More Morand

BLACK MAGIC--Paul Morand--Vising ($3).

The French have toward Negroes a laboratory attitude, disinterested, refreshing. Volatile Author Morand reflects it in these stories. One of them, "Good-bye, New York!," tells of an exotic beauty who starts out on a de luxe cruise around Africa. She and her maid occupy the royal suite. Her emeralds are the squarest, her mink the darkest. She speaks to only one fellow-passenger, a Bostonian, whom she takes suavely for her lover. A gossiping busy-body spots her as a Negress "passing" for white, horrifies a huddle of dowagers with the news.

At the first African port the beauty disembarks to spend a luxurious day in the tropics. The ship sails without her, on purpose. She fumes, rages, sobs--and a few weeks later is the contented concubine of a pink-lipped, glossy-black native prince.

Engaged in the French diplomatic service, Author Morand has written skilful takes of the Sudan, India, Indo-China. His collection of Negro stories is based upon 30,000 miles of travel in 28 Negro countries, from Harlem to Jibuti, Guadeloupe to Timbuktu.