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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 9, 1925)
;/ Library Browsings 0 Edited by Glen F. Burch Ten Late Boohs THE REVOLT OF THE OYSTER, Bv Don Marquis. THE MOTHER ’S RECOMPENSE. By E.litli Wharton. THE GEORGE AND THE CROWN, By Sheila Kave Smith. TABLE TALK, By Archibald Henderson. ■ THE TREASURE, By Selma Lngerlof. THE NEWER SPIRIT, By V. K. Calverton. POETS OF AMERICA, By Clement Wood. THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS, By Jerome Tharaud. PROFESSOR, By Stanley Johnson. EASTWARD, By Louis Conperus. CREATIVE SPIRIT A PAN ACEA POR HUMAN ILLS “The one great, magic, of human life consists in man’s ability* to conceive an ideal above where he stands, to express his ideal in some thing material, and then, by living with this material expression, to be lifted up toward the ideal itself.” This sentence is. in a sense, the keynote of "Walter Rollo Brown’s latest book, “The Creative Spirit.” Brown assumes as a major premise that the so-called creative spirit is potential in everyone, and that the realization of tide potential spirit is the chief end in the individual life. With this beginning, Brown launches out in an attack on the existing social order, and fires the opening gun in a crusade, for the release of the creative spirit. The writer is not, however, purely an idealistic enthusiast. He is a keen observer as well, and his woTk as a critic justifies the sub-title: “An Inquiry into American Life.” In sofar as -he confines himselt to an analysis of existing conditions, his book is a sound and admirable piece of work. His comment upon the present attitude of the church, the industrial situation, and the modern problems of education, are and science, are decidedly relevant and penetrating, and indicative of a remarkable breadth of vision. But. he is not content with point ing out the existing evils, he offers a panacea: “Release the creative spirit! ” And in the proposal of this panacea. Brown ceases to be the critic, and becomes the enthusiastic, the man with a hobbv, with a defi nite bias. He attempts to settle the industrial question with vague sug gestions about, four hour days, and experimental laboratories for work men: he places education on a qualitative basis (arbitrarily), and advocates other changes so dear to the heart of the idealist. The average reader will prob ably not. attach any particular practical significance to Brown’s conclusions, but he may take some time to examine his premise. In the fiTst place it, is true that every man has- a latent “creative instinct” (aside from that of re production). The proposition is debatable. But granting that he has. would it be beneficial to the social order that this “creative spirit” be released? In short, Brown is something in the position of the optimist who ad vocates the greatest happiness for the greatest number; he is so wrapt up in his ideal he forgets the fact that a general release of the creative spirit would be the prac tical negation of the Telease for the individual. But that is a fallacy common to all idealists. AMERICAN BUSINESS MAJN CRITICIZED IN “LOTTERY” Horatio Alger Jr. wrote scores of books telling of triumph of the poor but virtuous. His heroes always started with honest parents and a great desire to succeed and ended with a million dollars and the re spect of the entire community with the exception of the bewhiskered villain who chewed his nails in helpless rage at seeing the triumph of the upright young hero. TV. E. Woodward has apparently started on the same sort of a carefr ns Mr. Alger. His first book, “Bunk,” told of the career of a poor, if not virtuous, automobile manufacturer and his rise to fame and fortune. His latest work, “Lottery.” is the story of a poor, unmoral, very hu man button manufacturer’s ac quisition of a million dollars and introduction into the great class of owners. Mr. Woodward includes in this novel even keener criticism* °and more biting sarca'sm than .in “Bunk.” He emphasizes the increas ing importance of the second rate mane His hero is a young button 0 manufacturer who. through a ser ies of lucky chances, -succeeds in spite of his stupidity. He is en tirelv devoid of culture, executive ability, or knowledge, yet he suc ceeds. Woodward makes him an example and points out the defects of the American dollar aristocracy as he sees them in his hero. The book is full of epigrams and wit. The rather light style carries you into a philosophic passage be fore you are aware of it. There are clever criticisms of business meth ods, advertising, middle class cul ture, and government. The Ameri I can business man is characterized as “insensitive to ideals, to deli [ cate feelings, of narrow intellig i ence, ready to accept any standard of false values, saturated with a sort of careless greed.” More than any of the books of J'the younger generation on the dc 1 plorable state of modern civilization jthis book by a retired business man tells us of our faults. Merciless ! in his observations, heartless in his i mirth and logical in his conclusions, i Mr. Woodward points out to scorn and ridicule the great American j middle class. The book is not con j structive. The author does not set ! himself up as a prophet. Perhaps ! he sees no hope. He certainly ex i presses none. Since the writing of “Bunk” the _ ; writer has learned a lot about ! writing novels. “Lottery” shows j | more versitilitv, more sense of the dramatic, more of an original style than was evident in his previous book. The work of Mr. Woodward1 ! should gain great fame. A man | who shows su'b improvement maj well be watched.