1951-07-14 — Page 12

THE PENITENT

Stephen Spender

WORLD. WITHIN WORLD.

By

Stephen Spender. Hamish Hamilton. 158.

349 pages. NE by

one,

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1951.

SPENDER gets ashes in

his hair again

GEORGE

MALCOLM THOMSON

Lord, be our defender

Against Stephen Spender, And give a peace

On him inunded Nonconformist,

From Louis MacNiece. Young Spender hud been beating brought up in a Liberal home, where father admired Lloyd tering ashes on their hair, George and Uncle Alfred de the hoys of the pink tested him. As for Aunt May, Liberal Junketings she brigade come to the peni at

push herself forward. tenta' bench. This is Spen wo

"Let me micct MT George, der's second trip.

and

trumpet indig antly, as if exposing a plat, Good afternoon. Mr George, Good-bye."

First was his essay In The God That Foiled" when he told how he found the flaw in Karl Marx. Now, taking water sweep, he presents what is almost the type autobiogra- phy of the thirties, era of the Spanish the Popular Front,

illusions. Wow, generous

the days when Stain was a dem crat.

were

the

"We

Divided Generation of Hamlets," says Spender in his grant way, "oho found the world unt of joins and failed to set it right." im morulag One February 1937. reader of the Daily Worker saw a triumphant head line flare across their favourite Stephen Spender newspaper. had joined the party!

Some of the comrades were perplexed. Nor did the new 01 convert seem any too sure himself. He harboured hereti- cal doubts about the Justice of the Moscow trials. But Harry Politi, smiling genially, press- ed the party card into his hand and announced that there was a place for Spender in the In- ternational Brigade, then fight- in the ing the Class Enemy sierras of Spain.

Spender Was taken uback. "I could not see what quaii- cations I had us a soldier."

His qualifications were other- wise. He was a poet capable of writing The Express-

After the powerful plain

manifesto

The black statement of piston

without more fuss But gliding like a queen, she

tvaves the station, Poetry of distinction, even if everybody did not like it. The ery went up from Cambridge:

.

would

then

to

sald to Spender, "You

must wet me out of here." Spender Jid.

But he could not bring him- self to think altogether badly of Jimmy. One day in Moroc co he burst inid tears at tho sight of a donkey. "I discern ed something in the donkey's

which appearance me of Jimmy."

Spender's Spain was

reminded

tú

own

visit trade in rather

superior company-a Congress

of Intellectuals. When Franco began to shell Madrid, Andre Chamson, French novelist, said he must leave ut once. Were

PEOPLE The curious case

of WA★★★★ and HOL★★★

by JON HOPE

A British Crossword Puzzle

4 5

Where DID Sherlock 12

Holmes live? Where, exactly. in Baker Street WAS No. 221b?

Most readers accept the loca- 1lon of the Holmes H.Q. being at the Regent's Park end

Street. But not of Baker

FO London solicitor G. Cunning- ham Brend, whose hobby for 20 years has been reconstructing the life of Holmes, and who has now frished # blography, "My Dear Holmes,"

ef Brend puts 221b on site

from the present 01-not for the Portman Square end of the stre

17

22 23

19.. (20

26

21

HEL 29

28

30

32

by

ACROSS

1 Клой (4).

4 Tramp (7).

Today No, 61 is occupied ad equipment firm called he killed, France would have Walkers and Holtzapfel. Brend to declare war on Frutico, points to interesting coincidence

would lead to

three First two and action which

* Raines are world war. He could not take this.

WA (tson) atri HOL (mes). responsibility for such a catas-lettres of occupiers trophe.

sent MS

Eager (4)

Unlond (4).

Books (7).

11 Couple (4).

12 Fish (4).

14

Btruck at 7).

17 Lifeless (5).

10 Gold (3)

* Excite 171.

20 Gem (4).

Jovial (9)

DOWN

2 German (5),

3 Smart 10).

4 Striking (5),

7

Worshipped (0). Itinerary 1).

Relative (6).

12 Quarrel (4),

13 Equal(0).

15 Excursion (4).

1

I

Uninteresting (4).

Jusecure - 10).

20 Sincere (6).

21 ffard work (d).

