_ _ _, __'_THE SUMMER MICHIGAN DAILY-PAGI C R TTI UE CRITIQUE BY G.D.E. "Slabs of the Sunburnt West," (Har court Brace & Co.), by Carl Sandbur was at once a joy and a disappoint ment to me. Still, it was not as dis appointing as it might have been, fo I saw the proof sheets two or thre months ago while riding with Sand burg to Detroit. At that time I note that many of the-shorter poems wer much below his general level, tha they were cryptic, mystic, nonsensical I wondered what he was driving at and I am wondering yet. I had just previously heard him sa on the platform that to condemn a poem because one could not under stand it was the poorest sort of crit icism, or words to that effect, and s I withheld my opinion awaiting inves tigation. I quite agreed with him u to a certain extent, for the average man is a complete ass and utterly in capable of understanding anythin more cultural than the jingles o Walt Mason. But 1 have asked the lit- erati and intelligentsia of the coun- try, from east to west what certai poems of Sandburg's mean. They dc not know and in most cases frankly confess as much. In other cases some have attempted interpretations, some- times rather elaborate, and it amused me vastly to see how widely and even oppositely they held views. But most of them classified such enigma of verse as second, third, and fourth, rate poetry. For whom, may I ask, is Sandburg writing such stuff? As Browning once caid, perhaps God and he can understand it, (indeed, I believe this was one of Sandburg's ideas of a defense) but who else? It certainly gives most intelligent readers no joy, and if Sandburg wishes his readers to indulge in cabalistic stuff he ought at least to provide some key. "Heiro- glyphics of Chicago-And Rosetta Stone." Alas, my idea falls flat, and I come around again to the conclusion that Sandburg should stick to the rug- ged, vivid, struggling pictures which made him a first rate poet, the best American poet, in fact, since Walt Whitman. If you want to see examples of pur- est tosh, take up "Slabs of the Sun- brunt West" and read "Two Humpt- ies," or "Gold Mud." If, on the oth- er hand, you want something exceed- ingly fine, something vastly above tri- vial attempts at mysticism, something with the flame and fire and life of Sandburg at his best, read, in the same volume, "The Windy City" or "Washington Monument by Night," or "And So Today, or "Upstream," or xthe title poem, "Slabs of the Sun- burnt West." Most of this latter group are quite lengthy, and it is in the lengthy poems 'that Sandburg is almost always at his best. This fact leads me to believe that even behind his little obscurations there is al- ways a clear gem of an idea, uncrys- tallized to be sure, but there none the less. I daresay that most of his ab- strusities, given twice the space, would be absolutely understandable by any inteligent person. I think I can safely say that his long poems are invariably good. I admit freely and gladly that the majority of the poems in the volume are full of merit and I shall probably, when I have read them often enough, like them as well as I do his "Chica- go Poems," or "Smoke and Steel," or "Cornhuskers4" That -I to say, I shall think them without equal in contemporary American poetry. "Slabs of the Sunburnt West," is I feel cer- tain, superb. I shall quote a bit from it for the benefit of the half dozen civilized persons on the campus, and leave it to their judgment-that is, if the linotypist doesn't wreck the busi- ness while I am immersed in my whisky-and-muscadine. "Into the blanket of night goes the overland train, Intothe black of the night the proces4 sions march, ' Pay your Daily subscription at the Press Building, Maynard Street.-Adv. The ghost of a pony goes by, A hat tied" to the saddle, Thehwagon tongue of a prairie schooner And the handle of a Forty-niner's pickax Do a, shiver dance in the desert dust, In the coyote gray of the alkali dust. And-six men with cigars in the buf- fet car mention 'civilization,' 'history,' 'God'." UNPAID SUBSCRIPTIONS I All unpaid subscriptions must be paid before July 15 or the $2 rate will be charged. Mail checks for $1.50 or call in person at the Press building between the hours of 8 A. M. and 5P.M. 303 SO. DIVISION Home Board White Swan Laundry for quality and service. Phone 165.-Adv. Don't forget to pay your Daily sub- scription.