davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-03-28

scious, plumbers son who expresses
his resentment of aristocracy by at
tempting to humiliate the flower Of
the Castle family, girl who looks
so noble and serene that she might
have stepped down from a stained
glass window. Gabriel wins the
election, but the Tories of st. Loo
come to think that they have be-
trayed their kind by exploiting a
commoner's war record for purposes
of political expediency.
No mere variation of the beauty
and.beast theme, THE Rose and
the Yew Tree" is deeply satisfy
ing novel which offers number OF
meanings, social, political and psy-
Geological. John Gabriel is more
conscious than any one else OF his
own grossness and understands his
compulsion to destroy what he rec
ognizes as better than himself. De-
spite her fairy princess appearance,
Isabella Charters is a shatteringly
simple person, whose unquestioning
acceptance of herself as a sentient
being make her seem unreal to
those around her. The suspense OF
the story comes from the revelation
of these two characters as they ap-
pear in the narrow and intensified
vision of the narrator, a bitter in
valid who discovers new identity
for himself in watching the drama
that is played so quietly and so
tensely around his couch and re-
lieved by the byplay of the political
campaign.
1t becomes the pleasure Of this
witness, Hugh Norreys, to set him.
self against self-delusion as he sees
it binding the people who come to
talk to him-he is good for nothing
but listening, Gabriel tells him with
accustomed brutality. His specula-
tions on the nature of love and
life, and his conversations with his
cryptic sister-in-law about the local
personalities who sweep through
the house electioneering, give added
richness to the novel. 1t is she who
tells him that he has loved Isabella
enough to let her alone.
Like Absent in the Spring" Mary
Westmacott's previous novel. THE
Rose and the Yew Tree" has quail
ity of quiet distinction. 1t is as fine
as needlepoint, witt each detail
carefully stitched to give color ane
outline to the whole pattern. Only
one fault can be found amid such
perfection - the prologue, which
places Gabriel in the 1950s seems
out of keeping with the realism ol
the rest.
Evening star., 1948-03-28
Madison Study Is
Scholarly, Human
Reviewed by
j. A. O'LEARY
JAMES MADISON
BY Irving Brant. (Bobbs-Merr'll'
Reviewed by
rpAMC1S p nOUGLAS.


This is the second volume OF Mr.
Brant's work on Madison, following
the first by seven years.
The present work takes in Mad
ison's career from his entrance INTO
the Continental Congress to the
eve of the convention which wrote
the Constitution.
Madison emerges as the technl-
clan in legislation, the student VINO
turns to history to flnd guidance
through present problems, the ma.
tionalist who believed in central
government with strength and olg-
nity. This last certainly was the
lesson taught by the government
under the Articles of Confederation
Mr.. Brant's painstaking scnolar-
ship does not lead him to obscure
the human side of his subjects
There is the story of Madison being
Tilted by the 15-year-old girl win
whom he was in love. the friendship
between Madison and Jefferson, tine
"kicking upstairs" to the governor
ship of Virginia of Patrick Henry
the feuds, vanities and jealousles ol
the people and the times.
Mr.. Brant has a long road aheac
of him. His first book was on Mad
ison the Virginia revolutionist. 175l'
1730. This volume is on Madison
the nationalist, 1780-17S7. When ht
reaches the end of his road he viii
have made a monumental contribu'
ton to the history of the Nation.
Evening star., 1948-03-28
Depth and Range
In Mastery Tales
THE COLLECTED TALES
OF A. E. COPPARD
| (ALfred A. KnOpf.. So