73 Call forth 18).

Climb 15).

23 Weary (8).

From these surroundings the. After Spain, beastly as only! Last year, John Keir Crost divided

novel, a divil war erin be. Spender's generation moved

of histerical Oxford-and then to Germany, Murxist enthusion was never "Glory" across the Atlantic.

Not for him where the complexities of life quite the same.

200,000-worder, his "Gbby!" relaxed the single-minded zeal of were (so he heard)

best-seller lists. Was "My al," he wrote solemnly Oxford friend Tristan who in-hit the

Fic- in his diary, " to achieve sisted, out of solidarity with packed by the American

y the tollers, on being

Club, cold 250,000 calfedtion Book soul. After maturity of

and was hailed copics. work, at I live for is my "B."

CROSSWORD Aérose: 1 Asleep. 5 Armed, a Grads Erases, 18 After Spain

psycho-"Anciher Amber." friends."

Virago, to vary, 11 Scope, 1 Necd, Orniz. American Autter signed the

Serene, 20 Scene, 22 Zulu, 23 Scowi, 23 ters, 20 Eing, 27 Gears, analysis another disappoint-

Susa

Morley." ment-the war; the National manuscript,

Stret, 10 Bages, Dawn: 1 Advances, 2 Largesse, 3 ERA. 4 Procure, 14 Assuming. 15 Expunges, 16 Erected, 3 Adipose, o flevere. 7 Kgret, Fire Service; happy

Why? He thought they'd lies it

17 Answer, 29 Ensign; 21 Crest, 2; Last. riage.

better that way.

Already,

had been there friends. Marston, for instance, who when Spender explained his affection, replied, "Do you know, old man, this is the first

ine you've ever talked me that I haven't been pletely bored."

with Som-

was only

After that there one thing to do. "I insisted," says Spender, "that we should not meet again.”

Then there was Polly, toust of the selence undergraduates, one of whom lost 10lb, in a sheer love of week through her. Polly Then turned to the poets; no record exists of her effect on their weight.

dis- bor-

And in Germany, there was Walter, unemployed and appointingly inclined to row money. After whom came Jiminy, unemployed but Weish, to whom Spender gave a job as houseman.

11

The difference of class and ond Interest between Jimmy

provided sonic me veriainly element of mystery which cor-

almost lo responded difference of sex." Jimmy be

felt came a Communist and qualified to join the

Interna. tional Brigade. It proved be an error of judgment. After a battle with the Moors, Jin- my decided he was a Pacifist;

como

Inur-

HAVE YOU EVER DREAMED THAT...

YOU WERE

CATCHING FISH IN A POOL BUT EACH TIME YOU CAUGHT ONE IT TURNED INTO A

·BOOT-

- THIS

It

DREAM MEANS : This is no easy droom to interpret. obviously has many meanings which only a further knowledge and analysis of the dreamer's life could illuminate.

There seems, however, to be some conflict. between the masculino and feminina principles in your life; botwcon perhaps your intellect and your emotions; between your work and your emotional life.

The fish symbolizes the male principle; the boot the feminine principle; the water sym-

VIGNETTES OF LIFE

AND THEY HAVE A THOUSAND ACRES, TEN OF THEM THE MOST GORGEOUS

GARDENS-AND

THREE POOLS,

THE RAREST A

Kinds of

FLOWERS,

WONDERFIL

27 Symbol (4).

19 Black (4).

30

Emalments (4).

31 Decided (7),

32 Starp 14).

YESTERDAY'S

AND THAT YOU WERE SWIMMING DEEP UNDER WATER IN AN AIMLESS

WAY ?

boliser hero the profundities and depths of The fish is what you arɑ aiming at, your mind. the boot is what you get, The feminino prin- ciple seems to be winning, for whenever you scom to have caught a fish, it tyrns to a boot.

But the conflict is not yet decided; you-are still swimming in the depths in an aimless way? you have not made up your mind.

It may be that you are denying your femininity too much; and are sacrificing too much of it to the demands of convention and

possibly of your career, The mottor may be

worth a little reflection.

