cass Timberlane" has been in
first place steadily with "The Black Rose"
Evening star., 1945-08-21
Intentional VioIators
Face Court Action,
.0PA Counsel Says

intentional violators" of ra-
tloning and price laws face criminal
action instead of administrative
suspension of privileges to sell COM
modltles, Carl w. Berueffy. OPA
District enforcement attorney. said
today.
suspension orders are no longer
good sanctions against intentional
vlolators now that much of the
ratloning restrictions have been
lifted" he said.
Mr.. Berueffy said that where
intentional violators" were dis
covered, the case would be referred
to the United States ATTORNEY for
criminal action.
He declared only current" cases
would be examined to determine IL
criminal action is necessary, There
are approximately rs to 100 cases
current, but only small number
will be referred for court action. he
added. e
We bave no intention of going
BACK into our files for the past three
years to punish past violators," he
SAID, nor do we intend to start
criminal proceedings against unin.
territorial violators.''
Administrative proceedings against
seven restaurants were postponed hv
Municipal Court until September II
These will be tried either as ad-
ministrative or criminal cases." he
Evening star., 1945-08-21
Officers Named by New
Silver Spring EIks Lodqe

Election of officers and initiation
ceremonies for Ill Silver Spring
members of newly organized Elks
lodge were held last night at the
Silver Spring Armory.
Donald K. Staley, attorney and
civic lea6er, was elected exalted
ruler. Other officers are C. Bailey
Scringeour, leading knight; Sher-
man Stokes, loyal knight; William
E. Bowman, lecturing knight:
George McCauley. treasurer; Louis
H. Nelson, secretary, and Alvin
Buhler, tiler.
Appointments made by Mr.. Staley
are as follows: Esquire, Albert Buh-
Ter: chaplain, A. j. Kessinger; inner
guard, Charles H. Kopeland, and
color guards, M. H. Balch and Tutle
Cole.
DR.. Robert S. Barrett. past grand
exalted ruler, officiated at the insti-
tuition of the lodge.
Evening star., 1945-08-21
Virginia Stote Guard
Units PIon Muneuyers

The 1lth Battalion of the Virginia
State Guard will take part in ma
neuvers at Middleburg Saturday and
Sunday, according to 1t. Col. Ev-
erett A. Hellmuth, Alexandria, COM
manding officer.
Demonstrations of street fighting
quelling of civil disorders and es-
tablishing camp will be staged.
The battalian includes headuuar-
ters company from Alexandria, the
citys Company 112, Company Ill
from Rectortown and Middleburg
Company lib from Arlington, Com
pany ia from Berryville and Com
pany lis from Winchester.
Evening star., 1945-08-21
Martin Seeks Dismissal
OF Rye Trading Complaint
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Glenn L. Martin, Baltimore air.
plane manufacturer, and his agent
L. T. Ullrich, yesterday asked that
an Agriculture Department com.
plant against them concerning rye
futures trading be dismissed.
Both said they did not inten.
tionally violate the Commodity Ex.
change Act, and waived the rieht
to hearing on the case, leaving the
next move to the referee, John B
Poindexter.
The complaint asserted that the
two, on June 9, bought $500. .o0(
bushels of rye futures on the Chi.
cago Board of Trade, thereby ex.
ceeding by 100000 bushels the
daily trading limit on speculative
purchases established by the Com.
modify Credit Exchange
Mr.. Ullrich of Wilmington, Del
said he effected the purchase fol
Mr.. Martins account without Mr.
Martins knowledge, in order tf
change from a short position OF
l 300 900 bushels to a long position
at the most favorable price possible
and did not believe it violated regu.
lations.
Evening star., 1945-08-21
.0PA Red Point Loans
To Restaurants Assure
More Meat 10 Patrons