-Adv. $6.00 for THREE MEALS Have your seven o'clocks and $5.54 for TWO MR~ATA~ Breakfast 7:30 to 8:30 Lunc II V F, r / AT TiI E THEATERS Let's Go Canoeing Today-Screen Majestic-Elaine: in "Evidence"; news. Hammerstein comedy and I come to Breakfast afterwards. h 12 to 1 Dinner 5:30 to 6:30 .., ..r Mrs F. Dailey i *g RAIN WATER SHAMPOOS a . Marcelling Manicuring Water Waving WHAT TO DO Mrs. T. L. Stoddard o --and- Tel. 2652 707 N. University ® WHERE TO GO N An hour a day of Pocket, ARMats.Tues., Carom, or Three-Cushion ThRRCKt Billiards is fine for mind Nights, 25-50-75c-$1 W and body of every Michi- 13th Annual Season Eighth Week *gan an The BONSTELLE Co. 5aman. In Augustus Thomas' great American pla~y ."TH COPPIHEAD" 4 Next week "SHAVINGS" I CHUBB HOUSE _ Will be open during Summer £ - Session - Tastes like home a BXLLIAuDS cIGAUS CA"IES -Try us - Chubb House is PIPES LUNCIE A a student boarding house. ®t oe u 209 SOUTH STATE STREET UUU UUE h EW8a Arcade-Viola Dana in "Seeing's Believing"; comedy and news. Wuerth-Will Rogers in "A Poor Relation"; comedy. But--first phone 1593-J for your lunch 1 Orpheum- Miss Dupont in Wonderful Wife"; comedy. "A This Week-Stage '.. Garrick (Detroit)-"The Copper- head." 709 North University I ' t r . k -- X11N ai L W For The Summer Months a Tent to give you a real vacation trip or- Awnings to preserve your draperies from fading in the direct rays of the sun. -- Enjoy a good swim in the pure filtered water at swimming pool the "Y" >_ The Tent above illustrated is a Fox Standard Auto-Tent r completely waterprcof, easily put up and easy to carry. Price $32.00 complete with iron poles and stakes. We carry Tents, Awnings, and other canvas camp utensils in stock or make them to your specifications Open Evenings FOX TEXTILE PRODUCTS COMPANY 603 MICHIGAN AVENUE YPSILANTI; MICHIGAN PHONE 91 SPECIAL SUMMER RiATES-3 Months Business Men Seniors . . . $4.00 Intermediates . . 3.00 ,"Juniors-. . $2.00 1.50 Baths and pool open 9:00 A. M. to 9:30 P. M. Non-members-Bath and Swim for 35c. WOMEN'S SWIMMING CLASSES Tuesday and Friday, 8:00 to 9:00 P. M. 3 Months' membership, $2.50 CITY--Y.M. C. A. U s wai I I :'tllt111 11l 111 !!Illllllli11111111111111 ,: BOARD B 0 A R D For a limited number of STUDENTS Good Home Cooking At Moderate Prices MRS. PHILLIPS 523 Forest Ave.- BRING YOUR IDEAS TO THE ANN ARBOR CUSTOM SHOE FACTORY We will make use of them and the best leather to make your shoes. Bring your repairs to our factory at 534 FOREST DETROIT UNITED LINES TIE TABLE Ann Arbor and Jackson (Eastern Standard Time) Detroit Limited and Express Cars-6:oo a. m., 7:oo a. m., 8:oo a. rre, 9:00 a. m. and hourly to g:o P. Ini. Jackson Express Cars (local stops of Ann Arbor)-- :47 a. m. and every two hours to 9*47 P p. n Local Cars, East Bound-5:55 a."ii, 7 :oo a. m. and every two hours to g:oe p. m.; Ii:oo P. m., T Ypsilanti only-11:4o p. m.,1 12:2 5 a. in., r :1s a. mn. To Saline, change at Ypsilanti. Local Cars, West Bound-7:5o a. m., 2:40 P. in. To Jackson and Kalamazoo-Limited cars: 8 :47, 047, a.nda..; i2:47, 2:474:47P i.m4 To Jackson and Lansing-1timited : 8:47 P. in. Fourth Avenue Phone 258 I ------------------ --------------------------- SHOWS AT .2:00 - 3:30 7:00 - 8:45 A Complete Show After 9:30 MATINEE EVENING f KIDDIES 20c 30c lac TODAY --FRIDAY - SATURDAY ~QLDWY pi19er THE COOLEST THEATRE IN ANN ARBOR Last Timres Tonight You'll say "Ooh, " too, whenyou,.shan see what Diana saw-which means seeing 'vio DANA SEEJNGS~BELLvNG ADDED AL. ST. JOHN in "FOOL DAYS" Tomorrow and Saturday A Ghost Doesn't Shave-- Roy St. George did, and when his mother made him play Little Eva and her ghost, his resentment was as deep as his voice. He kicked-and so begins the story enacted by GARETH MD 10UCxTIN ' J 8 U L ASS IF I ED . COLUMN CLOSES AT 3 P. M. WANTED-Student with bicycle to deliver the Summer Daily. Apply, today at the Daily office, Press Building.' 12 LOST-Four keys in black case, near Physics Building. Call 2119-J or University 47. 11-1 FOR SALE-Old Town Canoe in good condition, $40. Call 1832-J. 12-2 Pay your Daily subscription today. -Adv. MI "THI R I I / 1 fjw f/, 1aV 11 1i Y l~ t11 1 r ; I II LAST TIME TODAY mi k1 A a ss Du PONT The noted beauty in "Foolish Wives" in- E WONDERFUL WIFE" Defoe's Immortal obinson Crusoe"2 CHAPTER 10 wh 'POOR LAIO dimecceddrby KIDDER CLARENCE BADGER RE 16DWAR 6L c