(AtJTeG A. n nOpJ, S3J
These stories by d gifted Eng
lishman provide a striking contrast
to the wispy, inconclusive stretches
of dialogue that pass for short sto-
ries today Mr.. Coppard is writer
who is not afraid of exposition; in
fact, he seems to glory in fine de-
scriptive phrase and plainly enjoys
rolling a nice mouthful of language
around on his tongue. His style
is meaty and pungent; and yet he
is not afraid of an occasional grace
full inversion which gives a lyric
and even archaic flavor. His range
in these 80 stories is truly aston
ishing. He can turn light fantasy
or a fable, as in THE Fair Young
Willow Tree" or reproduce in all it!
earthiness some country dilemma
as in The Field of Mustard" HI
can be broadly satiric or gently
ironic; there seems to be no emo.
ton he cannot convey. In fact
Mr.. Coppard's work has such pas.
sion and substance that it make!
most other current short fictior
seem unworthy of the paper it il
printed on. M MEG.
Evening star., 1948-03-28
Misses Being News
For the Book World
THE LOWER PART OF
THE SKY
BY Leonard Kaufman. (CreatiUe
Age Press; $3J
Reviewed by
STANLEY BAITZ.

The publishers of this novel, in q
wild burst of enthusiasm, have init.
mated that it partakes of the quality
of the works of Hemingway, Richard
Hughes, Kay Boyle, Walter Van Til
burg Clark and Graham Greene. But
since the advent of an author OF
such dimensions would be news. in
deed, in the book world, 1t Is with
some regret that we report that this
novel falls something short of the
grandiloquent boast.
It tells two stories: First, that OF
a gentle boy who is bounded ane
tortured by pack of murderous lit
tie ruflans from the other side o.
town; second, the later development
of these same burgeoning cutthroat'
as they make a mad and lawless
trek through life.
The author has tried to point ur
the irony by which the wicked fire.
ouently triumph over the good, witt
divers undercurrents, poltergeism o.
a sort, and the substance OF belle.
and nonbelief in God. He has drawn
several vivid characters, the bes
of whom are Angelo, the little gang
ster. and grandpop, who fought tx
protect his grandson from the on
slaughts of the gang.
Evening star., 1948-03-28
Armchair Travellers
Please Take Note
TRAVEL IN AMERICA;
A COLLECTION
Edited by George Bradshaw
(Farrar, Straus;; s4)
Reviewed by
TERESA CARMODY.

l.
George Bradshaws homesickness
while he was away during the war
is responsible for Travel in Amer
ica," a collection of % pieces by
almost as many writers. 1t Is a
companionable book, and as an arm
chair traveller, one couldn't be in
more eloquent company or one OF
more varied taste and talents.
Henry James perceptive eyes and
erudite mind view Washington
around the time when the Library
of Congress was the last word o1
current constructional science" A
flip of the page and Ernest Hem.
ingWay gives us trout fishing II
Wisconsin, or F. Scott Fitzgerald
shows us New York in the '20s
Through the gentle mind of Anne
Morrow Lindbergh we see th'
Maine coast as she takes off in hel
plane for the Orient, and with Jear
Cocteau we fly from Los Angeles
to New York. John Steinbeck'!
is rugged trip with the Okies or
Highway 66. where the conveyance
is any old jalopy and the destina'
ton California if the car holds out
The New Workers. Edward New.
house rides the rails through NORTH
Dakota.
These and a dozen or so other!
with their particular points of view
including Thornton Wilder, Thomas
Wolfe, John Dos Passos, Sinclair
Lewis and Ring Lardner, contribute
toward making this anthology O.
places and people in America {
thing of infinite variety and thor.
oughly enjoyable.
Evening star., 1948-03-28
North Africans
or Many Moods
I NEVER SAW AN AHA6
LIKE HIM
| By James Maxwell. (Houohton,
Mif7in Co.: s2.50J
Reviewed by
NINA PEMBERTON

James Maxwell served in the Md
die East with the United States
Counterintelligence Corps during
the latter part of World War II. In
this collection of short stories ne
brings to light many of The charac-
tertistics and moods of the mixed
population of the North African
town of Tripoli.
Today, with the Arab and Jewish
problem occupying such an impor-
tant part in the forum OF world
affairs, these stories are both peril
nent and timely. The impression
one gets from reading Mr.. Maxwell S
book is that his personal viewpoint
on the Arab-Jew question is m-
biased and that the tragedy, bitter
ness or humor that ebbs and flows
throughout Is equally divided and
rationed between the two factions
Martha Foley lists five of his
stories on her index of distinctive
short stories of 1947. All Of them
are included in this volume.
Evening star., 1948-03-28