More meat for restaurant patrons
here was assured today as the OPA
granted dining places a loan of red
points equivalent to Is per cent OF
their July-August quotas.
Acting to relieve point-starved
District restaurants, the OPA ruled
applications for the extra red points
may be made starting today at the
special OPA Trade Board" Fourth
and E streets NV.
OPAs officials said the red points
are to be considered loan and must
be paid out of future allotments
However, it was considered likely
that meat rationing would be lifted
in the near future, making repay
ment unnecessary.
The OPA order came as a life
saver to many restaurants here
which had been operating for the
most part on meatless menus since
the 20 per cent cut in points placed
in effect several months ago. Some
restaurants have been forced to
close because of the red point
shortage.
A survey Of wholesale houses
here showed that plenty of meat is
available for restaurants, providing
they have the red points.
Robert j. Wilson, executive Sec
retary of the Washington Restau-
rant Association, said the OPA Or
der came lust in time"
THE situation was getting worse
every day and many restaurants
would have had to close" he said
"It would have been great hard
ship on the public as we'll as res
taurateurs.'
Evening star., 1945-08-21
1887 Resign in Week
AT Norfolk Navy Yard
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PORTSMOUTH, Va, Aug. 21.-
The Norfolk Navy Yard reported
yesterday 8S7 civilian workers have
submitted formal designations in
the last week.
These designations reduced the
Navy Yard payroll to 32,699, 1t
Comdr. c. B. Hewitt, yard public
information officer, announced. He
added that 302 of the 8S7 resigna-
tions were received yesterday.
In addition at least 500 employees
were estimated by Comdr. Hewitt to
have left the yard to return to thei,
home towns without turning ir
designations.
On June I there were 34,O3s
civilian workers in the yard. Comdr
Hewitt said the peak employment
reached two years ago was more
than $4,000. Prewar employment
was less than 5000.
A further reduction in employees
Is expected when the yard returns
to the eight-hour day next Monday
and the flve-day week on Septem-
Der 10.
Evening star., 1945-08-21
Hearing on Petition
For 7 Million Debt
Extension Delayed
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, Aug. 21.-
Hearing on a petition brought by
Hugh N. Rakes, Leesburgh dairy
farmer, seeking a time extension on
debt payments amounting to more
than 100000 has been postponed
to next week in Federal District
Court here
The postponement was asked by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Co..
second largest creditor, which re-
quested additional time to study the
case.
The request was made through
Writ P. Marks, jr, Richmond, who
is representing the Jefferson Stand
ard Life Insurance Co., largest cred
itors.
The postponemenr was granted
by Judge Robert NJ Pollard after
creditors and attorneys for M
Rakes conferred for two hours
agreeing to the postponement after
receiving Mr.. Rakes' personal as
surance that all properties and
finances would be kept at status quo
with nothing paid but current op-
Grating expenses until the hearing
next week.
Mr.. Rakes is seeking an injunc-
ton against the insurance company
which was granted a receiver by the
Circuit Court of Hanover County to
handle his properties.
Evening star., 1945-08-21
Bethesda Chamber
Fovors New Airpurk

The Board of Directors OF the
Bethesda Chamber of Commerce
went on record last night as favor
ing establishment of an airpark at
the Washington Aviation Country
Club.
King Mularkey, chairman of the
chambers Aviation Committee, said
the Maryland Aero Club approved
the airpark location by a mail vote
of 80 to 8. A mass meeting to dis
cuss the project will be held tonight
at the Bethesda Elementary School
The board also registered q pro-
test against the trash and garbage
collection service in the western
suburban district during the last
year by the Washington Suburban
Sanitary Commission and asked
that the method of billing be
changed to eliminate charges In
advance.
Charges for the collection service
are now billed six months in ad-
vance as q part OF the water state
ment. II not paid promptly water
service can be discontinued.
Leslie Bell, chairman Of the Civic
Development Committee, said that
the chamber had been besieged by
complaints from residents Of the
district, charging irregularity and
inefnciency of service and at times
"discourtesy on the part of employees
of the agency"
Evening star., 1945-08-21
Feminine Hormones Used
In Chicken-Fatteninq Test

Scientists Of the University of
Maryland's experiment station are
studying the effects of feminine hor-
mones used to fatten chickens.
E. w. Glazener, assistant professor
at the station, pointed out that
good" results have been obtained,
but that the hormone still is in the
experimental stage. So far chickens
fattened through this process have
only been consumed by rats, and Mr..
Glazener said that the meat had no
toxic effect on rodents. He does not,
however, know what effect i! would
have on humans.
AS yet the drugs are released only
by biological firms to approved ex-
pertinent stations, Mr.. Glazener said
Poultry fattened through this
method Is forbidden by Federal law
to be sold to the public. He said the
Universities of California and Okla
homa also are carrying on extensive
work along this line.