davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1956-12-09
A. B. GUTHRIE, Jr.
Author Of
These Thousand Hills"

would deserve a high rating
any year,
John Hersey brought out q
short novel Of classical simplic-
ity and beauty in A SINGLE
PEBBLE (Knopf. So. a story
Of river people in China IN the
20s-a prose lyric OF persons
and incidents that could as
well have happened a thou
sand years ago.
c. p. Snow. one OF England's
finest novelists. continued his
long series Of novels OF con-
temporary life in HOMECOM-
ING tScribner: 1895.
A FIRST novel by Thomas An
derson, a youthful trans
planted Dane. YOUR OWN
BELOVED SONS Random
House $3.50 proved one Of the
years finds. This is a story OF
the Korean War which sums
up that whole bitter. futile
struggle IN the adventures OF
a single patrol. The writing Is
unootruavely DISTINGUISHED.
THE QUIET AMERICAN,
b. Graham Greene Cviking;
$3.50 . story Of the guerilla
Evening star., 1956-12-09
Among the Poets

Mrs. Lindbergh was the only
poet on the best seller list but
there were some others who
should have been.
Edwin Muir has a new vol
ume: ONE FOOT IN EDEN
(Grove PresS). It was 1865
finest. Mr.. Muir has imagina-
ton. intensity. and very great
originality. His poems are to
be read and thought about.
They grow with re-reading.
A genuine poetic concept is
in John Berryman's HOMAGE
TO MISS BRADSTREET Ear
rar, Straus & Cuhady) a long"
poem set in Colonial New Eng
land but proving once more
that the poet roams the world
and time. Certain eccentri-
Evening star., 1956-12-09
SIX NOVELS AMONG
SEASONS BEST

These six novels are recon-
mended. They are a personal
preference. If they were not
the best published during the
year. they were at least among
the best. Their titles are listed,
not in any order Of merit, but
alphabetically.
HOMECOMING, by C. p.
Snow (Scribner: $3.50.
THE LAST HURRAH, by
Edwin O'Connor Little
Brown: $40.
THE QUIET AMERICAN,
by Graham Greene Viking;
$3.50.
A SINGLE PEBBLE, by
John Hersey (Knopf; $3.
THESE THOUSAND HILLS,
by A. B. Guthrie, jr. (Hough-
ton Miff1n; $3.50.
YOUR OWN BELOVED
SONS, by Thomas Anderson
Random House; $3.50.
Evening star., 1956-12-09

was based on articles by lead
ers on both sides Of the war
which appeared in the Gen.
tury Magazine from 1884
through 1887. These books are
invaluable as a primary source
and provide a flowing account
Of the war by many persons,
most Of them eyewitnesses.
There was another volume
Of Kenneth Williams series on
Grant. LINCOLN FINDS A
GENERAL Macmillan; $3.50.
. There were several biographies
Of leading figures. among those
a life Of a neglected Confeder-
ate general. A DIFFERENT
VALOR: THE STORY OF
GEN. JOSEPH E. JOHN
STON. C. S. A.. by Gilbert
E. Govan and James w. Liv-
ingood (Bobbs-Merrill: So.
Washington's Virgil Caring
ton Jones, who has written
about Mosby, brought out
GRAY GHOSTS AND REBEL
RAIDERS (Holt: $3.50.
OF novels dealing with pc
riods Of the past there are sew
eral that stand out. These in
clude Kenneth Roberts
BOON ISLAND Doubleday:
s3.75); a story. based on a his
torical shipwreck: THE
THREE LEGIONS, by Greg
ory Solon CRandom House:
S3.75). a story Of Rome, ADS
"a first novel, by the way;
AFTERNOON OF AN AUTO
Graf, by Norah Lofts (Dou-
bleday: S3.95). an English
town at the close Of the 18th
century. and JUBILEE, by
John Brick doubleday; 1885,,
q story Of Sherman's march
TO the sea.
Offbeut
There were several effective
onbeat novels which can't be
classified BY theme or period
"A point IN their favor. These
include GREENWILLOW, by
B. J. Chute CDutton: $3.50. a
simple. timeless story Of a
small town on . river which
could be anywhere: THE
LAMB. by the French novelist
Francois Maurice tFarrar.
Straus and Cudahy: So.
strong tale Of a dedicated
youth who tried 70 disentanRle
some snarled lives: THE
TENEMENT OF DREAMS, BY
Joseph w. Meagher, a full
Favored impression OF some
persons In the New York OF
1915. and BEYOND THE
BLACK STUMP CMerrow:
t5.7s). Nevil Shute's story OF
csntinupd - PAgs III, Cel. :
Evening star., 1956-12-09

