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THE BOOK REVIEW DIGEST

THIRTEENTH ANNUAL CUMULATION

REVIEWS OF 1917 BOOKS

EDITED BY MARGARET JACKSON AND MARY KATHARINE REELY

THE H. W. WILSON COMPANY NEW YORK 1918

THE BOOK REVIEW DIGEST

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY

THE H. W. WILSON COMPANY

Entered as second class matter, November 13, 1917 at the Post Office at New York, under the act of Congress of March 3, 1879.

TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION

One year .00 Single numbers 1.00 Semi-annual cumulation 2.00 Annual cumulated number, bound 5.00

TERMS OF ADVERTISING

Combined rate for Book Review Digest, Cumulative Book Index and Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature-- per page per month; two of these publications ; one of these publications per page per month. Smaller space and contract rates furnished upon request.

Many minds and hands have contributed to the success of the Book Review Digest in the year 1917. Descriptive notes have been written by Margaret Jackson, Corinne Bacon, Justina Leavitt Wilson and Mary Katharine Reely. Classification numbers have been assigned by Corinne Bacon. The editorship has been divided between Margaret Jackson and Mary Katharine Reely, Miss Jackson leaving at the end of October to assume new duties on the staff of the New York Public Library School. Thruout the year the tasks of assembling material, preparing copy, and meeting the exacting demands of proof and press work have been carried on by Pauline H. Rich and Alice Sterling, and, on the business side, the correspondence which keeps us in touch with advertisers, publishers and subscribers has been ably handled by Frances Sanville. Credit for the supplementary List of Documents published with each issue goes to Adelaide R. Hasse and Edna B. Gearhart of the New York Public Library. For the Quarterly List of New Technical Books, to the Applied Science Reference Department of Pratt Institute Free Library, Brooklyn.

Who reads reviews? Much thought, scholarship and wit goes to their writing. Is a corresponding measure of appreciation given to the reading?

Signs of any kind are so seldom noticed that we call special attention to this one, and, even tho we know that prefaces are so seldom read, we trust that the notice will come to the attention of some one who will find this feature useful.

We should like to feel that the Digest itself, with its interesting assemblage of contrasting opinions, would be of value to the reading public if it were occasionally handed out over the desk to inquiring readers. Indeed one flattering friend has advised us to issue a special edition in larger type for sale on the news stands! But altho this course hardly seems practicable, we believe that in its present form, the Digest might be of some general interest and that if it were made more accessible it might act as an influence in the formation of critical taste. Even the inveterate reader of fiction might be helped by it, and to the more thoughtful it would serve as a guide to a course of reading in literary criticism.

Publications from which Digests of Reviews are Made

In addition to the above list the Book Review Digest frequently quotes from Henry Turner Bailey's reviews in the School Arts Magazine; Boston Transcript; New York Call; Cleveland Open Shelf; N. Y. Best Books; N. Y. Libraries; N. Y. City Branch Library News; New York Public Library New Technical Books ; Pittsburgh Monthly Bulletin; Pratt Institute Quarterly Book List; St. Louis Monthly Bulletin; Wisconsin Library Bulletin , and the Quarterly List of New Technical and Industrial Books chosen by the Pratt Institute Library.

OTHER ABBREVIATIONS:

Book Review Digest Devoted to the Valuation of Current Literature Reviews of 1917 Books

"'Truancy and non-attendance in the Chicago schools' carries the tale of public education--'the most important subject that we as a people can be engaged in'--through its vivid history in the second city in the United States, from the establishment of our free schools to the present day, indeed it may be said, to the last authentic news on the topic in the present day. ... Beginning with a picturesque survey of the struggle for the 'free-school' principle , the chronicle continues with a relation of the main events of the struggle for the compulsory principle 'when the first compulsory law was passed,' and closes with a record of the various activities characterizing the period, still continuing, 'of struggle for the perfection of the compulsory law.'"--Dial

"This book should be carefully read by every administrative officer in charge of the enforcement of school attendance or child labor laws, and also by every person who contemplates the difficult task of drafting such legislation. Practically every feature of the system recommended for Illinois is in effect in one or more other states." H. L. Sumner

Reviewed by E. L. Talbert

"A clear, logical and interesting study, illustrated with the case histories of many children, of value to social workers and specially to educators. A companion volume to 'The delinquent child in the home' ."

