davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-07-31
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS


(Alcoholics Anonymous Pub
fishing Co.: $4.50)
Recovered alcoholics think
of alcoholism as an illness,
an obsession of the mind
coupled to an allergy Of the
body. A shattering sickness
physical, emotional and spirit
ual. How to expel the obses-
sion that compels them to
drink against their will is the
problem of every alcoholic. To
show how a recovery is pos
sible is the purpose of the
new and revised edition Of
this book.
In 20 years the organization
Of Alcoholics Anonymous has
grown to a fellowship of more
than 10000 men and women
who have recovered from a
seemingly hopeless state of
mind and body. 1t has mush-
roomed into 5000 groups in
more than so countries. Men,
bers of AA have found a way
of life that no longer compels
them to drink. Not being re-
formers, they offer their ex-
perience to those who want it.
and their aim is to help fell
low drinkers recover their
health. The membership OF
AA now includes many young
people. Women, at first re-
luctant to approach it, have
come forward in large num-
bers.
Alcoholics Anonymous is not
an organization in the con-
ventional sense. There are no
fees or dues. The only re-
quirement for membership is
an honest desire to stop drink
ing. 1t is not allied with any
particular faith or sect or
denomination, nor does it op-
pose any.
Sixteen years elapsed be-
tween the first book and the
second edition. In the new
edition are testimonies Of
Evening star., 1955-07-31
Renaissance Italy Scene
OF Chilling Crime Story

turesque. even in dialogue, he
achieves a high degree of
probability for his stripped
down reconstruction of a ia
nous old scandal. After Fran
cesco had been done in, the
daughter, who master-minded
the affair, meets with her
brothers.
I'VE were deeply shocked, :"
murmured Giacomo.
ut was a terrible thing"
said Beatrice.
The ironic note, as you see.
prevails. 1t runs through the
commission of the crime, which
is botched in the planning, and
botched in the execution. 1t
runs through the detection.
which is equally inept, and
slow-moving. In Renaissance
Italy. justice, though remorse-
less, was not swift.
AS we said, Mr.. Prokosch is
the impartial. chronicler. IIe
doesn't attempt to enlist the
readers sympathy, only to hold
his attention. a thing he pulls
Of marvelously. There is
hardly even a heroine. Bea-
trice Cenci, Francesco's daugh-
ter. Is an enigmatic creature.
She loves her lover, the burly
seneschal Olimpio, middling
well. She doesn't give a hoot
about the rest OF the family.
The feeling is mutual.
In his rapid progress through
the grisly doings which pre-
cede, attend and follow upon
the dispatch Of the nasty
Francesca, MIR. Prokosch takes
notes of floods and festivals,
Of torture chambers and BAN
quet halls, Of balls, brawls and
street scenes.
Plenty Of Renaissance flavor.
served UP matter of -factly,
makes "A Tale for Midnight"
q rafting good one.
M. MEG.
Evening star., 1955-07-31
"A Hopeful Message for
Alcoholics From "A

men and women whose elo-
quent narratives relate the
unbelievable wreckage they
have survived. Alcohol being
no respector of persons, the
vocational range includes pro-
fessional man. industrial ex-
ecutiye, banker, journalist, SOL
dier, artist, upholsterer and
housewife. The most numerous
in this list is the housewife
with six moving and powerful
stories. The story section has
been broadened in the new
edition so that the interested
or concerned reader may find
a reflection of himself or her
self In the book.
Special attention is drawn
to part II of the stories en-
titled, They Stopped in Time"
These will be of particular
interest to all who wonder
whether they are alcoholics
and If AA is for them.
This book is full of wisdom.
1t is an album of an individ-
ual's past in all grotesquerie,
chagrin, hysteria, wreckage,
betrayal and loneliness. The
editorial selection of new ma
terial is especially commend
able. It is a book of today's
miracle, one courageous story
after another. all familiar yet
all unendingly new, each one
providing its special and deeply
personal increment to the full
treasure Of what is without any
doubt the richest story in print
Of salvage out of human deg
radiation and spiritual catas-
trophe.
Members of Alcoholics An
noymous derive their strength
from each other in the group.
And from a higher power. by
whatever name. Where it
comes from. no one seems to
know. But how to find it is
told, in rich detail by many
who have been all the way
there and come all the way
back. ESTHER Prayer.
Evening star., 1955-07-31
READING AND WRITING
Fake Briton's Book
Has France To|kinq
BY MARY McGRORY

