Faksimile

Text

box
asanovas Heinfahrt
4/11
30 Ge
ARO*
ein
(19, auf. Wir werden noch gelegen.,
alt
Regl.
auf die Ausstellung zurückkommen.
A. F. S.
Struad.
tiven
Schnitzlers „Casanovas Heim¬
lung
annt,
folgt f
Auch
kehr“ — kein unsittliches Werk.
spen
un¬
Käth
Die Beschlagnahme in Newyork aufgehoben.
ndy,
„Des
Newyork, 25. Oktober.
Ziener
Lessing
Eine Gerichtskommission unter Vorsitz des Distriktsstaats¬
einige
anwaltes Crain beriet gestern über die Beschwerde, welche die
Lustspi
nger
Newyorker „Gesellschaft für Unterdrückung des Lasters“ durch
Garai
von
ihren Präsidenten Summer vor einiger Zeit gegen den Ver¬
führur
Dan¬
Reime
leger der Novelle „Casanovas Heimkehr“ von Arthur
aber
Opper
Schnitzler wegen Verbreitung unsittlicher Druckschriften ein¬
h mit
Susat
gebracht hatte.
mteren
Wlas
Die Jury verwar die Beschwerde der „Gesellschaft für
Wir
Geyl
Unterdrückung des Lasters“ und stellte in der Begründung ihres
f
von
Verdiktes fest, daß die Novelle Arthur Schnitzlersein
Bild,
literarisches Werk von hohem Rang sei und
rotz¬
keinesfalls gegen das Bundesgesetz bezüglich der
sträts
komm.
Verbreitung unsittlicher Druckschriften verstoße. Die seiner¬
igens
zeit bei dem Verleger beschlagnahmten Exemplare des Buches
aber
schränk.
wurden freigegeben.
— Fra
Journat#
Milnaukee 7is
Once more, and for the fourth time
in seven years, Arthur Schnitzler’s
novel,Casanova's Homecoming,“
has been cleared in Cbüft of charges
of obscenity brought against it by
John S. Sumner, chief agent of the
Neu York Society forthe Suppression
of Vice. Schnitzler's publishers.
Simon & Schuster, celebrute by
bringing out a new and cheaper edi¬
tion of the book. A new D. H.
Lawrence novel, The Virgin and the
Gipsy.“ the manuscript of which was
found among Lawrence's effects fol¬
lowing his death. will be a Novem¬
ber publication of Alfred A. Knopf.
Inc. What is described as a Pre
vised“ edition of D. H. Lawrence's
famous novel, Lady Chatterley's
* Lover.“ which is being sold by some
merican Looksellers, is an absolutel:
unauthorized version, according to
Mr. Knopf.
HEMSTREET
96 WARREN STREET
NäN VORK CITV
4
Casanova's? Vindication
Mr. Schuster Writes of a Clean-Cut Decision Signi¬
ficant in the World of Letters
best of our ability and hafeguard a
To the New York Herald Tribune:
classic of modern fiction against thel
May we ask the hospitality #f your
misguided zeal of an extra-legal society!
columns to correct a perhaps ine itable
which is pitting its opinion agalnst the
injustice to one of the world's out¬
virtually unznimous edict of critics.
standing authors!
scholars, men of letters and clvilized
When Mr. John S. Sumner, secretary
readers generally. It is now for the
of the New York Society for the Sup¬
courts 20 determine which side is right
pression of Vice, instituted his attacks
in the eyes of the law.“
on Casanova’s Homecoming, by Dr.