American labor have appeared With
in the last two years. who's Who
in Labor" a biographical dictionary
of important American labor leaders
and other persons concerned with
labor was the first on the scene
Now, in "The Labor Leader" Ell
Ginzberg, associate professor Of
economics at Columbia University
has presented the first important
study Of the labor leader as an indi-
vidual phenomen of our time.
DR.. Ginzberg's work is a keen, II
unfortunately somewhat limited
analysis Of the nature and philoso-
ply of labor leadership and its social
Evening star., 1948-03-28

Many q Monster. by Robert Finne-
gan. tSimon & Schuster, Inc; So
Inner Sanctum.
The slaughter is appalling in this
tale of foul fiend with penchant
for dismembering his victims. Rogan
Lochmeister, convicted of the Gus
the Grue" crimes, escapes and the
murder goes on. But would Rogan
kill his own sister? And what had
she found out that made her death
necessary? Reporter Dan Banion
stakes his job on Rogan's inn"-
cence. He loses the job, but that
only the beginning Of this fast
paced thriller.
F as in Flight, by Lawrence Treat.
(William Morrow g. Co.; $500
All the action in Mr.. Treats latest
alphabetical effort takes place in a
single 24-hour period, beginning
with Norma's admission to herself
not the police-that she has killed
her husband. With Jub Freeman to
back him up at the laboratory end.
1t. Bill Decker tries every ruse from
gentleness to a phony suspect to
beat his way through the maze OF
Norma's lies and half truths. The
author makes a few passes at child
psychology in building up to a
feeble climax.
A Party for Lawty. by Maureen
Sarsfeld. Coward -McCann, Inc;
s2.50) Gargoyle.
Mrs. Anabel Adams party for
Lawrence Lawton didn't turn out at
all as she had planned. A blizzard
kept most of her guests away and
then Lawty had to go and get him
self killed. What with a murderer
banging people over the head all
over Mrs. Adams hotel and the
lights going out and the telephone
wires cut and the hired help quit
ting, it was all very trying for the
dowager. Inspector Parry, an un-
expected guest, does the sleuthing
with no help at all from Mrs
Adams collection of eccentrics
Miss Sarsfield, in her second who
dunit, uses a whole bagful OF sus'
pense tricks - and very effectively
too.
Deadly Ditto, by Christopher Hale
doubleday & Co.: $2) Crime club
Even Uncle Tuck, undisputec
monarch of the Gait clan, has tt
admit murder ceases to be family
affair about the time the third body
turns up. Until then the willy sep
tuagenarian's idea of cooperating
with the police involved stealing &
pistol from the murder scene, de-
stroying discriminating papers ane
generally cumming up the clues
It's Uncle Tuck who lifts this ont
out of the routine-as the exasper.
ated Inspector Bill French would bt
the first to admit.
+
Rendezvous in Black, by Cornell
Woolrich. (Rinehart & Co.; g.,
Murray Hill mystery.
Pure, but not so simple, revenge
motivates this killer. His true lovt
has been slain by a bottle f1une
carelessly from passing plane. Ou
goes Johnny Marr, the bereaves
lover, to learn the identity of tha'
planes passengers and to kill thos'
Evening star., 1948-03-28
Crime and Mystery
By Miriom Gutenberg

they love most in the world. Pitted
against Johnny is Detective Cam
eron, who eventually recognizes a
pattern in the apparently uncon-
nected deaths. It's up to this
sleepy-eyed sleuth to guess future
victims, protect them from the
avenging unknown and catch the
killer.
A master of this type of suspense.
Mr.. Woolrich permits the reader to
examine the workings of the killers
tortured mind while wrapping each
episode in a blanket of increasing
error
Evening star., 1948-03-28

significance for the Nation as q
whole. A real contribution to the
literature of the subject of leader
ship in general Is presented in his
opening chapters, and every admirer
of Carlyle's classic, "On Heroes and
Hero Worship" will find himself in
substantial agreement.
A narrative case study of the part
leadership played in the develop
ment Of union local, which consti-
tutes a major portion of the book,
is exceptionally interesting reading
and should prove enlightening to
those who still wonder how labor
union works,
Evening star., 1948-03-28
Mood Indigo
DUPREE BLUES