In Paris, a few weeks ago,
everyone was talking-and
laughing-about a book called
"The Notebooks of Major
Thompson" The mysterious
major. whose comments had
run serially in Figaro" was
more quoted than Jean-Paul
Sartre. Some 100000 copies of
the notebooks, which are SUBJ
titled "An Englishman Dis
covers France and the French, I"
have been sold in France.
Comparative statistics viii
give you a rough idea of how
pleased the not-so-easily
pleased French are with the
major. During the past year.
his notebooks have sold $4,000
more copies than the French
edition of Forever Amber"
145.000 more than "Annapur-
na;;" and 100000 more than
"Bonjour Tristesse."
Now that Publisher Alfred
A. Knopf is planning to bring
out an American edition of the
book this fall and we see
little tidbitS from the text, it
is easy to see why we have here
the success tou.
Collective Slander
Nothing is more fun than
generalizing about national
characteristics. 1t is somehow
a little more elevated than gos-
sip about individuals. You can
be just as malicious but you
don't feel SO mean afterwards.
Major Marmaduke Thompson,
an arch Englishman who is the
creation of an arch French
man, Pierre Daninos (newspa-
perman, prizewinning novelist)
is obviously a past master at
the ancient art of needing
nations.
Here is a sample:
when a Frenchman is be-
ing discussed, you learn a lit
tie about the man himself, a
great deal about his mistress,
and nothing at all about his
wife. When an Englishman is
being discussed you are told a
great deal about him, but
very little is said about his
wife, and nothing at all about
his mistress. I am inclined to
believe that a Frenchman
without a mistress is like an
Englishman without a club"
And another:
"An Englishwoman can be
perfectly confident on this
matter: Nobody will accost
her. If such an extraordinary
thing should happen, If some
suspicious-l o o kin 6 foreigner
thought of following her, the
dependable bobby would soon
Evening star., 1955-07-31

restore things to their all too
dependable order. The police
men Of the two countries in
this, as in other things, are
very different. MARITIME once
told me that when she was
very young, but not too young
to be followed, she rushed up
to a policeman and said:
"'Oh, policeman, that man is
following mel
'"I am sorry that my duties
prevent me from doing the
same, mademoiselle!' said he.
calmly continuing to direct
the traffic. >"
And finally: Probably in
the beginning of things wea-
ther was created partly to
allow the English to talk about
it. There is no other country
in the world where it is talked
about so much. Perhaps that
is why it is so bad there. The
impressive expenditure of me-
neurological vocabulary every
day in England must upset the
atmosphere. :"
Italy's Different
We hope that some day
Major Thompson will go, with
his perceptions, to Italy.
where the weather is never
discussed. We are inclined to
think that this has been the
crucial factor in the shaping
of the Italian personality.
There is. in the summer, at
least. no need to discuss the
weather. Day after day at
the appointed time the sun
rises; in the evening the stars
appear. This leaves the Italian
free. conversationally, to
plunge into medias res. BIZ
ography is preferred and
sought in a flash. The length
of art. the shortness of life
are the stuff of casual ex-
change. Views on love and
politics are gotten to in less
time than 1t takes the English
to say bright intervals"
We couldn't help noticing
that even the endless flow of
English chatter about the
weather dried up under the
dazzling Italian sun. The Eng
lish stopped talking about it,
and got out into it.
Evening star., 1955-07-31
| TALE FOR MIDNIGHT

A TALE FOR MIDNIGHT.
BY Frederic Prokosch. Little,
Brown; 1885,
Life with a Renaissance
father could be awfully diff
cult, especially if he happened
to be Francesca Cenci, a SEN
ior-grade beast. There is no
question that his wife and
daughter had extreme provo
cation to do away with him.
But whether they had the
right was another matter.
In this cracking novel,
Frederic Prokosch takes no
sides. He reports in a crisp,
laconic style practically un-
heard of in historical fiction.
Making no attempt to be pic
Evening star., 1955-07-31
More of Same

Another bang-up adventure
story is "The Pitiless Jungle"
by John L. Brom, translated
by Oliver Coburn mckay;
$4.5O.
Mr.. Brom is a French film di-
rector. He led five other men
and two women into the little
known heart of French Equa-
torial Africa to make a film.
The little party penetrated
regions few white men have
seen. and this book is his
chronicle of their exciting ex-
periences. There were constant
hazards. human. animal and
meteorological, but Mr.. Brom
and his companions managed
to make friends with un-
friendly natives, elude danger
Gus creatures and evade the
more dangerous diseases. After
a year on the equator they re-
turned safely to Europe with
a big pictorial movie, La
Brousse sans Pitie" - "The
Pitiless Jungle"
Evening star., 1955-07-31
Adventures of
SeIf-Appointed
Spinster Told
SORRY TO BE so CHEER-

