The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-07-28
Book
CITY"

novel by Hart Stillwell. effective'
" dramatiZes the situation OF tho
Americans Of Mexican descent In
Texas.
II is the story Of Dave Atwood
reporter on a small newspaper in
Border City. who cannot accept the
political graft and corruption oil
the town. Part OF this corruption
was the shameless treatment of the
Mexican population OF Border City
subject AT all times 10 police brutal
ity, Disseminated against in en-
ployment and in public places, the
Mexican had few defenders IN the
town
The case Of one Mexican.
Chelo Moreno. was the starting
point In Dawes campaign against
Jim Billings, political boss Of
Border City. The death Of CheloS
brother. Antonio. and Dawes own
injury at the hands Of the police
spurred him on. His love for
Chelo and her refusal TO marry
him because OF the attitude Of the
whites toward her people made
him more determined to devote
himself 10 bringing acceptance
for the Mexicans. With the COM
ing Of the war certain improve
ments were brought about In
employment and in the general
acceptance Of the Mexicans ut
public places.
Border City" is a strong move
which holds the readers interest Il
the end. Although il is Mr.. Still.
wells first novel it is a finished
product. His characters are flesh
and blood people and his dialogue
never drags. The tempo OF the
book slows somewhat in the latter
half and there are a number OF in
jected passages which make the
reader a little impatient to get or
with the story. Among these wa.
the account OF the Mexican singer
and motion picture star. which
though interesting held up the
story The incident between Dave
and Bobby. girl reporter he hires
although IN a different category
seemed to be dragged IN and weak
ened the unity Of the book. The
ending, too, was a compromise with
Dawes principles.
These are minor flaws. however,
in book which is exciting fiction
as well AS a sympathetic presenta-
ton Of the handicaps which minor.
itics IN America face. Mr.. Still.
we'll does not neglect TO point on,
that the treatment Of Mexican
Americans has caused distrust IN
Mexico toward this country. II is
we'll for Negroes 10 know the prob.
lens OF other underprivileged
groups and no more interesting way
presents itself than Border City.
Mr.. Stillwell. a Texan. knows hi
subject and uses his knowledge tc
great effect.
Border City" by Hart Still
well; Doubleday. Doran and Co.;
New York City; 1945; S2.50.)
JOHN HENRY RETURNS
Like Daddy Warbucks in Littl,
Orphan Annie. John Henry hal
been brought back to life in JOIN
Henry and the Double Jointec
Steam Drill by Irwin Shapiro.oTh
book is designed for children nine
years old and over and they will
no doubt enjoy reading OF the ex'
rloits OF John Henry who conquer,
the steam drill. The illustration,
by James Daughtery seem to exas'
aerate the text On the whole, il
isn't book which can be unreserv.
eddy recommended for children be.
cause Of this exaggeration.
PUZZLE IN DIALECT
Each week the Saturday Review
OF Literature runs Double CroS'
tics puzzle which is crossword
puzzle with added handicaps. lr
recent issue instructions were
given TO do the puzzle in Negro
dialect. Since there are almost a,
many written forms OF so-callec
Negro dialect as there are writer,
OF il and since in various section!
Of The South the dialect varies. W.
wondered what the instruction!
meant.
Furthermore. any one who has
spent any time In the South
knows that the poor uneducated
white southerner talks the same
language as his darker brother.
Certainly the SRI IL the last
place that one would expect TO
meet this form OF generaliIa-
ton on speech which reinforces
the idea of many uniformed
persons that Negroes as = group
have . speech peculiar to them.
NEW LUCE PUBLICATION
Margaret Marshall in the Natior
Luce Among the Liberals report,
that Henry Luce of Time. Life anc
Fortune has set up shop for new
publication. Opinions and Ideas
designed for the liberal readinj
public. II will enter the felc
against publications like the Natior
and New Republic. Then Mr.. Luc,
will probably have cornered tn,
whole market AS il is he does verS
well with Fortune appealing 10 in
dustrialiSts: Time to the grea
middle class and Life 10 a mass
audience.
Miss Marshall writes The
project Of . magazine Of ideas
financed and controlled by big
business which also happens Ia he
big journalism and aimed at the
vaguely liberal public. which II
rather large In this country suE-
Eests pretty sinister possibilities"
The nap on chenille spreads may
be fluffed by shaking them occasion
ally as they dry on the line and rub.
bling briskly with the hand or . sof
brush Give them . Anal rub sftei
they are dry. Never use stiff brush