BY Dale Curran. (Knopt, s2.75.)
A blues ballad is the basis of this
novel about sad trombone player
named Dupree who falls in love with
a blues singer named Betty-where
else but in Memphis! Dupree gets
right with the dice for a diamond,
Betty gets gleeful. and the melody
livens. But this plots not for glad
tootin'. There's shootin'. And the
mood turns indigo. Author Curran
sticks to the score He could have
played it by ear with little more
feeling. But there's tension in his
smoke-filled atmosphere, and he
keeps you listening. H. G..
Evening star., 1948-03-28

describe life as
1t is, read this
haunting novel
of the Buddha.
IL f1nd
phrases that are
Low ly, prose
t h a t is lik
music. but never
forced, always
flowing in t o a
narrative t h a t
seems to move
of it's own ac-
cord. The prolific
youn 6 English
novelist, who has
turn cd ont a
Evening star., 1948-03-28
FoctuoI Treatment of a Racial Dilemma;
ANoveI of Mood, and One of Escape
LOST BOUNDARIES
BY W. L. White. (Harcourt, Brace Co., $780,
Reviewed by CARTER BROOKE JONES.

racial intolerance continue to Even
touch phase OF this
national life The subject persists Here
change strictly account situation which has
the plot of more than piece OF fiction
Expendable Report the Russians
the Germans journalist of skill and understanding
that sheds clearer light the
problem than all the indignant tracts which novests
have turned during the last few years.
indicates white both
toward Negroes than recent fiction has tried
depending regional prejudice and other factors
Mr. White has described the Johnston family who lived for many
wears in small England doctor.
happened that both light
they easily pass they coming
ashamed of their but because
Evening star., 1948-03-28

11Ei11I0 arr AMEN
BY Klyde H. Young and Lamar
Middleton. (Prentice-Hall, Inc:
s3.75J
Reviewed by
j. A. OLEARY.
The Office of Vice President calls
for such a degree of anonymity that
the men who have held it are, in
deed, forgotten men-except the few
whom fate has lifted to the presi-
dency.
The authors of Heirs Apparent"
have done a good deed, therefore,
in bringing together under one cover
the life stories of these men, most
of whom are so little known today.
The names of John Adams,
Thomas jefferson, Martin Van
Buren,, Theodore Roosevelt and
Calvin Coolidge, no doubt would
come readily to mind if you were
asked to name five Vice Presidents.
But they later moved on to the
White House.
How many would reach back into
their school-day memories and come
up with such names as George Clin-
ton, Daniel D. Tompkins, George
Mifiiin Dallas, Thomas A. Hendricks,
or Garret A. Hobart?
Perhaps If the founding fathers
had devised for the Vice President
a more active role than merely pre-
siding over the Senate, these men,
too, would be better known today
But, seated on the dais in the Senate
chamber, they were destined to be
seen and not heard-to vote only
when necessary to break a tie.
This election year is bringing forth
a wide variety of political books. and
this one ranks we'll with the others
in reader interest. 1t is timely, be-
cause three months from now both
major parties again will pick can
didates for the high but obscure
Office of Vice President. IT. is an
appropriate time to look back at the
men who have held the Office IN the
mast. and the authors OF Heirs
Apparent" have done 1t thoroughly
They have worked into their collec-
ton of biographies enough human
interest to make 1t a readaole
| volume.
Evening star., 1948-03-28
Books in Brief
THE MAGIC PENNY
Nv Babette Hughes. (Rineh1rt