war in Indo- China, was de-
nounced in some quarters as
anti-American. 1t seems to
me a dramatic character
study in which, as it happens.
an American appears in the
role of a well-meaning in
truder, projecting himself into
what does not concern him.
Could there be such Ameri-
cans? In any event, "The
Quiet American" is. I think,
one of Mr.. Greene's most in
teresting narratives.
Western Panorama
A. B. Guthrie, jr., author Of
that epic Of the mountain men
of 1886, "The Big Sky" and of
a fine story of a covered wagon
migration, THE Way West"
appeared with a third in his
series of the West. The new
novel, THESE THOUSAND
HILLS (Houghton Mifiin;
$3.95), lacks the depth and
originality of the others, par
ticularly Of THE Big Sky" but
none the less is excellent in
its way. 1t depicts in colorful
detail a time when the West
was in transition from q prim-
tive, individualistic era to set-
tied, ordered years.
The six novels which ! feel
are among the best Of 1856 are
pressed closely by several others
for space near the top.
Anne Chamberlain, who
somehow generates an almost
unbearable suspense in her sto-
ries and a brevity too rare
these days, brought out her
second novel. THE SOLDIER
ROOM (Bobbs-Merrill; So,
even better. in my opinion.
than THE Tall Dark Man."
In OLD YELLER (Harper;
$2.75 Fred Gipson wrote a
story about a boy and a dog in
earlier years on a Texas from
tier ranch which is one Of the
most appealing stories Of its
kind that I ever read.
Evening star., 1956-12-09
BY MARY McGRORY

1t was, all told, a quiet year
in the world Of books. Only
the continuing debate on CEN
sorship disturbed the tram
guilty, and even that was
conducted so far from the
limelight, in the pages Of the
better magazines, that it
sounded merely like the rum
BILE of a distant drum.
In fact, so serene were
readers and writers that
Father Harold Gardiner, lit
erary editor of the Jesuit
Weekly, America, noting that
one critic (Granville Hicks
had baited another (Anthony
West) with minimum re-
sponse, remarked rather wist-
fully that those clashes Of
opinion which once made book
pages vibrate and sparkle with
intellectual excitement just
didn't seem to come about any
more.
The BIackIisting Case
It is true that one writer,
John Cogley, former editor of
the Commonweal, and author
of "Blacklisting" was hauled
up before a congressional COM
mittee (the House Committee
on Un-American Activities to
explain why he hadn't written
the book differently. 1t was a
deplorable incident, and, as
the American Book Publishers
Council pointed out, an
abridgement Of an authors
right to write as he sees fit,
but 1t was. happily, an isolated
incident.
The Post once Department,
through Solicitor General Abe
McGregor Gof, attempted to
widen its censoring powers
through a revision Of the For
eign Agents Registration Act,
but this came to naught.
The Post Office Department,
which has shown this same
tendency in the past to pro-
tect people from themselves,
wanted to make those outside
the United States who send
political literature over here
subject to the provisions Of the
act. The book world rose UP
as one man against what At
torney de Grazia, represent
ing the American Library As
ISOLATION called the apparent
ly underlying intent Ito per-
NIT the Post ONCE Depart
ment and the Bureau Of Gus
toms. in their discretion, TO
intercept and impound any or
all foreign literature which
falls within the broad concept
Of political propaganda"
Absurd consequences
Werner w. Clapp. then chief
assistant librarian OF the Lii
brsry Of Congress. pointing out
that most Of the foreign pub
lications procured by American
libraries from abroad come
within this definition Of "po-
litical propaganda" sketched
what would be the absurd
consequences Of the move.
Now II is equally obvious
TO me that II would be unrea-
sonable 10 suppose that the
mail clerks OF the London
Times. Of the oxford Univer-
sity Press, Of Her Majesty's
Stationery once. Of the Con-
servative Party. and Of
every Newspaper. publishing
house. university library. jour
nal Of political economic and
other public affairs and book
seller in the world that has
dealings with American libra
ries Is going 70 register under
the act. "
There was great deal more
along those lines. and in the
face Of the concerted attack.
Mr.. Cor feli back. murmur-
ing that maybe he should
think about Il some more.
Incidentally the departure
Of MI. clapp from the Library.
where for 30 years he had
added 70 much rest 70 ~ hfe.
was noted with suitably mel
aneholy hilarity. Mr.. clapp
Evening star., 1956-12-09
Poetry Revival