SORRY TO BE so CHEER
FUL. BY Hildegarde Dol
son. random House;
$500
Meet Miss Hildegarde Dol
son-and laugh.
Miss Dolson describes her
self as a true drab blond"
spinster. She lets on. though,
in one of the most delightful
Of this collection of Dolson-
on-life pieces. that things
could have been different:
Thanks to a few intrepid
males who must have tackled
Finding a Mate blindfolded
like pinning the tail on the
donkey, I have had occasional
chances at marriage"
On marriage-or almost
any other topic she's writing
about-Miss Dolsoh hits you
like a highball at a dull party.
This particular spinster turns
out TO be an engaging person.
atty with a light. satirical
touch and a gift of turning an
everyday event into a humor-
Gus adventure.
Among other things. Miss
DOlSon tells you about the
blackeye she got in Paris. her
trip 70 a maSseuSe. her match
making friends t''If this sort
Of thing keeps up. I'll un-
doubtedly be the kind of old
maid who looks under the bed
every night-to make sure no
matrons of honor are hiding
thereo. her experiences with
men, myopia. Abercrombie g.
Fitch-and her family.
You're laughing most of the
way.
DORIS KANTER.
Evening star., 1955-07-31

~ ScG411 W luc ttldS MI /.
Roy has achieved this with as
tonishing clarity and SIM
plicity in "ThR Navigator"
0Knopf. So, translated by
Mervyn Savill.
Many writer's have tried to
imprison on the cold surfaces
Of printed pages the sup
pressed tension these men
live under during and between
missions. their dedication to
q mechanistic god without
gratitude or mercy, the pc
culiar mixture Of human ele-
ments and blind fate in their
days. They have succeeded
variously. few as well as this
French writer.
A Flyers Mind
Mr.. Roy has not spelled it
all out. But in lit pages,
without a wasted phrase, he
has suggested it all. The
reader with any imagination
can supply the rest.
At the outset we find the
navigator, Ripault. with a
Free French squadron at
tached to the Royal Air Force
during World War II, bailing
out after a collision only a
few miles from his base in
England. He is the only sur
vivor of the two planes. He Is
near a house, and a girl takes
him in and gives him tea. He
phones his base. and a car is
sent for him. Later he re-
turns to visit the girl. They
are in love, and the fact that
she is married does not matter
to either in these days of the
blitz when death seems closer
than life.
Ripault is shaken by his ex-
perience. but in a few days his
squadron commander assigns
him to a bomber piloted by a
flyer whom everyone at the
base knows to be erratic to the
point of incompetence. Ri
pault refuses to go, pleading
illness. The surgeon can find
nothing wrong with him, but
does recommend leave. The
tough commander places Ri
pault under technical arrest.
The flight he was tol ve gone
on ENDS in disaster. ~eult
must redeem himself, though
he doesn't want to die-what
normal man does?-and he
volunteers for a flight with a
pilot who has begun to crack,
who sometimes can't see the
landing lights flashed at the
base to guide returning craft.
Ripault goes. certain he will
not return from the German
mission.
Author Who Knows
Such is the simple Frame
work of the story Mr.. Roy
has described the navigator,
his wavering frame Of mind,
his uncertain philosophy, the
stoicism and fear that fight
to control him, more through
what ne says and does than
through a search of his mind.
Evening star., 1955-07-31
Forthcoming

From Anthony West, son Of
Rebecca West and H. G. Wells.
a novel called Heritage" the
story of an illegitimate child
shuttled between two geniuses.
From MacKinlay Kantor, a
novel called "Andersonville." a
story Of the terrible Civil War
prison,
Evening star., 1955-07-31
Open to Cerumists

The fifth exhibition of cera-
mic art will be held by the Kiln
Club of Washington at the Ma
tional Museum from September
l to %. 1t is open to all artists
residing in the District of CO.
lumbia. Maryland and Virginia.
Each entry must be both de-
signed and executed by the ar
tist submitting it; must have
been done in the last two years,
and not previously exhibited in
a Washington gallery. Entry
sheets, which must be returned
by August 13, can be obtained
by writing to George Beish-
lag, chairman, 2044 Fort Davis
street Sc, Washington 20.
The forms contain full infor-
nation on the competition.
Evening star., 1955-07-31
quaintance with a great mas
-
News of Area Artists