"Of especial interest for two reasons. Because it forms a striking comment on a characteristic American weakness--our failure to realize--our inability to follow up with sustained attention or even with intelligent curiosity the vital social experiments made, or perhaps one should say the vital social experiments mentioned as mandatory, by our statute-books. It is of interest also because of its description of our inability to correlate juvenile laws whose joint efficiency should guarantee a child a fair opportunity for education." Edith Wyatt

"It is likely that the book will result in an important improvement of the child labor law in Illinois." J. H. T.

"The question of how to make compulsory education laws and child labor laws jointly effective is so important that light upon it is to be welcomed from every quarter. The experience of Illinois with such legislation is that of one of the most advanced states; it is described by two experienced workers in the Chicago School of civics and philanthropy in a manner that goes well outside the field suggested by the title."

"A story competently told with adequate documentation, not essentially different from that which could be presented for most parts of the country during the same periods. The accomplishment of this book is to take public schooling out of its antiquated and still somewhat academic atmosphere, and out of the outworn but persistent habits and concepts of the earlier American community, to present it in the light of the social background in which it belongs today, and compel the reader to realize that the education of the children of our great cities demands consistent thinking and courageous following up of its implications and honest common sense in administration." G: H. Mead

A middle-aged woman who is tired of spending her wealth on people who receive grudgingly, a young doctor and a beautiful and radiant young girl who rejoices in the name of Solvei Kjelland, are the characters in this little story. The rich woman is ill. The young doctor is trying to cure her. The rich woman is offered one wish. This is what she wished: "That the last mail of the day may never leave me utterly letterless; and that I may always be expecting a package by express!" The story was published as a serial in the Woman's Home Companion.

"The story is possible but we cannot escape from the feeling that it is wildly improbable. The young doctor is the one real character in a world of phantoms. ... Although it possesses a certain amount of charm in the telling it lacks conviction."

"It is a gay and sweet little story, unusual in its beginning, happy in the way it ends, entertaining and sympathetic throughout the progress of its pretty romance. It is full of laughter, and it has touches, especially in unexpected bits here and there about the older woman, of tenderness."

The two parts of this book are quite distinct. In part 1 chapters devoted to France and the Turks, Russia and the Turks, England and the Turks, and The Germanic powers and Turkey are followed by a discussion of Turkey's choice in the present war. "While the practical statesman must deplore the effects of that choice," says the author, "the philosophical onlooker will derive a certain cold satisfaction from its perfect logicality. The capricious hand of chance had nothing to do with it. It all came about in strict accordance with the law of causation. Each side reaped precisely what it had sown." The treatment of Greece and the powers in part 2 is similar. The historical relationship of Greece to each of the great powers at war is studied at some length in order that her position and attitude at the present time may be understood. The policy of the Allies toward Greece since the beginning of the war is characterized as stupid and blundering, producing an effect exactly opposite from that desired. Mr Abbott was a war correspondent in the Turko-Italian war and published a book on "The holy war in Tripoli." He is also author of "Turkey in transition."

"Very readable, it gives a better understanding of the Near East problem. Many references and a page list of source material."

"The last chapter, 'The moral suasion of Greece,' is an excellent study of popular sentiment." C. H. P. Thurston

"The author is more convincing in his historical statements, for which he invariably cites his authorities, than he is in his judgments of contemporary policies. The book is certainly a valuable contribution to a better understanding of the Near East problem. There are two maps; one of Turkey in Europe at its zenith, published about 1680, and the other is of the Balkans today."

"So far as it professes to be a historical examination of the relations between Turkey and Greece and the great powers the book is defective and badly planned. ... Mr Abbott brought to his task much familiarity with Balkan countries, an incisive style, and an evident capacity for laborious research. Yet the result is to some extent disappointing, for the book lacks balance and perspective. ... Yet, with all its faults, some sections of it serve a very useful purpose, and it is worth reading."

Our policy toward the immigrant has been one of laissez-faire. Miss Abbott's purpose in this book is to show how, as a result, both the immigrant and the community have suffered, and to point out means for his protection and better adjustment to American life. The book is based in part on lectures given before the Chicago School of civics and philanthropy and consists of chapters on: The journey of the immigrant; The problem of finding a first "job"; The special problems of the immigrant girl; Protection against exploitation; The immigrant in the courts; The immigrant and the public health; The immigrant and the poverty problem; The immigrant and industrial democracy; The education of the immigrant; The immigrant in politics; The immigrant and American internationalism; The immigrant's place in a social program. The author is a resident of Hull House and director of the Immigrants' protective league of Chicago. Judge Julian W. Mack writes an introduction for the work.