The Library Of Congress IN
1856, finally got itself a new
poet in residence, a bearded
bard, named Randall farrell.
The post, due to insecurity
about the security Of the pre-
vious, but never-seated choice,
DR.. William Carlos Williams.
had been vacant for several
years. Mr.. FARRELL stepped in,
sat down and promptly an
nounced that poetry was COM
ing back, via recordings.
which created pleased stir
among the ivory-tower dwell
lers.
Elsewhere, the Library ac-
Quilted itself well in a poetic
matter. The choice Of Juan
Ramon Jimenez for the Nobel
Prize in Literature. caught
many literati mapping. But
not the Library. They were
able through their Hispanic
Foundation to come forward
with all sorts of interesting
items about the self-exiled
1896 Spanish poet. who is
known as "the universal An
dalusian," including the inter-
esting incidental information
that while he lived here on
18th street, he was affection
ately called Juan Ramon"
by the children who play in
Meridian. Hill Park.
Prime Movers
Further. they were able to
say that the prime movers IN
the award we're the members
Of the Department Of Modern
Languages and Literature Of
the University Of Maryland,
where Senior Jimenez and his
wife both taught. Needing. ac-
cording to the rules. evidence
Of activity within the year, the
department found it at the IL
brary. where a talking book
for the blind had been made
Of Jimenez' ''Platero and l."
The 75-year-old poet. who
contributed some manuscripts
to the library. received this
crowning honor in Puerto Rico
lin whose university he now
teaches) where his beloved
wife lay dying.
Evening star., 1956-12-09
THE RELIGIOUS SHELF
A BountifuI Harvest
Of Spiritual Volumes
BY CASPAR NAMES
Religious News Editor Of The star

The 1856 banner for books religious sub
jects by present and former Washington residents.
The volumes covered many fields suggesting flood Of
writing these topics currently engung the country
To adequately the widening torrent impossible
All reviewer do to dip here there maesro
Evening star., 1956-12-09

and come up with representa-
tive examples of works pub
lished this year.
Fortunately, for our pur-
pose, the local publications
have a variety that enables
them to stand as touchstones
for the larger output.
Evening star., 1956-12-09
Modern Life

Among the more sophisti-
Gated novels Of modern life I
can recommend THE WON
DERFUL SIBLEYS, by Will
liam Maier (Scribner; 1885,;
THE GREAT WORLD AND
TIMOTHY COLT. by Louis
Auchincloss Houghton Mif-
fin; $3.75); MAN OF THE
WORLD, by Stanley Kauff-
man (Rinehart; $3.50. and
THE SUDDEN STRANGERS,
BY William Barrett Double
day; $3.50. There were. Of
course, others in this wide field
of considerable merit.
Welsh writer's seem to have
a depth and a sense Of the
dramatic as natural to them
as their rugged countryside.
We had two fine novels by
Welshmen-A MANS ESTATE,
by Einyr Humphries (McGraw-
Hill: $3.75). and LEVINE. by
James Hanley CHorizon; $500.
The Funniest
suppose the alabaster slap
stick for the funniest novel Of
the year will have to be
awarded DON'T GO NEAR
THE WATER. by William
Brinkley tRandom House;
1885,. This book handed us
a good many laughs, despite its
overdrawn conception of Navy
public relations in the Pacific
and its unnecessary vulgarity.
Pressing closely for laughs
are OLD SOLDIERS NEVER
DIE, by that excellent writer,
Wolf Mankowitz atlantic
Little, Brown: $3.50;
STRICTLY FROM BROOK
LYN, by William Heuman
Morrow: So. and THE GIRL
HE LEFT BEHIND (Viking;
$2.95), from Marion HargroFe.
who wrote the World War II
laugh-maker. See Here. Pri-
vate Hargrove." These three
are far better novels than
Don't Go Near the Water"
If they don't yield quite as
much fun to the chapter.
First Novels
There were, in addition, TO
Thomas Anderson's your Own
Beloved Sons" several first
novels Of striking quality.
These include THE MARROW
COVERING, by Julia Siebel
tHarcourt. Brace; $3.50, q
lean. strong picture Of the
Evening star., 1956-12-09
The Civil War