1
BY Babette Hughes. (R1nehart;'
S2.50.)
When Richard Chapman barely
escaped falling from cherry tree
when he was young. it left him with
a neurotic fear of falling-a fear
which he transfers to failing when
he is grown. This fear keeps him
from finishing the good plays OF
which he is capable. Only when he
dreams that he actually has fallen
is he able to produce.
Babette Hughes manages some
whimsical dialogue and description
quite well, &C. P.
Evening star., 1948-03-28
ForcefuI Rhymes
AMIDST LIFE'S PAGEANTRY

AMIIJS1 LIT Z y ENLI11N ~
BY Elizabeth Browne. (Torch
Press; ST.
Rhymes written with the force of
the primitive painter but necessarily
lacking in the smoothness obtained
by more artfully wooing the muse
Much is obvious and many crudities
of meter and rhyme cry out in the
reading but perhaps some OF this
can be overlooked by publishers OF
an author who writes SO volu-
minously. H. L.
Evening star., 1948-03-28
THE SUNDAY STAR, Washington, D. C
SUNDAY. MARCH 20. leA
Keen Analysis Of Labor Leaders Gives
Entightening View of Union Operations
THE LABOR LEADER
BY Eli Ginzberg. fMacmillan; $3)


BY Eli Ginzberg. Macmillan; $3J
Reviewed by MILTON M PLUMB 5r
Encyclopedia Information omce
Library OF Congress.
Of the harmful effects of Marxist thinking
American labor has been until quite recently general lack
intelligent interest members labor unions themselves
followed
oroay significantly
of history
sign health that important books
Evening star., 1948-03-28

tragedy about us everywhere today
that we surely don't want it in the
story books to which we turn when
we are ill or unhappy or can't go to
sleep at night. We must escape
somewhere.
Perhaps that explains everything
Evening star., 1948-03-28

there were no negroes LQ6re ana LIE.
Johnston had felt that he could not
take over this practice If his racial
origin were known. He had built
up a fine practice; their friends
were the leading people of the town
and countryside.
The Children Didn't Know.
Trouble came with the war. The
doctor applied for commission
in the Navy. He was about to be
commissioned a lieutenant COM
mander. A routine investigation by
naval intelligence disclosed that he
was Negro and had lived among
colored people in Chicago, where
he was educated. The commission
was refused. The Johnstons had
never told their four children they
were not white. The parents de-
cided it was time to tell the eldest
Albert, jr., who was 16 and student
at a fashionable prep school. Al
bert, a sensitive, artistic boy
brooded over the disclosure. He
wondered what would happen II
people found out. He quit dating
the girls he knew. When he went
to Dartmouth he felt out of every
thing. He left school and enlisted
In the Navy, allowing white" to
be written after his name. His
feeling of insecurity grew into a
breakdown. After a spell in the
hospital, he was discharged as
neuropsychiatric.
Hitch hiking to Los Angeles, Al
bert visited an aunt, who was dark
and lived in a district of well-to-dc
Negroes. He found that he liked
his race. He went steadily with a
colored girl. But when he entered
a local university, it seemed easier
to pass as white. He found that
Negroes deeply resented passing.
except as a temporary expedient tt
get a job or win some other ad'
vantage. His girl turned cold. 81
did his aunt. The Negro student!
snubbed him, and he felt aparr
from the white students. He wa!
of neither world. He drifted bacs
home and entered the University O.
New Hampshire. Suddenly he dis
closed that he was a Negro. To hi
surprise, it made little difference
His white friends did not deser
him. He seemed to have solved hi!
problem-as well as he could. Hi
mind at last was at ease.
1t is interesting to contrast thi:
denouement with the climax of Sim
clair Lewis novel, "Kingsblooc
Royal" when nearly all the white
people in the Minnesota town turr
savagely on Neil after he reveals his
Negro blood. And Neil, remember
looks as white as any of them.
Lost Boundaries is worth any
thoughtful Americans attention. i
should provoke refection-over
lot of things
Evening star., 1948-03-28

