davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-10-19
Burton Ruscoe's
Sef-Portroit of q
Crusoding Reviewer
WE WE'RE INTERRUPTED

WE WE'RE INTERRUPTED
by Burton Rascoe. Doubleday
G. Co.; 81
Burton Rascoe Is a critic whose
boast it is that his forum has been
the market place. More often than
not it has been an arena, to Judge
from the present installment of the
autobiography begun in Before I
Forget with Rascoe joyfully doing
battle with the traditionalists in
defense of some advances guard
writer's who heralded the American
literary Renaissance of the '20s. 1t
is this sense of participation in the
life of his times that gives his in
formal record of that fabulous
decade its gusto. liveliness and in
fectious enthusiasm. Against the
background of a revolutionary and
explosive" era, whose social and
political framework he carefully
sketches in, emerges a self-portrait
of crusading reviewer who never
underestimate the Importance of
A2Ao o"A2 SOAAcA AboC1O1lD. :
I'VE Were Interrupted" covers
Rascoe's career from the time he
left Che was fired. actually, and glad,
he says his multiple duties at the
Chicago Tribune, rested awhile on
his fathers farm in Oklahoma, took
a brief turn at writing syndicated
features for the NEA and finally
went to New York to become asso-
ciate editor of McCall's.
With his assumption of the liter
ary editorsnip of the New York
Tribune in 1922, Rascoe, armed with
a number of frankly stated preju-
dices against the metropolitan
critics came into his own.
He takes dim and dissenting view
of the Algonquin group G. n. ia
memory, charges them with being
frivolous, complacent, self con-
graduating clique" unmindful OF
their public trust. Among his de-
scriptions of authors the most
felicitous is that of James Joyce,
while his estimate of Hemingway,
whom he came to know during an
idyllic literary pilgrimage to France,
Is disappointingly thin.
1--WE Were Interrupted" is a spir-
tied if contentious memoir of the
artistic and creative life of the '20s.
thoroughly enjoyable collection of
anecdotes, gossip, personalities by a
responsive if egocentric critic who
jealouSly guards his amateur stand
ing. M. Meg.
Evening star., 1947-10-19

termined to give no credence to the
scurrilous stories of Hollywood's de-
praved taste and vicious ways, he
tries to do a good job, but is soon
baf1ed and disillusioned by the de-
vious workings of his bosses and the
duplicity Of his fellow workers. His
disgust for the pretentiousness and
opportunism that smothers the
movie colony sends him back to his
beloved New York contented ever
after.
1t is unfortunate that Mr.. Gill
bert's book has to be compared with
Ludwig Bemelman's elfinly savage
Dirty Eddie" BY contrast, THE
Squirrel Cage" Is a resolutely sober
work.
Evening star., 1947-10-19
This Was England
Before the Wars
GREAT MORNING
BY Sir Osbert Sitwell. (Atlantic
Little, BroWn,: $4.)
Reviewed by
FRANCIS p. DOUGLAS.
Reviewed by
NINA PEMBERTON,

Perhaps it is just as well that this
latest of Sir Osbert Sitwell's auto
biographical works is prefaced by an
introduction in which care is taken
to explain its. contents to American
readers. Even so, it may appear to
be somewhat disorganized con-
glomeration of British idiocyncrasies
and unrealities of the early 1900s.
During the period preceding
World War I, the social and eco
nomic life of England was at a
climax and it is of these fantastic
frivolous and carefree few years
before the dull crashing blow OF
1914, that Osbert Sitwell has written
AS his own life unfolds, all the
carefree prewar atmosphere of Lon
don society. the traditions long since
dead, the many luxuries for those
who could afford them and the less
conventional side of London in 1918
and 1914 are described and all but
come into being.
So luminous are the pictures
drawn by this very talented author
that they almost dispel the ever
present leaden haze which envelopes
London from one year to the next.
An interested reader could easily
find himself transported into a
WOndrouS and SnobbiSh dream.
Evening star., 1947-10-19
I he Historical
Novel Takes
A New Twist

