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PHOTOCOPIED October 1, 2002; NASM PRESERVATION COPY [[image - drawing of books]] Book Review By SAUNDERS REDDING [[column 1]][[left edge cut off obscuring some words]] Night of The Hunter, by Davis Grubb. [[?]]per and Bros., 41 East 33rd. st., New [[Yor]]k. 273 pp. $3.00. The Night of the Hunter is as absorbing a [[?]]k as has ever come along in many a moon. [[?]] this reviewer is not yet sure "what all" [[?]]e is in it that makes for this interest [[?]]ch, from the middle of page three to the [[?]] of page two-seventy-three, freezes one to [[?]] chair like a jolt of electricity. [[T]]he story has all the elements of what [[?]]d to be called the "pennydreadful" - crime, [[cri]]minals, suspense, horror, terror - and yet [[?]]s not a penny-dreadful. If for no reason other than the care with [[w]]hich it is written and the care and skill [[?]]d sympathy with which the characters [[?]]e drawn, it is not this. [[T]]here is nothing cheap about the talent that [[pro]]duced it, and Davis Grubb at no point [[?]]ops to clever literary [[?]]kery and nowhere does [[?]] overplay literary de[[vic]]es. For instance, there [[?]] no stereotypes. [[image - photo]][[caption]]Mr. Redding[[/caption]] [[?]]en Harper, the bank rob[[be]]r, is the nearest thing to a [[ste]]reotype the book con[[?]]ns, and he has very little [[?]] common with the fictional [[?]]eed of his kind. The rest [[?]] the Harpers - the wife [[?]]ter the widow), and the [[ch]]ildren - are about as [[?]]se to preconceptions as [[?]] cream is to mud. And the Preacher - well, he's pure but [[?]]dible fantasy; indeed a fantasm who for [[?]]me reason brings to mind, but does not re[[?]]mble (except in the sense that evil always [[?]]sembles evil), Milton's portrait of Satan in [[Pa]]radise Lost. You are fascinated with the Preacher be[[c]]ause of the same duality, the same pre[[c]]arious balance of characteristics, the same [[p]]sychological complexities that galvanize [[t]]he fallen archangel. And, indeed, an analogy between Paradise [[Lo]]st and The Night of The Hunter might be [[?]]ied even further, though I dare not do it [[?]]r fear of not making such an analogy come [[?]]ite off in the space I have. And, anyway, Grubb's book does not need [[?]] be praised by liking it to another. It is [[?]]ite a book on its own. Take its language, [[w]]hich is as tense and graphic as vision, but [[w]]hich at the same time, when it is employed [[?]] dialogue, has a colloquial twang as au[[th]]entic as Mark Twain. And here again, not an analogy but a com[[pa]]rison could be made and here again it [[?]]ould suffer for the same reason an analogy [[?]]ould. So let that go. But the story we can[no]]t let go. Ben Harper has robbed a bank, hidden the [[m]]oney, and been caught. He awaits execution [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] in another town. His cellmate, in for a lesser crime, is the Preacher, a madman, badman religious zealot. After Ben's death, the Preacher goes to Cresap's Landing determined to discover where Ben has hidden the loot from the robbery. For better fulfillment of his venality, the Preacher marries Ben's widow and thus becomes stepfather to Ben's children, a girl and a boy. The boy, John, knows where the money is, and, sensitive beyond his years, knows too that the Preacher is interested only in the money. Even were he not bound by an oath of secrecy, John's fear and distrust of the Preacher would have sealed his lips. Thus is set up a struggle between the Preacher and the boy. It goes on for page after page of suspense and terror, until in the end....But to give away the end would spoil the suspense, and certainly some of the great fascination of the book is in its suspense. This is Davis Grubb's first novel. It is the kind of novel that he cannot repeat himself with; but on the talent shown in this one, Grubb's next novel, no matter what the subject, will be a safe bet. [[/column 2]] [[column 1]] [[box]] Legal Adviser By ROBERT WATTS Baltimore Attorney [[/box]] My mother died during the year and we [[h]]ad a policy on her for $200. Her funeral bill [[w]]as $500. Can I deduct the $300 I had to pay? ANSWER - No. Funeral expenses, even though not covered by insurance, cannot be deducted. The cost of a cemetery lot cannot be deducted. I made $4,500 this year. I had a doctor bill [[o]]f $90 to pay, and I paid premiums on sev[[e]]ral insurance policies amounting to $60. I [[a]]lso bought new glasses that cost $28. Can [[I]] deduct these