—T. M.. G. ID A The Toastwitch Shoppe Cbllege Brick Ice Cream Light Lunches Open till 10 p. m. 24 W. 9th Street Mrs. BENNETT i Formerly with the |!!:n!l!!ia!!lilBlii!H!!!!!BI!lini!!!IB!!l!IH:i!W!!!IB!!!n Beaumonde Beauty Parlor | !l!IH!i:!!aiI!liiH!l!!!Si:plHlllia!lil!fl!i!IIHi!!!BillK!!n ! is now opening a shop at 1200 Willamette St. For Appointments Phone 1491-R PATRONIZE EMERALD ADVERTISERS iLUMNI DRAWS PLANS FOR TRI-DELT HOUSE Plans for the now Delta Delta 'elta house were drawn up by Mar aret Goodin, ’23, a graduate of the regon school of architecture, who : now employed as an architect in brtland. Miss Goodin is a member f the local chapter of Delta Delta >elta. Construction of the new house on wentieth and University, facing Diversity street, began last Mon ay, and will be ready for occupa on at the beginning of the fall 'rm, according to Alberta McMon s, who is in charge of the plans. The house is to be French in ar liteetural style. It will have six >en study rooms and is planned ) accomodate .'12 girls. It is to be instructed of clinker brick, and le cost will be $35,000. Jack MacIIolland is the eontrac >r. The Very Best KALSOMINE IS MURESCO ‘ It must be used with boiling water but cannot be com pared with ordinary brands. OXNER’S Paint Store Phbne 348 8th & Olive Sts. OTIWIPHIM RIALTO THEATREf Junction City SUNDAY ORANGE PARFAIT —AN ICE CREAM TO COOL A WARM SUMMER DAY Orange Parfait'Tee Cream Avill seem like a trip up the race on Sunday. Treat the folks down for the week end to a real College ice cream. Orange parfait, va ailla and maplenut ice cream completes the special. Order now. Eugene Fruit Growers’ Association 3TH & FERRY PHONE 1480 MRS. PATTEE ENJOYING HER STUDIES IN PARIS Mrs. Edith Baker Pattee, a grad uate of fhe University in 1911, who das head of the romance language department in the University high school,'and who left during the lat ter part of March o an leave of ab sence is enjoying her work in Paris, according to letters received by her friends. Mrs. Pattee is studying French pronunciation and idioms in Paris, HHMonm ind declares that the French which she learned in America is a great rid to her. While in Paris she met Mrs. Jay Cooke Allen Jr., who was formerly Rnfh Austin, and her hus jnnd, both of whom are former Ore gon students. Mrs. Pattee will re urn to the campus in September. Rex Shine Parlor The Only Place to Get Your Shoes Shined Bang! There Goes Another Light Globe HOW MANY ARE LEFT? Better Replenish Your Stock Bailey Electric Co. “Get the Bailey Habit’’ PHONE 234 640 WILLAMETTE ST. I | I Chiropractor Moved to New Location— Dr. Geo. A. Simon Now Located Over Penny’s Store A spacious new location occupying the whole front of the second floor of the Penny building is this new loca tion. One of the mostly completely equipped institutions in the state consisting of nine separate rooms. Adjusting, Galvanic, Sinusoidol. Violet Ray, High Frequency, Light Therapies, and Dressing Rooms. COME IN AND INSPECT OUR OFFICES INSIST ON A PURE MILK SUPPLY Try our perfectly pasteurized milk and cream. THE ONLY SAFE WAY REID’S DAIRY, 842 PEARL H i “ 1 I i I 1 Day. Ourselves in Our Time” Puzzled Parents and Bewildered Youth In An Age of Confusion The above will be the theme of a sermon by the Rev. Frank Fay Eddy at the Uni tarian Church Sunday morning. Itc 1 A sermon appropriate to Mother’s 1 Special Musical Program arranged by Robert McKnight and Mildred Welsh, including two solos and a duet. The Unitarian Church is known as The Little Church of the Human Spirit.” It is a church of free thinking directed toward a constructive idealism. Services Begin at 10:45 O’clock PATRONIZE EMERALD ADVERTISERS o n Honor Her Mother’s Day SUNDAY, MAY 10TH An occasion to honor her it' she is living or cherish her memory if she lias passed on. Do it with Flowers. We can send them any where with our telegraph service. If she is here don’t forget a corsage for her to wear to dinner. Flowers Telegraphed Everywhere Chase Gardens FLORISTS COR. 9TII & OAK STS PHONE 1950 Eureka's superiority is immediately and unmistak ably evident, - otherwise Off* Qnmd'3inz€ could never have been the choice of over a million care ful buyers s !i EUREKA VACUUM CLEANER COMPANY 27 E. 9th Phone 1750 The PAINTED LADY Larry Evans Saturday Evening Post Story 'featuring _ Dorothy Mackaill and George O’Brien TONIGHT SEE— Jackie COOGAN in LITTLE ROBINSON CRUSOE Comic - Music Uommg Monday Tuesday St S tv, I < Not Forgetting— j Any £ Night Matinee—20c