and practically nothing else out Of
life, but she rarely complained. She
was too busy to feel sorry for her
self.
Burke Boyce's affection for his
stocky, self-reliant heroine is bal
anced throughout his pleasantly
crusading novel by his indignation
at the shabby treatment accorded
her profession by the most educa-
tion-conscious country in the world.
Teachers are notoriously underpaid,
in view of the long preparation re-
quired for their work; their leisure
is swallowed up by theme correcting,
supervision of extra a-curricular activ-
tiles and attendance at compulsory
lectures on methods. Mr.. Boyce's
! exposition of these conditions pro-
vides enlightening background of
the revolt of the schoolmarms which
has rumbled across the country.
Her Story Is Typical.
Miss Mallett's story is probably
very much like that of thousand
other English teachers. She lives in
rooming house, supports a
widowed neither, helps a shiftless
brother, contributes what she can
to an unfortunate colleague who
was forced to resign six months be-
fore her pension was due. Her one
romance is an inconclusive affair
which began on the inevitable liter
ary pilgrimage to Europe. She and
Hal Woodward fell in love in
Coleridge country, but 1deallstlc
Emily could never bring herself in
the 80 years that followed to marry
q man who deliberately became an
educational racketeer. He is lead
ing figure in administrative and
policy matters, eternally promoting
million dollar gymnasiums and big
ger and better school bands.
Miss Mallett fights apathy and
rufflanism in her classroom, stuf1-
mess, stupidity and the changing
order in the principals office. She
watchse an old friend being
pilloried by the School Board
for "agitating' for higher wages
And when it is all over and she has
graphed her last sentence on the
blackboard, she is sent off with q
boxed set of Shakespeare and an
inadequate pension to dreary re-
tirement. Even her prize pupil OF hel
teaching life is somewhat OF a dis
appointment. But Miss Mallett's
fulfillment was always in giving
rather than in receiving. Her pupils
were very lucky. Luckier than the
country deserves, according to Mr.
Boyce. His novel is as purposefu
as its heroine and, like her, II
teaches q lesson. A very relevant
one, too, with the Federal education
bill being debated in the Senate.
Evening star., 1948-03-28
Compass Needed
AMANDA SAID THE GRASS
WAS GREEN
BY Robert Bunker. (StDallou
Press & Morrop, $275.)


BY Robert Bunker. (StD1llo10
Press & Morro,o, S275)
Reviewed by
COURTENAY PLASKITT.
If you have a compass or sincere
appreciation for surrealism, you
might be able to find your way
comprehensively through Robert
Bunker's first novel. The subject Is
Peters readjustment to Amanda
(and do not be misled at the out
start that she is his wife), his work
and his brother upon his return from
war. 1t is written in a style so
innocent of convention that the
thought processes are hardly dis
tinguishable from the conversations
and that makes reading bit hard
for those who cannot throw off their
prejudice in favor of clarity. Things
do turn out well, however, and that
is a relief. even If Peter, the person,
remains an enigma.
Evening star., 1948-03-28
Author Scores Treatment of Educators
In Story of Woman Who Gladly Taught
MISS MAILETT
(Harper & Brothers; $2.75.)
Reviewed by MARY McGRORY.

Miss Maet wanted to be she would nave
family teaching,
magnificent teacher
her classroom and
while
mind She precious little of that
Evening star., 1948-03-28
THE ROSE AND THE
YEW TREE

BY Mary Westmacott. 1R1ne-
hart; $780,
This is the story Of one empty
victory within the Tory downfall
of 1945. 1t describes the uneasy
alliance between the gentry of a
Cornish town and the interloper
they have been forced to put up as
Conservative candidate, because
they rationalize, IF you can't have
a gentleman, a hero is the next
best thing" John Gabriel, v. c., is
an opportunistic, fiercely class-con-
Evening star., 1948-03-28
THE YELLOW ROBE

BY Robert Payne. (Dodd, Mead
& Co.; $3)
If you think that beauty of ex-
preston has vanished with the
modern story that purpcrts to