items? ANSWER - None of these items is deductible. You can only deduct extraordinary medical expenses, which means all money spent over and above 5 per cent of your gross income. In other words, since you made $4,500 you can only deduct costs exceeding $225. Besides, only premiums paid for health and accident insurance can be deducted, not life endowment, etc. I sold my home during 1953 and received [[a]]bout $1,000 more than I paid for it. Must [[I]] report this profit as income? ANSWER - Ordinarily, any profit made in the sale or exchange of property must be reported. However, there is a special new provision which will allow you to avoid this if within 1 year you buy a new home and the cost of the new home is the same or is more than the sale price of the old home. You should see one skilled in tax work before you take advantage of this new provision. [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] [[box]] New Books [[/box]] By The New American Library The Sunburned Corpse by Adam Knight - Murder in a tropic setting, original publisher, Crown Publishers, Inc., price 25 cents. The Center of The Stage by Gerald Sykes - A sophisticated novel of a different kind of marriage, original publisher, Farrar, Straus and Young, price 25 cents. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester - Master mind-readers rule tomorrow's world, original publisher, Shasta Publishers, price 25 cents. Uncle Tom's Children by Richard Wright - Violence in the deep South, original publisher, Harper and Brothers, price 25 cents. Who Walk In Darkness by Chandler Bros - A novel of wayward youth in Greenwich Village, original publisher, New Directions, price 25 cents. Flower Arrangements: Anyone Can Do Anywhere by Matilda Rogers. Original publisher, Dodd, Mead and Company, price 25 cents. A Brief History of The United States, by Franklin Escher Jr. - Your key to American history, original publisher New American Library, price 25 cents. The Mountain And The Valley by Ernest Buckler - The hidden lives of earthy men and women, original publisher, Henry Holt and Company, price 35 cents. Highlights of Modern Literature, edited by Francis Brown - How to keep up with books and authors, price 35 cents. The Life of The Spider by John Compton - An absorbing account of one of nature's most fascinating creatures, original publisher, Houghton Mifflin Company, price 35 cents. Poetry IN PRAISE OF BROWN When I was just a little girl of four, They asked me, "What's your favorite color, dear?" And when I said 'twas brown, they asked no more, But in their kindly eyes surprise was clear. Years have gone by, and now my tastes have changed, But I remember why I favored brown, And neatly in my mind I have arranged The reasons, and I herewith set them down! I loved the color of the good rich earth, Such fun to play with, full of worms and things! I loved the co'or - does it rouse your mirth? - Of chocolate. Yes, glad memories it brings! And for one reason, brown I'll always prize; It is the color of my mother's eyes. MRS. M. E. COLEMAN [[/column2]] [[column 3]] Report From Paris By OLLIE STEWART PARIS - Remember you saw it here first: Josephine Baker was given a visa on March 3 for entry into the United States! She immediately reserved a seat on a plane leaving Paris on April 1. Her plans called for her to fly into Paris on March 29, after a tour of Scandinavia ending in Oslo, Norway, and fly right out again for the USA to appear in court against Walter Winchell! Now she has to change the script. I quote from a letter just received from her, from Brussels. [[image - photo]] [[caption]]Mr. Stewart[[/caption]] Says Josephine: "I have just received a letter from my lawyer, Arthur Garfield Hays, saying that Winchell's lawyers claim that they are on trial for another lawsuit on the same date they gave us. So the original date, set for the first hearing has been postponed until later. I am terribly disappointed, because I was looking forward to fighting for what we all believe in. "Mind you, this only means that I will go to America later, instead of now. Now is a good time because I sincerely believe that those who are fighting so desperately for the freedom of mankind need, more than ever, moral support; and when they know that I have not let them down, but on the contrary, I am coming back with the idea of fighting to win, this will give them added courage!" Ringside Club The Ringside nightclub, which has been dark for a month, reopened this week. Faulty wiring caused fire inspectors to