Interest in our Civil War
never seems to lag. This year
surely brought out the usual
number of histories and BIZ
ographies of the period. if not
quite as many novels.
The most ambitious project
is BATTLES AND LEADERS
OF THE CIVIL WAR, with a
new introduction by Roy F.
Nichols (Thomas Yoseloff; 4
volumes. boxed. 500. These
volumes form a new edition
Of a work, now out of print
and rarely obtainable, which
Evening star., 1956-12-09

MANY COLOURS (Horizon
Press, wherein he writes about
everybody and everything from
Indian Art and CeZanne to
James Joyce and Ruskin.
These are perceptive essays,
brilliant and witty.
Evening star., 1956-12-09
READING AND WRITING
Freedom of Expression
Still a Fighting Issue

is busy now as President Of
the Council on Library Re-
sources.
Evening star., 1956-12-09
Sermons

Eighteen sermons delivered
at Howard University by dis
tinguished public figures, edu-
Gators and clergymen, are
brought together in WELL
SPRINGS OF LIFE, edited by
DR.. Daniel G. Hill, dean Of
Rankin Chapel. They are
broad in scope and stimulat-
ing in content.
The Right Rev. Msgr. John
Tracy Ellis of Catholic Uni
versity has emerged from the
challenge Of writing a brief,
readable history of the Roman
Catholic Church in the United
States with high honor. His
AMERICAN CATHOLICISM
starts with the Colonial period,
with 1892 as the beginning date,
and brings the story up to
1856. It is Informative, inter-
esting and indispensable to
students Of American history.
In AMERICAN CATHOLICS
AND THE INTELLECTUAL
LIFE. Msgr. Ellis discusses
frankly the charge Of anti
intellectualism often leveled
against the Catholic Church.
He acknowledges the fact
where it is present but also
points out numerous fields
where Catholics have been
in the forefront Of intellectual
endeav0rs
Evening star., 1956-12-09
Biography

The year brought an un-
usual number of fine biogra-
phies. Among those outstand-
ing were OLYMPIC, Andre
MauroiS' story of Victor Hugo
(Harper; $3.50, and Archibald
Henderson's GEORGE BER-
NARD SHAW: MAN OF THE
CENTURY (Appleton Cen
tury-Crofts; $12.5O) A BIZ
ography Of a more recent
figure is ROOSEVELT: THE
LION AND THE FOX, by
James Mac Gregor Burns (Har-
court. Brace; $5.75). The
most interesting of the recent
political biographies is Rob-
ert J. Donovan's EISEN-
HOVER: THE INSIDE
STORY (Harper; $4.9O).
Probably the most popular
number of this species is
KING OF PARIS, Guy En-
dore's biographical novel Of
Alexander Dumas. pere Isl
mon and Schuster; $4). Per-
sonal nomination for the most
colorful biography: one about
q famous but dubious figure
SICKLES THE INCREDIBLE,
by w. A. Swanberg (Scribner;
$50. the story Of q fabulous
Civil War general and diplo-
matist.
If I had to pick the years
best novel, think I'd have
to string along with the many
other readers who found de-
light in THE LAST HURRAH,
by Edwin O'Connor Little,
Brown; $4). l read no novel
from this or the other side of
the Atlantic that so combined
an amusing and yet, in it's
way. pathetic story with
memorable and absolutely
real characters. In depicting
the passing of Skeffington, a
political leader strangely like
one Of whom we all know, in a
city uncommonly like Boston,
Mr., O'Connor summed up q
whole way Of political life
which may. as he suggests. be
obsolete. or may not. There
are some hilarious scenes. as
well as some highly percep-
tive writing.
Fiction
Good novels were not abun-
dant this year. or, If they were.
/ failed to see many. There
were. however. several that
Evening star., 1956-12-09
THE 1856 LITERARY SCENE
Year Brought Many Fine Works
But Few Lasting Monuments

