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SUNDAY MAGAZINE
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4,1923
Sherwood Anderson:Threnody
If someone were to play "Napoleon's One should hesitate to name the
Last Charge" and then inform me MAXWELL NOWELS cause of the change of Sherwood An-
that it was composed by Scriabine, 1 derson. Like the works of nine-tenths
could experience no more incredulity Mid-Westerners and found there not derson's earlier works, i should have of the moderns his work is introspec-
than I do when I read certain stories sterility but a grotesque, fecund vege- tive-but to a greater degree it is
inttion. He saw their petty stilted' psychopathic. Psychopathy in litera-
signed by Sherwood Anderson. My ations, their petty te chuckle as each successive install- ture must be treated with gloves and
reaction was similar when I was dis ambitions, their longing to be free ment of his story appeared. If he in- forceps. If it is not so handled it
illusioned as to the existence of a frma misuestood, dirhsitng tended to be original he failed, for degenerates into ludicrous farce.
Santa Claus. My first impulse was to ' isme their dsiress Haugham's Strickland in The Moon Herein; I believe lies the fault of
deny that I had been duped-this feel- iscored themths ppret- And Sixpence preceded John Web- our "Phallic Chekhov." He has lost
ing or satisfying them. These pathet-
lag later subsided into a dull regret ically drab beings were not devoid of ster by several years.. Compared with his origiial sympatbetie insight into
mingled with a secret hope that my emotion-they were merely confused, Strickland Webster is a clown. the minds of his characters., They
illusion would someday return. If I eointe eemrl ofsd
badsot od moedthan oeoccasio Iinarticulate, dumb. It remained for The confusion in this work is have became laboratory material in-
hadAnderson to become their interpreter neither orderly nor philosophical; it stead of paltpitating, emotional le-
put into writing my unqualified ad- He succeeded, amazingly. One can is exasperating. We are aroused to rings, with the result that they are a
miratlion for Anderson, I might now hardly call "Winesburg, Ohio" a novel curiosity by sporadic flashes of the old travesty on his former creations.
be iclied in self-defense to deny although there is a rather loose Andersonian insight only to be disap- Whether Sherwood Anderson will
mire his early work and secretly grouping of incidents around one pointed by its evanescence into mean- emerge from his present Slough of Fa-
hope for better things from him George Willard with whom, I believe, ingless banality. One derives no sat- tuity remains to be seen. With such a
The gnu oftr hesrood Anerson the author partially identifies himself. isfaction from the foolish groping of person one dare not make prophecies.
semstohave sprg up fl Agron The aforementioned orderly confusion John Webster, but there is an inef- His publishes announce a new fledg-
seems to have sprung up full grown, of Anderson pervades the work. It fable appeal in the efforts of George ling in the immediate future. In the
thrived for a time, and then deterior- amounts almost to a plausible philos- Willard. meantime-Oremus!
ated nto a pathetic, somewhat gro- ophy. One feels the groping futility
tesque talent. Its descett has of all the characters, but is not led
brought its possessor from a position to
of artistic pre-eminence to a kind of bes ctain olutI n fs s
exotic mediocrity via The Dial, Green- problems. Their confusion Is sustain
wich Village, et al. If such is .the in- , nupvetg
fluence of ultra-modern New York, I But now to the opposite pole!
suggest a return to the salubrius rig- Many Marriages is What a Woman of A ll ei i
ors of primitive Chicago-or still Fifty Should Know made more palat-'
better-to Paleozoic Ohio. able for the neo-intelligentsia by a
On reading some of Anderson's lat- seasoning of Tridonesque complexes F L. TrLDEN
est drivel, his own words, "I am a and inane eroticism. It is the bre-
confused child in a confused world" viary of Andersonian non-philosophy. Like the estimable and pleasing Mr. progress of the classic type of Ford.
become surcharged with meaning. .As The saving element of Winesburg, Joe Cook, I can give numerous rea- "The Negro Juba Dancer," whose
an apostle of orderly confusion5he Ohio was its plausibility. Characters sons why I should not-write this re- name was not mentioned, was a life-
,was a genius. As an apostle of chaot- could be chosen and identified with view. Up to last Wednesday after- like interpretation of the old lulabye,
ic confusion he stoops to the level of persons familiar to us. But who be- noon I had never seen a puppet play, "Pray for the Lights to Go. Out." It
a maudlin bourgeoise-shocker. An sides an attendant in a mad-house unless you count a Punch and Judy was good. She warmed to her work
example of the paradoxical orderly would recognize a familiar type in ( show seen at an Episcopal church fair and go down on one knee,- throwing
confusion: Winesburg, Ohio. Many John Webster, the washing-machine j in 1906. Tony Sarg seems to have her head back and shimmying with
Marriages is chaotic confusion. manufacturer with his naked peregrin- struggled along without contributions her might and main-if you know
Winesburg, Ohio is an introspect- ations and his crazy penchant for from my coffers, the famous Marion- what I mean.
ive Main Street. Anderson in the walking with one foot on the curb ette Theater of Rome I know nothing,
character of a kind of "diable boi- and the other in the gutter? The of , A clever thing was Galls, the Prima
teux" has peered into the apparently fect is ludicrous. If I had not been about, aside from the fact that it Donna." The accompanist was almost
y y exists, and t will not lookrthrough the perfect, Hehdteaiuetbte
barren minds of a typical group of :-so impressed by the sincerity of An- M's and P's of the Encyclopedia to was hre the whoe sho, that he
was really the whole show, and was
find out who invented, puppets or why, just accompanying because he liked
I'd probably get stalled in the A's or the work or was really too kind heart-
K's or else wouldn't rbe able to find ed to refuse. "Galli? Oh, she's not
E N them anyway. bad - I don't know what she'll do
Somehow, I couldn't tingle with an- when I lave. I had an offer to ac-
ticipation or be all agog over the company at twice what she's giving
University of Michigan, is to me a sort of feeling of pleasure ospect of seeing the things. Not me. She depends on me entirely.