~ ~ H w ~ NtStS
Lenard r. Folse of WASH
ington is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
this summer at the Anson K.
Cross Art School in East
Boothbay, Me. He received
his A. B. and M. A. degrees
from George Washington Uni
versity. also graduated from
the Art Institute of Chicago
and the Cross Art School. He
has painted and exhibited in
East Boothbay each summer
for some years.
DR.. Gertrude Richardson
Brigham, formerly on the art
faculty of George Washington
University, also art critic of the
Post and Times-Herald ton
the latter Viktor Flambeau
when they were separate pap
ers). has been director of the
Cross School in East Booth
bay for several years. She
spent the past year in Syracuse
taking special art courses, and
plans to attend the Art Stua
dents League of New York
next season. E
Evening star., 1955-07-31
D. c. Artists Abroad

Dean Carter is having a
one-man show at the Galleria
Schneider in Rome through
next Saturday. This former
student Of the Corcoran School
and American University, now
on the art faculty of Virginia
Polytechnic Institute, whose
work is well known through
his participation in group ex-
hibitions here (most recently
at the Franz Bader Gallery
last MONTH, is showing %
bronzes and II drawings. To
Judge from illustrations in the
catalogue. he is showing both
simplified, stylized nudes in
the round, also fiat. incised
figures and heads with cut
out areas. some of them inte-
grated with such suggested
constructions as stairways,
window grilles and arches.
Bruno Beran, a Washington
artist since the late l940s,
went to the Near East last
spring and was in Tangier for
the opening of his exhibition
of more than 80 Oil paintings
and pastels, entitled "Medinas
and Mellahs in Morocco" at
the Casino Espanol. presented
by the United States Informa-
tion Service, under the spon-
sorship there of the American
Minister and Mrs. Satter-
thwaite. The exhibition was to
be shown later in Paris and
probably elsewhere,
Evening star., 1955-07-31
HOW A BOMBER FEELS
Tensions of War in Air
Coughtby French Flyer
By CARTER BROOKE JONES

In brief novel, Jules Roy. q French aviator has trans
fered 70 the alien medium Of words the vague and
rebellion and resignation courage despair
accompany an average wartime flyer
Evening star., 1955-07-31
Adventure Season

0uA4AA1CA oCCAAAo w VIC OAAO
time to read of others ad-
ventures if you can't do what
you'd like to do, get far away
from it all, the heat and the
dragging dead-end days.
"The Abominable Snowman" "
by Ralph lizard Doubleday; I;
$4l is. so far as reading can
be, an admirable antidote for
what most Of us are enduring
these days. It is the factual
story of an unusual adventure.
an expedition backed by the
London Daily Mail to 1eapeh
for the mysterious creature
supposed to inhabit the upper
Himalaya Mountains, a man
like character rarely seen but
often leaving strange foot
prints, an animal lost in the
mists Of legend. Mr.. lizard,
a reporter for the Daily Mail.
talked his paper into sponsor
ing the project and went along
as correspondent and histo-
rian. His book is a record of
adventure which is consistent
ly interesting.
Elusive Creature
The party did not catch or
even sight an Abominable
Snowman, but returned more
convinced than ever that there
is such a creature. whether it
is, as some think, a species of
ape hitherto unknown, or a
bear of some sort, or some
thing entirely different. AS
Mr.. lizard quotes Charles
Stoner, a scientist with the
expedition: " it is hard in
deed to escape the view that
there is in these remote, vast
and unexplored mountain
ranges some beast yet un-
known to science. Perhaps it
will be type Of ape or monkey
or perhaps some new creature
Of the bear family. That
we failed to see a Yeti (Sherpa
for Abominable Snowman)
signifies nothing, either for
or against its existence. :.
Snow leopards are common in
area; no member of the expe-
dition saw one in the fields;
only some of us saw wolves,
and yet there were wolves
preying on the herds the
whole time we were there. :"
Mr.. lizard feels that the size
Of such an expedition. the large
number of native helpers nee
essary to keep it safe and sup
piled, initiated against coming
on such a wild, elusive thing.
He found Sherpas who live
in the high country around
Mount Everest certain of the
Yeti's existence, because many
of them had glimpsed the
creature, and they seemed un-
aware of the supernatural
whispers and legendary ex-
ploits Of something more like
a primitive man than an ami
NAL. They assumed, he said,
that it was an animal, perhaps
a bear, perhaps a monkey.
There are some fine illustra-
tions, including footprints Of
the Snowman.
Evening star., 1955-07-31
Art Book Reviews