THE LIVING WOOD
BY Louis De Wohl. ~. B. Lippin-
colt Co.; 49,
Evening star., 1947-10-19
James Hilton Projects an Absorbing New
Novel Against Screen of GIoboI War
BY James Hilton. (Atlantic Little Brotos,; s2.75)
Reviewed BY CARTER BROOKE JONES
NOTHING so STRANGE


and often nothing strange This quotation furnishes the title
Eon novean absorbing that begins 1886 with
the atom bombing of Hiroshima
No practitioner craft fiction
with that despite merits quite
learn tell But the author of Lost Horizon and Good
make them memorable and he has feeling
hogh Nothing So strange moves brouah that historic decade
is the prelude
onrushing characters
scendency tragedy urk in the
ground forgotten but seldom dominant.
Mr. Hilton Has Become Americanized.
It's interesting to observe that Mr. Hilton having
States 1887 has
en the girl Jane Waring who tells the story and Mark
Bradley the young scientist Americans They addeu
convincing Americans only occasional diomac might
the British origin of their creator
The narrative the final months
Bradley The detective refuses to explain why he's but
Jane gathers there must
feeling personal could not be
pertinent to any inquiry The agent is suspicious
The shifts adolescen
staying there with her father rich American,
mother 20 mis- Junior Jane University
suddenly goes to Vienna as the poege Of Dr.
to do with the sudden interest
Narrative Up
Marks adventures in Vienna and then Berlin
sstan gather momentum the Jane developing
rowing journalist has him in Vienna
lapse of eight and when she happens
Where she is visiting her father at fabulous estate he has
bought in the mountains Mark then
taher Mark under suspicion for his actv
the story confused approached
book he fully presented element
motives and resonig always little obscure this
other
narrative Nor the method
life you seldom learn all about
There nterlude a capacity
atomic bomb project in Tennessee This Hilton
explain what be the
toward
Evening star., 1947-10-19
The Age-OId Feud Between Hollywood
And the Author Comes to Light AGAIN
THE SQUIRREL CAGE
BY Edwin Gilbert Doubleday; s275J
Reviewed by TERESA CARMODY
THE SQUIRREL CAGE

The feud between Hollywood and
the writer continues in a new book
by Edwin Gilbert, aptly entitled
"The Squirrel Cage" 1t is a no
torious fact that at frequent inter-
walls writer's are enticed into some
movie company's golden squirrel
cage, only to emerge rich, disillu-
stoned and in a vengeful mood. Mr..
Gilbert, after several years to null
over his own Hollywood days, has
written an angrily humorous account
of a New York playwright's attempt
to adapt himself to writing for the
movies and living in Hollywood.
A film company buys Anthony
Wizards play and gives him $500
a-week job as a screen writer. De-
Evening star., 1947-10-19

THE LIVING WOOD
BY Louis De Wohl. ~. B. Lippin-
colt Co., 49,
Reviewed by
FRANCIS P. DOUGLAS.
Mr.. De Wohl tells the story of
Helena - st. Helena - daughter of
King Coel of Britain and mother of
a Roman Emperor, who witnessed
and shared in the conquest by Chris
tianity of the pagan gods.
The tramp of the Roman legions
runs through this story like an
obbligato. Mr.. De Wohl writes of
the times as if they were but yes
terday, but with an excellent sense
of selections which leaves the book
unincumbered by excess detail.
The young Helena marries the
Roman tribune. Constantius, who
reconquers Britain after Carausius
seizes it. Their son Constantine
fulf1lls the prophecy of the old King,
Helena's father. He ruled the Ro-
man world from Britain to Persia.
He was bliss to his mother, death to
his son, and lived to see the tree
of life.
1t was Helena who made that last
Dossible. Aged but indomitable, she
iourneyed to Jerusalem. discovered
The Holy Sepulcher and found the
;rue cross, wood crossed with barren
wood that under the touch of holy
Blood became the living wood, the
aaree of life.
Both in theme and style the book
differs from the succession of his
torical novels that have been pub
lished recently. The author with
the French h-German name. who is
the son of Hungarian father and
an Austrian mother through whom
he is descended from a lord mayor
of London, writes melodious-al-
most poetic-English.
He had written many books. We
are told that 16 of his works have
been filmed and that this one, too.
will be the subject of a film by j.
Arthur Rank.
Evening star., 1947-10-19
Justice James F. Byrnes Renders d Highly
Authenticated Opinion on Russian Guilt
SPEAKING FRANKLY


BY James F. Byrnes Harper G. Bros; $780,
Reviewed by CRESTON MULLINS
Russia stands convicted here obsctng hampeng
ternaonal cooperation scheming the
this highly authenticated
Supreme Court Justice turned Secretary
The judgment-oeveed by Justice"
patience toward Russia with
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10
How About 1t, Men?

