THE MICHIGAN DAILY IN THE WORLD OF BOOKS Native Chinese Interprets His Ancient Land For Occidentals MY COUNTRY AND MY PEOPLE, by Lin Yutang. Reynal and Hitch- cock. $3.00. By Prof. Charles E. Remer (Of'The Economics Dept) Let me begin in a matter-of-fact way. I wish to introduce to you Mr. Lin Yutang, a Chinese, who has writ- ten a book about China. I wish, also, to expand this brief statement until I make you believe that the publica- tion of this book is an important event, until you are convinced that you cannot begin to understand to- day's events in the Far East until you have read it, until you are brought to such a degree of excite- ment about this book that you will actually consider buying it. Lin Yutang I knew first as a college student in China who was not to be distinguished from his fellow students except by a livelier energy, a quicker wit and an ability to make more effec- tive use of the English language. Since his college days in China he has traveled and studied (he has degrees from Harvard and Leipzig), thereby acquiring the shrewd view of the West which he displays in this book. He is now a well-known writer, edits two Chinese magazines and provides the always interesting, frequently auda- cious "Little Critic" section of "The China Critic," a weekly published in Shanghai, in English, bysChinese. Essays, text books for English study and articles on research are turned out by him in a considerable quanti- ty. Oh, yes, he finds time to be the scholar, too, as his book so charming- ly shows - and is research fellow of the Academica Sinica. When a Chinese scholar of sensitiveness, of courage, of keen wit and engaging humor tells you what he actually thinks and tells it to you in your own language, which he writes better than you, he is worth listening to. The author's thoughts concern themselves with the present state of China, with the explanation of that state, and with his country's future. One sees in the pages of this book China and the Chinese, one sees also the spirit of Mr. Lin Yutang strug- gling to understand. The result is reported in a highly objective man- ner, startlingly so when one bears in mind the unwillingness of most of us to be objective under such circum- stances and the strong impulse which a Chinese who knows both East and West must feel to plead his country's cause in a book addressed to readers of the English language. This ob- jectivity is, however, that of the ar- tist and not that of the scientist, and so it is combined, or rather blended, with an account of the author's emo- tions on viewing the Chinese scene. \r. Lin shows, in revealing the work- ings of his mind and spirit, many of the qualities which he sets forth as characteristically Chinese, but some- thing has driven him to be what he himself would call un-Chinese in his candid appraisal of that scene. This book shows that an intelligent and sensitive Chinese living in a per- iod of disillusionment is not ashamed of his country as are, in his opinion, many of the "great patriots" of the land. What is more, the author shows quite convincingly that he need not be ashamed of China, in spite of shameful events and conditions. "China," he says, "is greater than the lame propaganda and petulance of all her returned students, greater than the hypocrisy, shame, and greed of all her petty officials and turncoat gen- erals and fence-riding revolutionists, greater than her wars and pestilence, greater than her dirt and poverty and famines. For she has survived them all. Amidst wars and pestilence, sur- rounded by her poor children and grandchildren, merry old China quiet- ly sips her tea and smiles on, and in her smile I see her real strength. She quietly sips her tea and smiles on, and in her smile I detect at times a mere laziness to change and at others aiconservatism that savors of haught- iness." And upon what, one may ask, does such a conviction of greatness de- pend when the scene is filled with evidence of failure? To answer this question adequately one should give a detailed outline of the book. How- ever, three sections of the book in themselves present convincing evi- dence of the greatness of China. The section on Chinese calligraphy, paint- ing and architecture will carry con- viction of China's greatness to those who do not know China as certainly as they will please and reassure those who do know the country. The sec- tion on family and social life, while it points out very clearly the faults of the family system, convinces the reader of the stability and endurance of the nation. Incidentally, the dis- cussion of the place of woman in Chinese society and the rapidity with which that position is changing is an exceedingly interesting chapter. But the author is most convincing of his country's greatness in his dis- is a quality about Chinese life which every thoughtful Westerner who comes to know China looks upon with at least some degree of envy. Lin Yutang is humorous, at times even perverse, in his attempts to portray this quality. He has a good time tell- ing us how much he dislikes exercise. He smiles over his statement that the Chinese educated abroad really grows up when he quits his western clothes with their "dog collar" and goes back to the Chinese long gown. He pokes fun at the Westerner for "exploring the South Pole and scaling the Him- alayas" and generally wanting to be where he is not. But all this has been done before, if nowhere with better humor. When it comes .o pointing out, not what is wrong with the West, but what is right with China, the author is on more difficult ground. He uses the word "contentment" again and again in his efforts to explain. Let me offer a single quotation, "We