The Week End Season

Che SNAPSHOT GUILD

W

Daylight into exposures can give you excellent interior ahots. JUST LIKE YOU SEE IN THE MAGAZINES

that As in all time "exposures, IJOUSECLEANING,

perennial flurry of domestic you'll want to place the camera on a tripod or other solid sup- activity, is over. The house is quiet once more and everything port. Select a spot for it that so that more Is temporarily in apple-ple order, is high enough The changes may have been floor than celileg shows in the view Ander and thus avoid a innor or may have been a complete redecorating job, hut top-heavy appearance,

omething is bound to be new and different, even if it's just the furniture arrangement,

The length of your time ex- posture will, of course, depend on the amount of light in the room. If you are using extru- film with an panchromalle Daylight time exposures can fast give you excellent interior shuts 1/18 lens opening, on a bright

the

I say "can" because whether they day,

terms Hme-in

the

do or do not depends on you and, number of windows in how you handle the factors In-room-will be in 8 seconds for volved.

First of all, think about com- position, since that is the reason you're making the picture.

can

one window; 4 seconds for two windows; and 2 seconds for three or more windows.

If there are areas of your

Leave the furniture in its normal room which will appear in the position as much as you possibly picture and which the daylight Illuminate them ith cannot reach, with without interfering

Make with en ordinary 100-watt bulb your shooting ploys. more than one pleture. Choose or a floodlamp. several pointy from which to

It

you aren't certain about view the room. Don't try to

your exposure, and it is under- get everything into one shot.

standable that you may not be because of all the variable con In selecting the shooting point, ditions Involved-be on the mie try to leave sufficient space beside and try two on three chats. ween the camera and the Try it the way you think it nearest object so that only the should be; four times that long; floor can be seen in the im- and finally, shoot it at one- mediate foreground. Otherwise, quarter the time you •think it the nearby chair

will seem should take. much larger than its twin on the other side of the room.

-John van Guilder

KEMP STARRETT

BU

-AND. "THAT...

BRAT!

AND WHAT ACOOK!

OOF.

17

UG#/

*NO T.V.... DON'T PLAY

CARDS -WO

SUNDAY

PAPERS

CA, HEAVENS!

WHAT A

WEEK END

THE ONES WHO REGALE YOU FOR A WHOLE WEEK-END WITH TALES OF THE MAGNIFICENT

ESTATES THEIR FRIENDS OWN ........ UNTIL YOU FEEL AS IF YOU LIVED IN TOBACCO ROAD.

CH-THIYLL HEAR

"DON'T

BE A TOOL! You-

THE ONES YOU MET SOMEWHERE

OR OTHER LAST WINTER AND IN

OF COURSE THERE'LL BE SQUE UNGRATEFUL WRETCHES WHO VILL WISH THEY'D STAYED HOME.

COPA 195ĖBY GENERAL FEATURES CORP, TM-WORLD RIGHTS RESERVED.

'TRY AND THINK UP. SOME GOOD EXCUSE FOR LEAVING...an

THE DRINKS

·HAVE GIVEN

THERE'LL BE OTHERS WHO WILL WASH-TO- ESCAPE TO MORE

AUDIST SPOTS... LÁS SOON AS YOUR PLACE RUNS DRY.

*THAT NICE, INTERESTING COUPLE YOU

MET ON A TRIP SPEND A RAINY WEEK- END FOR THE FIRST -AND-LAST TIME.

WHY DONT TILY GO HOME, FOR GOTISAKES? WE ONLY ASKED THEM FOR TUO

DAYS!"

& WEAK MOMENT, INVITED TO DROP

•IN SOMETIME "WHEN YOU'RE UP OUR.

WAY JUST AS IMPULSWELY. DECIDE TO DROP IN ON YOU.... -LIKE A TON OF BRICK.

USLAN" HE SAWING JUCH LIKE THISH

ZOWIE

A FEW WEEKS! MORE OF FUN

LIKE THIS AND WE CAN START A.. JUNKYARD*

SOME CANT KEEP TRACK OF THE. TIME IN THE COUNTRY MILITY THE FRESH AIR OR COMETHING THE

ISIT QUEST—WE HOPE.

AND, WHAT SOME GHESTS DO TO

HOUÉE CROBLBAITY HAPPEN