Dress makers generally say the rebellion
that started when skirts were ordered below
the knee is about over. They are probably
right. Women have been so long accustom-
ed to do what designers tell them to do
there is little probability they will set aside
the current ed.ct.
What concerns us more is how we Ameri-
can men will take to pants above the ankle.
And why, in heavens name, should mems
clothing designers have such a nightmare
anyway? Why can't they let mems trousers
alone!
Old timers were wearing them almost as
tight as tights when we were youngsters.
And then SO loose We tripped over them.
Bell-bottom, peg-bottom, Increased. creased.
cuffless-they all came and went. and we
put up with them. Finally the pleats came,
and we can't get rid Of them.
Now they want lis to wear them short
and uglier than ever-even uglier than those
of our grandfathers who had a CATER stran
under their shoes.
Let dress hens be up or down and we'll
keep our peace. But for mercy's sake leave
our trousers alone.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10
Hold Your Bonds

TIL first rush of veterans to cash their
terminal leave bonds is over. We can but
hope there is no second rush.
Former service men and women who still
have their bonds will best serve themselves
and the entire country by holding them until
the maturity date unless there is positive need
for the cash.
The nest egg they represent is well worth
boarding against some emergency-lllness
in the family, perhaps, or even the posslblll-
ty of a national recesclon.
Furthermore, with the dollars purchasing
value 80 low at present, there will be a IL
nancial gain in waiting until the dollar Is
nearer par.
For example. if you have a single $214
bond and cash it now, you will be able to
get only about half it's face value, at the
present dollar rate, whereas, when condi-
tions become normal you may buy $214
worth Of goods.
There is little prospect Of prices going
down in the near future, but existing high
cost levels cannot continue indefinitely.
Hold your bonds.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10

obligations as the Samaritan fever to do
something for other countries subsidies. With
thousands of children attending school
whose parents, despite the national prosperi-
tv, cannot give them adequate lunches, 1t
is indeed gratifying that their actual need
for food will not be neglected.
This is one undertaking in which the ma
tional government is justified in assuming
a parental role.
The states will be required to match the
federal allotments dollar for dollar, which
NAV be difficult in some of the poorer COM
monwealths, North Carolina will have no
such difficulty.
Certainly no state can justify failure to
do what it can to carry out the lunch pro-
gram. Poorly nourished pupils are not good
students. Underfed students cannot be ex-
pected to develop into the best type OF
citizens.
TIL school lunch program is among the
nations most constructive enterprises. 1t
can be carried out without handicap to the
Marshall plan.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10
Sixty Million Jobs

The furore that was created when the cry
first was raised for sixty million jobs seems
to to have been mostly idle chatter. The fact
is that for three months in a row employment
very nearly held that grand total and in July
topped it with SCOTS, GOO persons at work.
The Census Bureau reports a few thousand
less employed in August, when the total
dropped to 1914, 900.
The Bureau also reveals that the number
of unemployed dropped half a million in
August, to a total of 2,120,000, when teen
ayers found summer jobs and 100, 900 miners
returned to the pits. Non-agricutural work
ers in August totaled So 4O, 900, some 400, 1000
more than in July.
With the resumption of studies at the ma
tons schools, there will naturally be some
variation in the September figures. But this
United States did actually provide the holly
debated sixty million jobs, and that the total
o unemployment last month was suightly
more than two million as against the pre-
war average of three million.
If private enterprise is permitted to ope-
rate on the normal basis of supply and de-
mand, without restrictive governmental in
reference, there is every reason to think the
country can forge ahead at a steadily in
creasing tempo, 20 far as employment is con-
|cerned, even in this period of world u n
rest,
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10
The Price Control Body

A London dispatch to the Wall Street
contains this paragraph: price con-
troll of mems made-to-measure suits seems
unlikely to be of much benefit to the aver
age citizen and will probably increase
blackmarketing."
The last clause invites close scrutiny:
will probably increase blackmarketing."
THAT is what price controls did in the
United States.
That is what will happen again if the
meet with success.
And there is a definite purpose among
some members of Congress 10 restore con-
trolls during the forthcoming regular session
or. if President Truman should call an extra
session and can be prevailed upon to include
controls in that call, to press for their resto-
ration then.
The intolerable aspect of that is that black
marketing now. with price levels SO high,
would create a drain on the peoples pocket
books that few families could survive.
This is conceding that black markets
would thrive as they did during the war,
desp;te anv corrective effort the govern
ment could put forth, and that families with
plenty of money to waste would get what
thew wanted while wage earners and salari-
ed persons generally would 60 even shorter
than ever.
The supply of necessities in open markets
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10