That answer has now been given in
Arthur Schnitzler, widespread publicity
an unmistakable manner, and all of
was given to his charges and to the
Mr. Sumner’s charges have been dis¬
so-called Praid“ on the publishers.
missed and invalidated in their en¬
After a series of hearings and investi¬
tirety.
gations, the conclusion of a sevon-year
It now seems absurd that so in¬
legal battle on this book was finally
volved and so costly a procedure of de¬
reached last week, when the grand jury
fense was becessary in a case where no
of New York County officially dismissed
reasonable man could have any just
all of Mr. Sumner’s complaints and an¬
doubt. Here was a book issued openly
nounced that there was no basis for
and proudly by a reputable publishing
any indictment.
house under its ywn imprint, 4 firm
This decision, coming as it did on
which had up to chat time brought out
top of an opinion rendered by Magis¬
close to 3.000,00. volumes under its
trate Maurice Gottlieb, ccmpletely
own name without the slightest sug¬
absolving the book from any charge
gestion, direct or Indirect, of any viola¬
of obscenity, marks the final and irre¬
tion of the canons of propriety or
vocable vindication of the hook, the
decency; here vas z book translated
author and the publishers.
and acclaimed in virtuallj every civil¬
We are not unmindful of the techni¬
tzed country in tlierld; a work sin¬
cal exigencles of news administration:
gled out for indorsemelt, by the Co¬
there is probably more "spot“' news
lumbia University course in world lit¬
value in an attack or a complaint
erature sponsored by President Nicholas
than there is in a defense or an ex¬
Murray Butler and by the Enciclopedia
oneration. For this reason, we are not
Britannica: a bock admitted through
criticizing the newspapers for glving
the customs and the mails; sold even
extensve space to the origin charges
In Boston; recoramended in representa¬
and recording the final vindicacion and
tive institutions of higher learning:
conclusion of the case in a few meager
widely edvertised and reviewed in the
and routine paragraphs. Nevertheless,
press; preminently displayed and fea¬
tured by distingulshed bock stores, and
we feel it is only fair to Dr. Arthur
approved by sochal agencles and civic
Schnitzler and to ourselves to direct
bodies—attached only by Mr. John
further attention to the clean-gut de¬
S. Sumner.
cision and to its zignificance in the
world of letters.
A vital principle was at stake in this
case. If wa were guilty, then the news¬
Apparently, nobody in the com¬
papers, magazines, the universities,
munity found any fault with Casa¬
the chools, the libraries of America
nova's Homzcoming“ except Mr. Jonn
were also guilty of purveying r5jec¬
S. Sumuer. Speaking as the paid
tionahle and obscene reading matter.
agent of an extralegal society, Mr.
Herenzter Mr. John S. Sumner and his
Sumner took it upon himself to extract
staff sill be better advised if they con¬
passages of the book from their con¬
fine their energies to the legitimate
text and to brand the work as a
field of curbirg dissemination of dirty
whole as 'not only obscene, but con¬
postcards and ornographie fllms. Let
secutively obscene.“ Thus spoke Mr.
them respect in freedom of genuine
Sumner. But hé spoke alone. No
literature in Ameriga, and let them give
court, no judge, no legal body saw fit
heed to the edicts of good taste and
to validate his charges. On the con¬
civilized opinion.
trary, the leaders of modern life, the
Pornography is never published in an
teachers, the editors, the educators, the
open spirit, in the white light of fame
physiclans, the critics, the psychlatrists,
and community indorsement. it 1s
the ministers promptly and impres¬
offered in dark places and under sinis¬
sively rallied to the defense of an in¬
ter and suspiclous circumstances. Raids
contestable classic of modern litera¬
by Mr. Sumner's minions should be
ture. Theré was no doubt as to the
confined to the back alleys of filth, and
enlightened judgement of the #on¬
not to the broad highway of dis¬
munity. From the outset it was not
tinguished creative literature.
a clash of representative opinlons, but
That is the lesson of the case of Casa¬
nova’s Homecoming,“ now happily a
Nevertheless, Mr. Sumner's tactics
closed ineident.
necessitated the long drawn out prö¬
M. LINCOLN SCHUSTER.
cedure of several court actions, elab¬
New York, Nov. 5. 1930.
orate and costly legal defense, ex¬
tended correspondence, symposia, re¬
search and questionnatre and the en¬