Hunter College High School - Argus Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 110 text:

THE ARGUS Nye proves his innocence of the theft with which he has been charged. The, plot is a very lolbvious one. The scene of the stotry, South Orhan, is the typical New England fishing vil- lage 'which J. C. Lincoln is so fond of describing. The charac- ters are well done with that refreshingly hum-orous touch that is so characteristic of Lincoln. We have but one criticism to make,-Dr. Nye was entinefly tlolo noble to suit us erring mortals. MESSER MARCO POLO.-Donn Byrne Messer Marco Polo is the story of the love affair between, one of the most romantic figures of the Middle Aiges, Marco Polo, and the great Kubla Khan's daughter, Golden Bells, told .with the inimitable charm of an old Irishman. With such a combination of rich flavors the result is one of the most delect- able morsels that has been produced in the literary world for a long time. Donn Byrne, has an inborn gift for telling yarns and this one, with all its preposterousness, wlith all its vague philos- ophy cneates a gorgeous atmosphere of pageantry which would be overwhelming if it were not so delicate. The rich brogue of the dialect only makes 3, heavier and richer canvas on which Mr. Byrne may blend the vivid foneliggn colors of a past world of -mystery into a picture that is so beautiful that it does not have to be real. It is this lack of reality that prevents the book from having any historic value. But this need not detract from its true worth for Donn Byrne has succeeded in giving to the world a thing -of beauty and who can deny that that is a worthy achievement? Gladys B. Frankel. dv '4'i,'i31 lY,'ia:3':e4, ':.aK'Qsa,,, A 6- fm 'le'J! ' Q . Q 5. Q. , , A 4 .1 izpzdg ihvef. - .qi , Il' Qlllli ltlzgg . -ll' 108

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THE ARGUS ' ' ' - -A ' ' - -- - A- - - A ' - LUJLKUJ - L E E 'livuivwa l v-v vAv v-v w-v-- -v -Av w-v w-v - -- Y-v Y-,1-QA, ,-v ,x,'v.v ' OOOOOICCCOOC O OC 0606 HAMLET We read Shakespeare's world-famous tragedy Hamlet dramatically in the schoolroom, under the directions of our Oral English teacher-and wie yawned. We read it at home, obeying the commands of our English teacher-and we fell asleep. We go to the Manhattan Opera House and see it acted with John Barrymone as Hamlet--and in ecstasies of de- light we firmly assert that it is the best play ever written. We rave over Shakespeare because he has apparently writt-en a play for John Barrymore himself.. Without reserve, with genius flaming in every linel' as wlell as in every action, this actor conveys to us the full significance of the Shakespearian masterpiece. We cannot but believe that the author had just such an actor in mind when he wrote the play. The other characters are good-but we are constantly on edge when Hamlet is not on the stage 3-we are waiting for him to appear. Of all the characters we like. the king least. Not because he is the villain, but because we can scarcely understand his poorly pronounced lines. They remind us too much ofthe book and the dramatic reading at school. However, we have reformed. Never again will we fall asleep over Hamlet! DR. NYE-By J. c. LINCOLN Dr. Nye is the story of ia young physician who has been in prison. Released, he re.turns to South Orhan, his native vil- lage, where he is shunned by the respectable element-the unco' guid. However, by his tireless eiTorts for the welfare of the town, he manages to restore himself to the good graces, of its citizens. In helping two young people to happiness, Dr. 107

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T H E A R G U S Maria Glhaphvlninr Maria Chapdelaine, a translation from the F renclhl lolf Louiws Hemon, is a delightful tale of the Lake St. John country in the backwoods of Quebec. Hemon is able to depict this setting so aptly since he himself lived for a year and a half loin the frontier, making a clearing in the backwoods and writing his book during the intervals of his toil. He makes the, neiader love the wide expanse of virgin for- est land and the simple pioneer folk who labor loin the soil, only to make a clearing and eventually raise their own crops. At times the nelader envies the pioneer folk, tfheir natural sur- roundings, and honest toil, and at other times he sympathizes for the bareness and isolation of their life. Howelver, Hemon is always optimistic. He describles the beautiful spring, full of promise, and then harvest time, and then the heavy fall of snow, always looking forward to the next season's crops. He seems to subordinate his characters to the setting, since we cannfolt possibly consider them or their actions except in the light of 'their background. But he does demonstrate a remarkable ability for character portrayal as in the example of the fine Maria Chapdelaine. He allows her to choose' be,- tween her two lloversg one, a hard working neighboring pio- neer, wiho offers her the peace and quiet of the tillage: of the soilg the other, a fellow from the states, who offers 'her the luxuries and artiiicialities of the city. She finally chlolosels the former, the life to which she has been accustomed and which she truly loves. Hemon's treatment of this wild land is unusual. Ordi- narily this type of story is treated roughly whereas Hemon is tender and poetic, yet simple, more appealing. Glelrtrude Mutnick, A8 109