inquiry. Moreover, the lH! N
gators will find facts iT'0s o..
hand: the housing industry g.,
eminent and private aSe'' ~.
and citizens all have GAIA
lore; the committee ean 81 m
fair picture of the sltuS'-'.. n
analyzing that data Ih's ~
in spite of the fact that 'allV+ to
sources data conflict. AS ~ i?
need the government lists Con- ~,
1876, 900 units, the Twentladl r ro,.
fury Fund, Is, OG0, 0C0; 80 sts
sons for high mater1ai' wees v;sps
the industry puts wage t tlSs,
first, and government 9se n
blame bad distribution aarn
tees. The committee can ''
from all the sources. h.
We are less impressed .al
McCarthy's sentin'e tbst
response to mud and ran ted
he encountered in recon" p,rk
barracks in the Reso vork.
veterans shelters in Ne" d,y a
Those shelters were aVoN citr
makeshift. forced upon Hl3 in
and state by an emere2..s'h a5
which Congress for too Ions lid.
a record of which the less md
the better. The inquiry ca. .odat
must add up the story
and 70 on from there
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10
Russia Opposes"

The United Nations Atomic committee is
to meet today to consider the action OF two
subcommittee which Tuesday approved
control. The report of Tuesday was approx
ed over stiff objections by the Russians
which would seem to indicate that before
the broad control program can be adopted
it must face the danger of another Russian
veto.
AS an indication of what may be expect
ed, the Russian committee member, Prof.
Dmitri v. Skobeltsyn, after making the Gus
tomary Russian fight on any proposal not
eminating from Moscow, remarked the ma
iority of the committee obviously did not
wish for unanimous agreement. 1t is typical
of Russia's attitude that the professor could
not grasp the significant fact that the i'm
possibility of unanimous agreement STEM
med from his own a%ntagonism and, as al
ways, the corresponding 'a~ntagonism of Rus
sia's catspaw, Poland.
General McNaughton of Canada, chair
man, promptly told the professor he or the
representative of any other country was at
liberty to suggest changes in the program
during today's full committee session, for
final action on this preliminary report. We
may suppose the gentleman from Moscow
will avail himself of this opportunity, and
the possibility of finally getting atomic con-
troll into shape for international enforcement
will be dragged out i~nterminably, as has
been Russia's practice in all matters affect
ing world peace.
Stain himself uttered the keynote of Rus
sian policy long ago when he declared that
only when statesmen are completely worn
out can they come to agreement. Russia has
long sought to wear down the statesmen
land mere delegates to all branches of the
United Nations) with the obvious purpose
of imposing its will on them when they are
exhausted.
The atomic control proposal, in all prob
ability, will suffer the same fate that has
followed so many major and minor peace
conferences. If the program is finally block
ed, Russia cannot escape the blame.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10
School Lunch Program

With top administration advisors consider
ing a great free lunch ounte to feed Euro
peans until the Marshall plan can be i'm
plenented. it is heartening to learn that
the Agricultural Department has allocated
$4S, $50, 900 to the states for this years school
lunch program, and that North Carolina is
to have 50, 241, 500 of that total.
The government is withholding the diff
ference between the states distribution and
the $65, oo0, 900 appropriation to buy food
needed by schools to meet specific nutrition
al requirements.
Gradually we are recognizing domestic
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10
The Housing Inquiry

Senator Joseph Mccarthy has
some helpful suggestions about
now the joint Congressional
housing inquiry should proceed.
First of all, he wants to have
roughed = out recommendations
1or Legislation ready by Jan. l,
TWO months ahead of the dead
line set by Congress. Speed is
OF the essence in solving this
country's main dometic prob
labor costs and restrictive out
put, faulty distribution OF ma
lem.
10 produce quickly a report
Whlch will command attention
from a Congress and q public
already all too familiar with the
effects of the. housing dilemma.
however, the legislators will
nave to hew to the line of es-
sentlal causes. Here again, Sen
ator Mccarthy shows a sienifi-
cant clarity: he lists. among the
places to look for "roadblocks."
!ne restrictive building codes.
handwork, archaic design. high
terlals and inadequate finance
and insurance. These are ex-
Rncatiy set forth among the
INES OF investigation laid cut in
resolution which created the
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER H. lS4
Star Program

