Common Coin

AND LIFE GOES ON--Yield Baum-- Donbleday, Dor an ($2.50).

Vicki Baum is sentimental, for which no conscientious intelligentsiac will forgive her; but she tells a good story. And unlike most of her Teutonic peers and superiors, she has a sense of humor.

Dr. Persenthein was a hard-worked doctor in a small German town. His wife Elisabeth loved him, slaved for him, but it was a long time since he had noticed her. He was wrapped up in his Idea: the prevention of all disease by the perfection of the human body. Strong in his enthusiastic faith, he subjected his husky little daughter to every possible draught and germ. "She grew to be large and strong. Occasionally she suffered from a slight concussion of the brain, but she never caught a cold in the head.''

When sport-loving Tycoon Karbon and his cinema-star mistress Leore smashed up in a motor accident, it was a big day for the town. Dr. Persenthein sewed up the actress' cut lip; Elisabeth nursed Karbon back to health. Karbon fell in love with her in a mild way; she took him seriously and was ready to run off with him, when suddenly her husband's world fell about his ears. In a medical journal he read that others also had his Idea, had far outstripped him in carrying it through. Loyal Elisabeth kissed Romance goodbye, told herself her domestic hair shirt was not so uncomfortable after all. When Actress Leore called in a specialist to look at her lip the expert praised Dr. Persenthein's job, became interested in him, then enthusiastic, said he must find Persenthein a post in the centre of things. So life went on, but things looked rosier just ahead.

And Life Goes On is the Book-of-the-Month Club selection for March.

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