U t of M i f n o one good tingle could I raise, try as Just last night she said to me," etc.,
Dec. 12, 1844. not unmixed with regret in the pro- I might. So I joined the crowd of etc. When Galli leaned over to pick
Dearest Mother: pect of quitting this place and going mothers and excited little good-night up the bouquet it must have tal'en
Having no . opportunity of writing out into the world to struggle and toil I story fans feeling somewhat miscast. some expert manipulation of the
home without expense I improve the for myself. What bright plans for the I felt so self-conscious that I couldn't I strings. Sometimes I have hard enough
somewhat high priced one of our Post future does the youth form, sanguine even whistle or shuffle my feet for the' time to lean over, particularly a day
Master General. I wanted to let you of success! What golden prospects curtain to go up. But that didn't after I've been exercising.
know when our term would end and does he behold in coming years! make any difference because the cur- A
when I wanted Thomas to come up What cold disappointment is too oft- fain went up soon just the same A isheas eated called 'tce
after me. In the meantime however, en his only portion. Reality, stern - Ir ishan. the ohs I aw
I presume a little general informa- Reality usually destroys all his airy Those are funny things-Puppets. I tion in it than in the others I saw
tion concerning my affairs would not castles and leaves him to mourn over know so many people like them. Right which was welcome, though the oth-
be unacceptable. ruined hopes. Yet, mother, notwith- here is a good chance to get off some ers were pleasing. A great deal of
standing all this I hope for future stuff about Naturalism and strings be- it centered about a black pudding
wel indeed. I hik I yd success. (What would man do with- ing pulled by gods and all that, but it's which, Heaven knows, was cause
better health in nmy life. It is I s out hope.) And I am busy forming too late and besides, you probably enough for action. I am not quite
pose att"ibutable to ny taking more the most promising plans that can all about it anyway. certain what a black pudding may be,
exercise than t used to and eating {possibly devised, always of course ex- I wish I knew the nane of the but if it is anything like the rest of
abundance of buckwheat cakes every pecting their fulfillment "if Provi- clown used In the prolog and I wish he the genus pudding, it was stark real-
morning for breakfast. Besides I dence permit." Professor Williams had walked more. He had a fascinat- ism. It is usually had enough to have
keep up my old habit of bathing every has just written to the South for Fish { ing walk. Almost exactly like an an- a pudding on your plate at dessert
day. I have been obliged to study and myself to see if we can do well cient collud geninun we used to have time, but in this instance, the pud-
pretty hard since I returned. We there at teaching, and also to the Re- run a lawnmower. When he was ding was wished on the nose of one
have to write a great deal, principally gents of the University to give us the called he wished to give the appear- of the characters. It gave me quite
essays upon subjects derived from our charge of one of the Branches if we I ance of great haste and liveliness., an uncomfortable feeling. I always
studies. Since I came back I have remain at the North after we get That was done by a spasmodic shak- say that there is unpleasantness enough
written an essays upon the last chap- through. (Please inform no one of ing-it was before the recognition of in real life without having to see it
ter of the book I was studying when this as we wish to keep it secret.) 'the shimmy-a loose-kneed vibration on the stage!
at home. I shall be busy studying and This we will probable be provided for of the legs terminating in a slither- Unfortunately I was not able to sea
writing till examination which will (Continued on Page Two) ing of the feet. It was much like the the plum of the production-the pro-
take place sometime next week. Ilog to "Androcles and the Lion." Ac-
I can hardly realize that nsy last cording to what went before, it must
year in College is one third gone. Oh Staff Meeting .on Monday, November 5 at 4 p. m. In the Press Building, have been a delightful bit of puppet-
how time flies. In a few more months ( eering. It was only because a friend
all those precious opportunities here The Sanday Magazine is desirous of ha:ving try-ounl for staff po- if mine was having a birthday party
enjoyed for laying up knowledge will sitions. Any one from a second senester4 freshman.to a senior in the that I left. And he was not only hay-
have departed. College life will be final throes of his undergraduate career Is welcome, provIded he is ing the party, but he was giving it.
over, and I shall be, compelled to bid eligible. Recommendations will be made solely on the basis of com. And birthdays are birthdays, coming
adieu to these cherished scenes, to petency and work. If you are interested in writing or in newspaper only once a year as they do.
loved friends, kind professors and all work in general, and wish to try out, the first meeting will be Monday, I am glad that I saw the puppets,
those associations that tend to make November 5 at four p: m. in the Press Building. and I am glad that I wouldn't be hia-
the college course one of the happi- ble for perjury when I say that I hon-
est seasons of a person's life. There estly enjoyed them.