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“ MARCH 8, 1948. 95 * he understands how all elements—., whether ludicrous, superstitious or _ sentimental—are merged in the tentper ' of his characters and of his community. He is concerned with them as they are, and'this sympathy places even the ab- surdities ‘in. proportion, so that when - others might ridicule or overplay it for laughs, he-can write breezily of a zealous nun: “Having been for years the bosom friend of a dotty old parish priest who had been favored -with visions of the Blessed Virgin, she was now collecting evidence to get him beatified. She had cut up and dis- tributed his nightshirts among the poor, and they had worked some re- markable cures.” --In-this- way; -too, he: shows how: the-]-} patochialism of the Irish towns makes for a distinct community spirit, inev- itable to the climate and structure of the society, and not as mere insularity of stifling clannishness. It is crucial, |: in. this connection, : that ‘O'Connor's priests come off extraordinarily well. He shows how, through the medium of the confessional, ‘the priest keeps _ the town’s conscience, and with the ad- vantage of this peculiar insight, arbi- trates among his parishioners. He un- derstands the bullying paternalism of Such a position, but he understands also the human loneliness of the priest. Even further, he realizes that the cleri- _cal vocation is natural to deep instincts of the Irish temperament, and he slyly remarks that “there are more spoiled priests than ever went into seminaries.” These are the stories of a man who knows what he’s about..His knowl- edge of his subject almost convinces us of powers of divination, and it is a subject of uncommon interest. For that, for his: humanity, for his rough wit and for his swift, sure skill, I would certainly recommend them as the best stories I have seen in a year. Transition. Peter Taylor's first book, A Long Fourth and Other Stories, in- ' cludes seven stories that appeared origi- nally in the Sewanee, Southern, Kenyon and Partisan reviews. Their sub- ject is described as “the contemporary, urban, middle-class world of the upper South,” and it is true that, while each The Civil Rights Report! a Get Extra Copies ... Cheap The President’s proposed legislation covering Civil Rights has aroused nationwide controversy and interest. His proposals » were based on the Report of The President’s Committee on Civil Rights, headed by Charles E. Wilson of General Electric. PM was the only newspaper to publish the full text of this report (November 2, 1947), The demand for extra copies was so great that PM has reprinted a 24-page tabloid newspaper supplement containing that text. More than 225,000 copies of this supplement have been dis-_ tributed, chiefly among schools and colleges, social welfare study groups, churches and similar study groups. The Government Printing Office and Simon and Schuster have published book-bound editions selling for $1. If you want extra copies of the PM newsprint edition, fill in the coupon, enclose the proper amount, and mail to The Newspaper PM Inc., Box 81, Times Square Station, New York 18, N. Y. - Number [J Single copies by mail—10 cents each (in stamps) ( One hundred to 500 copies—5 cents each (check) C1) Five hundred or more copies—3', cents each (check) . MAILTO— ... . ; } City. one State (NR-C) New is the only word that never grows old—And new and different describes the newspaper PM. It offers a reading experience adven- turous and unique—one you'll remember and want to repeat! PM’s staff of experienced columnists and correspondents, ex- perts in their fields, cover extensively and accurately interna- tional, national and local affairs. PM’s Service Features offer its News For Living Page with invaluable leads on outstanding buys on foodstuffs .. . wearing apparel and accessories. Entertainment guides for Movies, Radio and Restaurants. .... Week-end Sports Calendar. PM has comics ... cartoons .. . articles on fashions . . . foods ... music... book reviews... sports... theatre. PM GIVES YOU FULL MEASURE OF HELPFUL AND INFORMATIVE MATERIAL! ‘Send in your subscription now with your check or money order for $3.00—Check below your choice: MAIL TO PM, P. O. Box 81, Times Square Station, New York, N. Y. O Sunday Only, 35 weeks : C0 Daily Only, 15 weeks o Daily and Sunday, 10 weeks (Check one) Name. Street___ City___ one State. Amouiit Enclosed ~~ |~ eee eee ee 4