al- ways go back to nature as an eternal source of beauty and of true and deep and lasting happiness . . . We throw open our windows and listen to ci- cadas, or to falling autumn leaves and inhale the fragrance of chrysanthe- mums, and over the top there shines the autumn moon and we are con- tent." He adds to such statements comments on the art of taking an afternoon nap and on the delights of Chinese cookery. "Any nation that does not know how to eat and enjoy living is uncouth and uncivilized in our eyes." This task of stating what it is in Chinese life that arouses the envy of the West is beyond precise and certain statement. Though there re- mains something still to be said the author's excellent statement is to be applauded. This quality of the Chin- ese spirit is so important that any honest effort to describe and ac- count for it is worthy of attention. When one adds to this effort knowl- edge of the background, great objec- tivity and a charming literary style, as does Lin Yutang, one has made a valuable contribution to the literature of the English speaking people. All that has been said so far gives no adequate idea of the inclusiveness and variety of Mr. Lin's volume. Here the reader will find a little encyclo- pedia with a good index, of things Chinese presented with lightness and gracefulness. It is taken for granted that this book is not for the special- ist seeking detailed material concern- ing his speciality, though the special- ist would, for the most part, not dis- agree with anything in the book. This book is, then, the best single volume on the Chinese people and their ways to be recommended to the reader who wants things of importance said in pleasant ways. In his closing chapters Mr. Lin con- siders the problem of his country's immediate future. Here he faces the fact of possible failure with no hope of an easy solution, if, indeed, he al- lows himself much hope of any solu- tion at all. He writes of beheading and quotes with approval, Han Fei, the philosopher of the third century - Pictures The Rge Of Beethoven ... THE LIFE AND TIMES OFa-d Beethoven. his dream. his chimE BEETHOVEN. By Edouard_- I* * The three styles? There was Herriot. MacMillan. $3.50. one, slowly, definitely developing. By WILLIAM C. BOYD draws another complete pictur A most welcome addition to the the man andbartist in this literature already extant on Beetho- "Aware of, but indifferent to ven or his music is Edouard Herriot's crowd, and its ways, spontan Life and Times of Beethoven. Al- freed of all academic influences though many will say that there exist belling against classic rules and today numerous biographies on Beet- portions when they encountered hoven, this particular book justifies j or obstructed his imagination, at its publication in that it makes a new ing in his works to those cont attempt, and a good one too, to paint that are the law of life itself, not only a picture of the man and Master of joy and sorrow, of inti artist but also to show the period in and heroism stood erect on iso which he lives, the influences of that heights and composed not for period on the artist and how those epoch or for one group. but for influences came into his works. men and for all times." Mr. Herriot, famous French states- 4While some ot the material man, author and amateur musician sented is common knowledge t has given us a keen insight into the music lovers and in some ways it man Beethoven by an approach that pensable to a complete portrait o many biographers and musicologists pnal oacmlt otato are apb ogroverook. This s us egsto artist, Mr. Herriot has tried to a ahe a threrlook.Thiis uerothe rut which most self-styledt the fact that they are so engrossed r ' raphers fall into. It is interestir in the chronological cataloging of art- another way, in that it presen ist's life by years and telling little pcture., n afathfu one, prs anecdotes abbu,t the man, which ,1 picture, and a faithful one, b anedots aoi~ th ma, hic ________________Frenchman concerning a Ger: makes very interesting reading and~cmser nBy ni not mGa helps to give a more complete pic- EDOUARD HERRIOT composer. By this I do not me ture, yet they only touch upon some of the external influences that have political and aesthetic picture of the a great importance on the artist. Mr. times that produced Beethoven. Herriot realizing that there are better While we may not agree with some "biographies" written about Beetho- of the conclusions Mr. Herriot has ven makes no pretense that his book reached concerning Beethoven, we is a biography. In the very first cannot help but admire the sincerity, chapter he says, "if we wish to know force and conviction of his argument. him (Beethoven)gin his time and hethr ow tihe the h s orgpens C HR milieu, we can begin by keeping sev- theory fhe threeadesres t peods eral dates in mind." Then he pro- in Beethoven's life, Herriot sets out ceeds to catalogue twelve important to place the theoy in discard. He WOOLLCOTT - dates in his life. From here on it states "Is it really necessary to break MAUROIS -Pr( ceases to be strict biography, and up Beethoven's life into periods or COREY - The ( there are no more dates, as such, styles? It would seem wrong, inas- in the book. Do not interpret the much as it might lead to a disregard EDGAR GUEST above statements to the effect that of the profound unity of his works. ROCKWELL KE Mr. Herriot has neglected the general All of his products are intimately DURANTY - I course of events in Beethoven's life related. The beginning of Flore- but has made them subsidiary to the stan's aria in Fidelio becomes the CONRAD, JESS creation of an authoritative social, first theme of the Thwnh1