13 NOVEMBER 1936, Page 13

MARGINAL COMMENTS

By ROSE MACAULAY

What odd things other people do ! Why, I wonder, should the sender of this pamphlet think it likely that I, who dislike atrocity literature, should spend my valuable time in perusing such a work, and my valuable stamps and trouble in posting it to some one else ? It is not the kind of pamphlet which I can imagine myself opening ; its outside is more than enough. I sec that it is in its third edition, so there must, presumably, be a taste for such works. For my part, I dislike them immoderately. But, if I did not, if their perusal gave me the pleasure which the sender of this specimen no doubt kindly hoped it would afford to me and to Lord Strabolgi, Miss Rathbone, the Chairman of the Scottish Ambulance, Mr. Gallacher (yes, it is an odd list), the editor of the New Statesman, and the Secretary of the Oxford Union, if we, strangely assorted company that we arc, all had that common appetite for horrors, could we not sate it at such boards as are already abundantly spread with such fare ? Is there not the Marquis de Sade? Can we not read of Alva in the Nether- lands, or, indeed, of practically any other of the sinister performances of the human race ? Must we be fed with red and yellow pamphlets compiled by the modern Spanish about one another ? This cannot, surely, be necessary.

I can think of nothing suitable to do with this "pre- liminary report." To return it to its sender would cost five pence, besides a large buff envelope. I have no fires apt for burning pamphlets. If I put it in my waste- paper basket or dustbin, it may shock the dustman, who may (if dustmen arc ever this) be a squeamish and sensitive man. Yet I do not like to leave about my flat literature so garish and objectionable without, so probably worse within. Nor do I relish the notion of taking it out and depositing it in a litter basket, since my name is among those on its cover. It was, I assume, sent inc out of a philanthropic desire for my good, and under the belief that this is a form of reading in which I like to indulge. Perhaps before long Mr. Gallacher, the Secretary of the Oxford Union (but why is Cambridge omitted ?) and I, will be sent reports on the unsavoury deeds said to have been committed by Arabs and Jews, by Italians and Abyssinians, by Assyrians, Turks, Bulgars, Russians, Brazilians, Mexicans and Poles, in the course of their belligerent activities. But I shall not read them ; nor, I had better warn the hopeful sender, shall. I send any of them on to Mr. Gallacher, Lord Strabolgi, or the Secretary of the Oxford or the Cambridge Union. It is generous of him to wish to share his pleasure in this book with his circle of unseen friends. But I, alas, am a non-conductor, and never post anything to anyone except under duress. I would not send it on even were it called Little Deeds of Kindness, and bound in mauve suede with ribbon marker.