Art for the Family. BY Vic
tor D'Amic0, Frances Wilson
and MOreen Maser. THE Mu-
scum of Modern Art-SimOn
& Schuster, $2.95.)
Art is rewarding recreation
for everyone who approaches
Evening star., 1955-07-31
Shows in Brief

An exhibition Of prints by
Worden Day of New York City
opened recently in the art de-
partment, Salve Regina build
ing of Catholic University, for
Evening star., 1955-07-31
ART NEWS
Pun-Americun
Has Exhibition
OF Mexicuns
ART NEWS
By FLORENCE s. BERGMAN

Olhz, DOtu OF MSxlcO, WHICH
compose the current exhibi-
ton at the Pan American
Union through next Saturday,
are worth seeing.
The Diaz group inaugurates
a new policy at the Union,
where art gallery space lirni-
tations make extensive dis
plays Of sculpture impractical.
Beginning with this, a few
selected pieces will be shown
occasionally. in come c ton
with exhibitions Of paintings.
THE conscious analysis and
Interpretation of reality, with
an avoidance of political
themes" is the stated approach
of the Proteo Gallery group of
Mexico City. to which Eche-
verria belongs. Certainly there
is a place for such an objec-
tive in contemporary painting.
During the past two decades or
more. we have been bombarded
by so many bitter denuncia-
tions in different media, Of
various evils. that we get into
the habit of searching the
most idyllic landscape for a
garbage dump or septic tank
in the background.
But it is surprising that
"there is no allegoric intention
in (Echeverria's) portraits Of
the poor or in the humble
scenes of Mexico he selects as
subject matter but an
interest in achieving pure pic
torial values" Having looked
at the paintings before I read
the ca talogue foreword I
thought that surely the por-
trait of a moronic looking
brute in a blood-stained shirt
entitled Butcher No. /" had
been commissioned by some
organization of vegetarians.
Plain People
Although he is said to de-
light Gin showing plain, incon-
spicuous folk taken from daily
life," he seems to find some of
them sinister ("Circus Peo-
ple"). greedy oman Eating a
TacoD or depressing ("Wood
Gatherers" and "Pulque Drink
ers" in dark, moody canvases).
But there are other we'll
painted subjects which reflect
the stated objectives-among
them the serene "Juchitec
Bride" tillustrated), Scene in
Mexico City" handsome and
panoramic, and Walls" a
composition of rectangles.
Born in Mexico 1929
Echeverria began to paint at an
early age, and had both pri-
vate and school instruction in
art. In 1852 he had a year in
Europe. Last year he had his
first one-man show in Mexico
City. The exhibition at the
Pan American Union is his
first in the United States.
Irma Diaz' six little sculp-
lures comprise her first show
in Washington. But she is
better known in the United
States. as she obtained part
Of her training at the Art In
stitute of Chicago and Alfred
University, and has taught in
the public schools of Hartford,
Conn, and at Hull House. Chi
cago,a and has participated
actively in group exhibitions.
Her little nude women, some
in bronze, others terracotta,
are on the chunky side.
whether walking, kneeling,
sitting or reclining. There are
also two winsome figures of
Evening star., 1955-07-31

This is the most effective way
to draw character.
Jules Roy knows what he's
writing about. He was an
aviator in the prewar French
army. When France was de-
feated he volunteered for serv-
ice with the Raj. went on
many bomber missions and
won decorations. He retired
from the French air force in
1883 with the rank of colonel.
He is devoting himself to
writing. His play about jet
pilots. "The Cyclones" has
had long run in Paris. He
has written several books on
flying. but "The Navigator" is
his first novel.
Evening star., 1955-02-11

Saturday and Sunday from 2
to S pm.
Camera tours will start twice
daily from Christ Church, at 10
am. and at l pm.
Gunston Hall, the home of
George Mason, 18 miles south
of Alexandria. will be open free
of charge at 7:30 pm. February
18 for a candlelight tour with
refreshments and 18th century
music. There will be free bus
transportation from the Alex
andria Chamber of Commerce
at South Washington and Prince
streets.
Woodlawn Open.
Admission will be free at
Woodlawn Plantation. the home
Of Nellie Gusts Lewis, George
Washington's adopted daughter.
eight miles south of Alexandria.
Admission will be free from
10 am. to 4 pm. at Mount
Vernon on February %, George
Washington's birthday.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars
will sponsor the annual Wash
ington Birthday parade on
Washington street at 2 pm.
February %.
Washington's Birthday Ball
will be held at 8 pm, February
%, at Gadsby's Tavern. King
and Royal streets. Tickets are IS
a couple. Formal attire or 18th
century costume Is required.