Kansas wheatiands: THE
TERRIBLE SWIFT SWORD,
by Arthur Steuer Coward
Mccain; $3.50, a story of a
military prep school better
than Calder Willingham's
highly touted END as a Man;
Joseph Caruso's sensitive study
of a priest in a Sicilian COM
munity Of Boston, THE PRIEST
Macmillan; $3.50, and CAT
MAN, by Edward Hoagland
(Houghton Mifflin; $3.75), q
close study of the less CLAM
orous section. of a circus-the
roustabouts.
/ could mention CALEB,
MY SON, by Lucy Daniels
(Lippincott; $2.75) as q first
novel that disclosed a writer
of decided promise, though
this story of a Negro family
was marred by an incredible
ending.
African Lore
The literary blossoming Of
South Africa continued with a
number Of novels and nom
fiction books. Two novels that
I liked particularly were
MAMBA, by Stuart Cloete
(Houghton Miflin; So, and A
DANCE IN THE SUN, by Dan
Jacobson (Harcourt, Brace;
$3.50.
The novel of Africa that re-
ceived the greatest exploitation
undoubtedly was THE TRIBE
THAT LOST ITS HEAD
(Sloane; $4.95). by Nicholas
Monsarrat, author of THE
Cruel Sea-" 1 grant that the
author has created vividly an
island of the southwestern
coast of Africa and that his
story is highly readable. And
yet, though I may be in a
critical minority, I consider
this best-seller corny, vulgar
and sometimes revolving. The
characters are the Sheerest
types.
Speaking of exploitation,
another novel that was pushed
hard and draped with the
mantle of the Book-of-the-
Month Club was THE NINTH
WAVE, by Eugene Burdick
(Houghton Miff1in: $3.50, a
massive, overblown story of
political figure without a real
character or a plausible situa-
ton.
Evening star., 1956-12-09

lish. The second is JOURNALS
OF JEAN COCTEAU edited by
Wallace Fowlie (Criterion).
These extracts from various
writings of Cocteau are only
occasionally interesting.
Evening star., 1956-12-09
History

II I were asked to name the
best nonfiction book. I think
I'd be stumped; I couldn't mar
row the selection to one. De-
pends on what interests you.
I'd have to say. Outstanding
for those who like straight his
tory is Sir Winston S. Church.
ills THE NEW WORLD Dodd,
Mead; So. the second volume
in his A HISTORY OF THE
ENGLISH SPEAKING PEO-
PIE. This volume takes us
from l485 to 1888. There are
to be two more volumes. Sir
Winston's literary ability
hardly needs comment.
Historians and receptive
publishers did not neglect
American history this year.
Leaving aside compilations and
anthologies. my choice for the
best-written book Of American
history is Bruce Cations
THIS HALLOWED GROUND
Doubleday: $5.75), a beauti-
fully paced story in brief Of
the whole Civil War from the
Union side.
Evening star., 1956-12-09

the denominations contribu-
tionS to our country in BAP-
lists AND THE AMERICAN
REPUBLIC.
Evening star., 1956-12-09
By CARTER BROOKE ZONES
Book Critic Of The star

nOVk Cttic Oh Inc cthf
To look back on the books
of 1856 you must follow a
tangled trail. It seldom opens
into a vista through which you
can see a literary monument
or a trend in some direction.
There were plenty Of meri-
torius books in both categories.
fiction and nonfiction, but APP
parently no single book, no two
or three books which domi-
mated the literary scene. as in
some previous years. There
were enough well-wrought his
tories. biographies and novels
dealing with varied enough
subjects and written with suf-
ficient diversity to please a
good many divergent tastes.
Thus there should have been
more than a few books to
suit almost any preference.
Evening star., 1956-12-09
Fiction