close the place for repairs. Tough on Dick Edwards, but tougher on Pat Rainey, who had just opened. Al's well now, however, and Pat is going better than ever. Took the forced vacation to learn several new songs in French. Salle Pleyel reports that hardly a ticket remains for concerts on April 3 and 4, at which time Count Basie will bring his band to town after a tour of several European countries. Count and his piano come here straight from Frankfurt, Germany. Left the USA on March 10. Incidentally, if you plan to be around between June 1 and 7, you might look in on the third annual Salon du Jazz. At this time, the Salle Pleyel will be transformed into a giant cabaret capable of accommodating 1,000 persons. And there'll be two orchestras for dancing. At a later date (July 5 to 31), a summer university course, "Knowledge of France," will be given at the Catholic Institute of Paris for French and foreign students, and for professors. Some of you teachers might just be interested. The cost runs from $10 to $30, depending upon how many subjects you take. Elementary to advanced French, art, philosophy, geography, history and literature. Rooms available in student homes. In Town In town this week from Hanau, Germany, to do some shopping for Easter bonnets and other pretties were Mrs. Marguerite McDavid, wife of Lt. Col. Felix McDavid; and Mrs. Geraldine O. Fowler, who is visiting in Germany. Both women are old friends from Detroit. In Paris, they put up at the swank George V Hotel; and on the street they caused male heads to turn for a second look - and they were worth it! More tourist bait: As if chewing gum, cokes and American cigarettes were not enough is the way of importation from the USA, An American firm has now begun the construction of motels along the highways of France! And soon, between Paris and the Riviera, you will be invited by a neon sign saying, "Stop at Joe's Place," or "Dew Drop Inn - two kilometres ahead!" The first of four motels of what is planned as a nation-wide chain of tourist cabins will be ready by the end of the year. Located in rural surroundings, each place will have no more than 20 guest rooms. Guests will be free to prepare their own meals, but at each location there will be a filling station, a small general store, and a snack restaurant. Estimated price will be 1500 francs, or about five dollars a night. Until now there have been but two motels in the whole of Europe. No yellow flowers: At the first official appearance of French President Rene Coty and his wife, their box was decorated with yellow flowers. Performers refused to go on until the flowers were removed. Old superstition in French theaters against yellow. [[box]] A Reminder! You have only two more weeks to send in your entry in the 1954 AFRO Ideal Mother Contest. [[/box]] [[image - drawing of cards]] The Bridge Table With Robert Matthews [[box]] THE BRIDGE TABLE East-West vulnerable. West dealer. NORTH [[spade]] - Q 9 4 [heart]] - J 6 [[diamond]] - 9 8 4 [[club]] - A K 6 5 4 WEST [[spade]] - J 6 2 [[heart]] - 4 2 [[diamond]] - Q J 7 5 3 2 [[club] - 7 3 EAST [[spade]] - A 8 5 3 [[heart]] - 10 7 5 3 [[diamond]] - K 10 [[club]] - J 10 2 SOUTH [[spade]] - K 10 7 [[heart]] - A K Q 9 8 [[diamond]] - A 6 [[club]] - Q 9 8 The bidding: West North East South Pass Pass Pass 1[[club]] Pass 3[[club]] Pass 4[[heart]] Pass 5[[club]] Pass 6[[club]] Pass Pass Pass Opening lead: Queen of diamonds. [[/box]] Ever since someone thought up the so-called "short club" opening, Mr Average Bridge Player has been plagued with doubts as to when an opening of this type should be employed. When this week's hand was played, the arguments waxed hot and heavy as to the efficacy of South's opening club bid. Of the 12 players present, only one person was sympathetic to South's case. The other ten vehemently declaimed that holding 19 points in high cards and distribution, including a good re-biddable suit, the proper opening should have been in hearts. The South player defended his position stating: "Holding 19 points, I had to think of my second bid. Since I intended to jump-shift on the second round, rather than manufacture an artificial one, I chose the club opening, which allows partner to respond at a level of one." As it turned out, the slam contract was a virtual lay-down. After winning the diamond lead, trumps were extracted and five heart tricks reeled off. When clubs broke 3-2, that was it, declarer losing only the ace of spades. Page 2 AFRO Magazine Section, March 27, 1954 [[/column 3]]