"No other existing book treats so fully or so well the problem of the woman immigrant. Admirable example of settlement house method and viewpoint. As a work of reference, particularly in statistics, needs to be used with caution."

"Miss Abbott has been able to put her evidence into readable form, to appeal to our common humanity and yet reveal that she is not blind to the problems involved. The volume is to be highly commended to all who are interested in immigration, and particularly to those who want to know the extent of our own failure to safeguard newcomers and help in their readjustment to our life." C. K.

"Miss Abbott's plea is for adjustment rather than assimilation. In this respect she disagrees with the textbook writers, and perhaps with most staunch Americans. She believes that the immigrant brings a contribution to America which should be preserved. One of the most interesting of her many pertinent suggestions regarding immigrant adjustment is that we organize more carefully the potentialities for the development of an international understanding through immigration into this country and return migration." L. L. Bernard

"It is not Grace Abbott's facts, but her inferences, that will produce two opinions about her volume. ... The entire responsibility for the stranger within our gates she places squarely upon our shoulders. Perhaps, so long as we admit him, that position is arguable. But Miss Abbott will not allow us to lighten the burden by restricting immigration. ... Yet it might be urged that the immigrant himself would profit by a slower infiltration, which would prevent the growth of the huge foreign colonies which have hindered as well as aided his advance, and have created a special problem for a democracy already pretty well loaded up."

"The book fails in just one point. After piling on a tremendous indictment--an indictment that every American should read and ponder--there is no great general lesson drawn. These questions press for reply: What drives these hordes here? Should they continue to come? Should we let them in? If they have a right to come, then these further questions appear to need answer." W: M. Feigenbaum

"Authoritative, incisive. The book cuts far below the surface alike of censure and of complacency. It offers the kind of information which, now perhaps as never before, every American needs."

"Miss Abbott is director of the Immigrants' protective league of Chicago, and has worked for the Massachusetts immigration commission. Her study of the problem has included visits to some of the most important European homes of the immigrant, notably, Galicia, Croatia and the Slovak districts of Hungary and Bohemia. It is from her own experiences and knowledge of the question that she has drawn in writing a discussion that is illuminating in its choice of incidents and sound in its suggestive conclusions."

"The only disappointing chapter of the book is that which deals with the immigrant and the public health." B. L.

"Ritchie Macdonald finds himself 'dead broke.' ... Unable to borrow any money in Spokane, he evolves an original scheme to lift from him, and from the little group of men with whom he foregathers, the common burden of dead-brokeness. 'There's just one way, and I've pointed it out to you. We chip in--all of us--all but one--we buy a heavy life insurance for that one. He kills himself at the end of a year, and we divide the money.' The adventurers agree and gamble to decide who shall be the one sacrificed. The lot falls to Mac himself. He sees to it that it does. Another clause has meanwhile been added to the agreement, whereby the prospective suicide is to be provided by his confr?res with sufficient money to make this last year of his life one long enjoyment. ... Mac at once takes up quarters in the leading hotel of Spokane. ... Now enters the little manicurist, Emily Steeves. And soon Mac finds that the idea of suicide is growing less and less alluring. He becomes identified with certain large life insurance interests. Makes money rapidly. A plot is formed to discredit him. But he circumvents this plot, and gets out of the fulfillment of the suicide pact exactly as Emily declares he must, 'without paying blackmail and without welshing.'"--Boston Transcript

"A slangy, but broadly amusing tale."

The author, who is professor of diseases of children in the Northwestern university medical school, says in his foreword: "Young mothers, nurses, and caretakers frequently ask the physician for minute directions for the preparation of foods for infants and older children. I have attempted to collect from various sources recipes for the preparation of the most commonly employed foods. I undertook to do this primarily for my own convenience in prescribing for patients and meeting the repeated demand. I claim no originality in regard to the recipes, and acknowledge my indebtedness to various sources for information." He appends a list of authorities in English and German and refers to practical help given by various women dietitians. In addition to the recipes, which are grouped by class and indexed, the book contains tables of Mineral constituents of the food, Caloric value of various foods, Diet lists , Baths and packs, Tables of measurements, etc.

"A good collection of recipes. ... For the intelligent mother."

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