Good novels were not abun-
dant this year. or. If they were.
! failed to see many. There
were. however. several that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-04
Days
Day off
By IRV CARSTEN

TOHN DAILY doubles in brass Besides
ID emceeing the popular TV show, whats
My Line?" and appearing regularly as a
news commentator, he also holds down
vice presidency of the ABC network, job
requiring much paper work and attention
to minute details of broadcasting. These
jobs keep him hopping, and usually he's as
busy at home as in his studio or Office.
He devotes weekends to his family and home,
except for last-minute preparations at the
studio on Sunday for whats My Line?"
Weekends, Mr.. Daily putters around his
l0-room house in Harrison, N. Y, with his
wife Margaret and their 10-year-old daugh-
ter Helene, nicknamed Buncey They spend
much of their time looking at documentary
Aims, both amateur and professional, that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-04

he collects as hobby, and playing with the
Scotch terriers they raise. Even a holiday
can be interrupted if you're in the news
business, however, and special bulletin
will send him scurrying to his study, con-
sulting reference books and maps, and
debating notes and memos to his wife.
Despite the heavy load, he loves his job;
and as he says, TITS all in Days work"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-23

nounced today in White Plains.
N. Y. that it was dropping the
wholesale price of its coffee 3
cents a pound. Its brands in
clude Maxwell House. Sanka and
others. Two major coffee
roasters on the West Coast -
Hills Brothers and MJB-made
similar announcements. Other
major wholesalers are expected
to follow suit.
Coffee industry spokesman
said the drop in prices is due to
a big crop in Brazil and stabiliz-
alton of the green coffee market
following a 9-cent increase in
wholesale prices last month.
Chain store officials here said
stores which raised retail prices
last month to match the 8 cent
increase in wholesale prices
probably would cut coffee prices
2 or 3 cents. Other retails said
they did not match the whole
sale increases and probably
would not make immediate re-
auctions.
Several restaurants said the
drop in wholesale prices would
not affect the price of coffee by
the cup.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-23

IS to IA. fed from their basement
apartment after vainly trying to
put out the fire.
Numbers Equipment
Fearing a similar fire that al
most destroyed the Randle
Apartments last week, second
and third alarms were sounded
when fire broke through the
floor to a firSt-floor apartment,
Inspector Kelly said.
1T was touch and go there
for awhile" he asserted. The
fire was brought under control
in about an hour.
AS every one was evacuated
from the smoke filled building,
firemen found an unattended
apartment on the second floor
which contained two adding ma
chimes, a calculator and num-
bers slips.
Police said they also found
tin boxes with cash and cards
inside, two shotguns, several
boxes of shells and a pistol.
Warrant Will Be Sought
1t. Scott Meyer of the Gam
bling Squad of the Morals Di-
vision, said today he would con-
fer with an assistant United
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-23

States attorney on the possibility
of securing a warrant for the
name of a person or persons
found on some papers in the
apartment. He said the place
apparently was a counting house
for numbers operations.
Ernest Simon and his wife
both were away from their base
ment apartment at work. Inspec-
tor Kelly said. The children had
been in the care of an aunt, but
she was upstairs making a tele-
phone call when the fire started,
he said.
Treated at Providence Hos
pital was Vera Blanton, &c, col
ored, after she suffered scratches
when she fell about three feet
from a fire escape, police said.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-23

liner" bus. They will visit the
Capitol. Lincoln Memorial and
other tourist attractions.
The bus is being made avail
able by National railways, Inc.
After lunch and nap, the child
rem will be guests of the Shriners
at the Shrine Circus.
The Easter Seal drive con-
tinues through April 10 with a
goal of $165, 1000. The fund is
needed to continue and expand
the free services of diagnosis,
clinic and therapies and nursery
and kindergarten schools for
crippled children,