State ports with Wilmington favored
IN proportion with It's resources. 70 m
clude public terminals. tobacco stora.s
warehouses. ship repair facilities near.
by sites for heavy Industry ana o'i'
Cape Fear river channel.
City auditorium large enough 10 meet
needs for years to come.
Development OF Southeastern North
Carolina Agricultural and industrial re:
sources through better markets and 1000
processing. pulp wood production ana
factories.
Emphasis on the regions recrea'lon
~.dvantases ana improvement OF resort
accommodations.
Improvement OF Southeastern North
Cardinals farm.to-market and primary
roads, with a paved highway from Top
sail inlet to Bald Head island.
Continued effort through the Clty's In
dustrial Agency to attract more In
dustries.
proper utilization Of Bl%uethenthal air
mort for expanding air service.
development Of Southeastern North
Carolina's heath facilities. especially IN
counties lacking hospitals. and ineiud'
ing a Negro Health center.
ENCOURAGEMENT Of the growth OF COM
mercial fishing.
Consolidation Of City and County gov
ernnents.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10

ground for confidence that the
United States could muster "un-
alterable counterforce" at all the
individual sectors. The Eurasian
continent is a big place, and the
military power of the United
States, though it is very great,
has certain limitations which
must be borne in mind if it is to
be used effectively. We live on
an island continent. We are sep
arated from the theaters of con-
flict by the great oceans. We
have a relatively small popula-
ton, Of which the greater pro-
portion must in time OF war be
employed in producing trans
porting and servicing the COM
pick weapons and engines which
constitute our military power.
The United States has as COM
pared with the Russians no ade-
quate reserves of infantry. Our
Navy commands the oceans and
we possess the major offensive
weapons of war. But on the
ground in the interior of the
Eurasian continent, as we are
learning in the Greek mountains,
there may be many individual
sectors" where only infantry can
be used as the "counterforce."
These consider atoms must de-
termine American strategy in
war, and therefore, also in dip
lomacy, whenever the task Of
is to deal with a con-
flict and a contest of power. The
planner of American diplomatic
policy must use the kind of pow
er where it can be used. He
must avoid engagements in
those ";Hadividual sectors of the
diploma attic front" where our op-
ponents can use the weapons in
which they have superiority. But
the policy of firm containment
as defined by Mr.. x ignores
these tactical considerations. 1t
makes no distinction among Sec
tors. 1t commits the United
States to confront the Russians
with counterforce Eat every
point along the line, instead of
at those points which we have
selected because, there at those
points, our kind Of sea and air
power can best be exerted.
American military power is
peculiarly unsuited to a policy
OF containment which has to be
enforced persistently and pa
tiently for an indefinite period of
time. If the Soviet Union were
an island, like Japan, such a
could be enforced by
American sea and air power.
The United States could, with
out great difficulty, impose a
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10
Talent Lacking
BY DOUGLAS LARSEN

WASHINGTON - Even if the
U. S. wanted to spend billions
to buy a perfected guided mis-
sile for tomorrow's national de-
fense-the way the abmic bomt
was "bought' - it couldn't be
done, because the necessary re
search talent isn't on the mar
ket today.
That fact is in the recent re
port of the Presidents Scientific
Research Board. And Air Force
experts hope that it will settle,
for the time being at least, the
question of whether it's cheaper
to buy airplanes for adequate
national defense, or bargain for
a guided missile.
It's that doubt - whether the
U. S. should develop push-but-
ton warfare or keep up a strong
air force-Which has been a big
factor in the public's willing
ness to let Americas air
strength degenerate into an i'm
potent weapon, the AAF ex-
perts now admit. They still
stick to their argument that the
airplane is Americas front line
Of defense, however. The short
age of scientific talent should
be the clinching argument, they
say, and hope.
We've got the airplane. We
haven't got the guided missile.
So let's have enough a;rplanes
to do the job"
The Presidents board report
backs this up with the state
ment that "'Under present con-
ditions, the ceiling on research
and development is fixed by the
availability of trained person
mel, rather than by the
amounts of money available.
The limiting resource at the
moment is manpower."
AS limited as it is today, the
report says, "the Army guided
missiles program is only about
three-quarters stated" So even
if the public should demand an
increase in the guided missiles
program, where would the sci
entists come from?
In the government, and in the
universities where tn e govern
ment gets a large part OF its
research work done, the short
age is most acute, the report
reveals. It says: "The situation
in the universities and colleges