THE MICHIGAN DAILY MACAZINE
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 192iA
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Boos ndAuthor
AND EVEN NOW Now', which has just been published in
Max Beerhohm this country by Dutton's. As ever
'the incomparable Max writes his fas-
tidious little discourses impeccably.
It was back in the middle nineties There is, however, in many of them
that a precocious youth gathered to- a new note. They are more dignified
gether eight . or ten delicate essays than merely dandified. Yet there is
and published them in a slender vol- much of the familiar Beerbohm with
ume of some 150 pages bearing the his impish humor and quaint side-
august title, "The Complete Works of lights on commonplace topics. As in
Max Beerbohm, With .a Bibliography the previous essays, one is struck by,
by John Lane." It was typical of this the amazing range of his interests.
particular youth that he should end Nothing, apparently, is too small, too
his 'Works' with a world-weary con- cheap, too unimportant to attract his
fession that he belonged to the Bears- attention and to be written about. A
ley period and was already outmoded, cheap ,novel and a great man get an
that he was content now to stop writ- equal amount of consideration. "A
ing and to fill his not discreditable Complete Letter Writter For Men and
niche, giving over his place to the Women" hanging in a railway book-
younger isen. All this at the mature stall furnishes ample material for an
age of twenty four, amusing discourse. Such seemingly
worn-out topics as "Going For a Walk"
Of course, he did no such thing. and "On Speaking French" are shaped
Other books followed. The original into fresh and sprightly essays. There
series of 'Works' was succeeded by is a charming reminiscence of Swin-
"More," "Yet Again", and, recently, burne; Goethe and Tischbein are the
.And Even Now." These scintillating theme of another, while the ill-fated
essays brief, nimble, impudent, sati- tler
cegyman who ventured a suggestion
ric, the product of a typically English to Dr. Johnson and was so promptly
and keenly observant mind, attracted a and thoroughly crushed, is the subject
small but highly appreciative audience, of still another.
Today Beerbohm's short story, 'The
Happy Hypocrile' sells for $17.50 in Altogether there are twenty essays,
the first edition, while the first English written at various times during the
edition of his newest book is priced at past ten years, and treating of a wide
$7.50, although it has been out for variety of people and things. They
less than a year. form a mixture of the Beerbohm of
This latest collection is 'And Even "More" and the Beerbohm of "Seven
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Men". The collection can safely be have his other works honorably men-
recommended to. anyone who enjoys tioned by the astute and versatile Miss
fine writing, as an effective antidote Graham. Her book ought to be a
to literary malaises of all sorts. great favorite in Ann Arbor.
GLEANINGS
By G. D. E. THE SPIRIT OF STATE STREET
Two weeks ago I referred to the "DEMOCRACY AND THE WILL
Midland magazine in an article con- TO POWER"
cerning American periodicals. I have (By "Sanine")
received since a couple of the Novem- Among the intellectuals who hold
ber issues. I cannot say much more the social and mental fibre of dmoc-
for it than I did before. The poetry rhcysocalken'pentaingeanalysis,
is litlebeter an threis more racy to a keen, penetrating analysis,
is a little better, and therimre there stands one, James Wood, who
grace to the prose, but it still has an has stpd ond gien us ain
azaic totality which i cannot under- 1a stepped forth and given us an in-
saoic tateresting resume of the whole busi-
stand.
Heas. Wood, in pithy, pungent aphor-
Why,'I ask myself, cannot graceful ns.Woi ihpnetahr
WhytI ask tmyelf canntgracefuh isms, very suggestive of the tense,
writing be turned to account? The restless impulses under which he
writers of both stories in the Novem- wrote, holds Democracy's credo to
ber number show a surprising know- light,
ledge of country folk conversation and
their prose is far above the trick No two-penny chauvinism, noi any
phrase stuff turned loose by our n- other "ism" obscures his seasosing,
tionally known magazines. But the He grasps thoroughly the subject that
sum total turned out by the ,Midland overwhelms the parcel mind. Indeed,
writers is almost pure drivel. James Wood, in his "Democracy and
the Will to Power," (Knopf) plays the
gamut of man's individual and social-
In reading over rBessie kGraham'sthought with remarkable perspicacity
In radig oer Besie rahm'sand astuteness.
"The Bookman's Manual," the mosta u
idiotic bibliography that has yet ap- In his book, James Wood "trans-
peared in print, I come across a num- conceptuates" the shop-worn, catch-
ber of surprising things. For instance, phrase conceptions of democracy,
I find that Henry L. Mencken has writ- politics, society. Disgusted with the
ten only one book, "The American lethargic daze of crass credulity and
Language,,willessness of the mob-man, he reveals
At first I decided that Bessie didn't the machinations of governmental cor-
like Mr. Mencken, and I was about to sairs who screen themselves behind
excuse her with the broad tolerance the sham scenery of words; he reveals
that I accord all sweet and virtuous the fickle, fluid meanings of democracy
persons. But upon looking up what from babbling mouths uttering inane
she had to say about "The American Dvords to beguile the mob,
Language," I found this: "It is a Wood has, in all truth, handled his
book of absorbing interest and staunch theme with unmistakable power. As
patriotism." a man sounding the froth that is life,
Har! Har! What will father Henry as one who has tested the hemlock
have to say to this? I picture his of illusion, he records his reactions.
squiriming discomfiture and tears of One "Prometheus Bound" in one's im-
mirth roll down my cheeks. But likely portance can feel a tang of pleasure
he has already seen it. The words lave one's cynical mind at the yevolt
have not been changed from the 1919 that breaks forth through this man
edition of Miss Graham's book, nor Wood.
much else that is in it. The revolt has apparently long been
I can only wonder why such a under restraint.- It was not such a
staunch patriot as Mencken should not (Continued on page 7)
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HANDKERCHIEFS
Not too early to purchase them
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myriads of them, in the dain-
tiest and prettiest novelties.
ane
hopo
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JUST RECEIVED
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