Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/139

 REVIEWS 125

or less control of certain municipal affairs. Hence such statements as: "In the case of paid magistrates, the choice of the council must be confirmed by the higher authorities before it becomes valid" (p. 164), and ". . . . the higher authorities may tem- porarily fill the post . . . ." (ibid.), ought to include some reference to the particular authority intended. To be sure, it is possible that reference is here made to what, three pages earlier, were called "the appropriate higher authorities," with a footnote explaining which they are in the instance there mentioned ; but if that be the case, it seems as though a footnote to that effect should be given.

Especially commendable is the use made of French and Ger- man terms. No attempt at mere display is shown, but the phrases, often so difficult to render adequately in English, are given — usually in parentheses after the English translation. This is of great help to the student who uses the sources, as sometimes he can hardly tell just what a writer is referring to if only the trans- lation is given — so difficult of exact translation are many terms and phrases found in foreign works on municipal government. One wonders, however, why the French terms should be italicized while the German ones are left in Roman. Italicizing the French terms gives them an importance and an emphasis that are not in keeping with their purely explanatory character. One is inclined to prefer the clearer, more uniform appearance of the page in the chapter devoted to Prussian cities. One notes an anomaly in the italicizing of the word arrondissement throughout the chapter on French cities ; though the same word is in roman on p. 136.

There is a good bibliography with a terse characterization of many of the works named. The list seems almost more inclusive than necessary, as some of the articles and books given are of very minor importance. The characterizations given of the works are, however, so far as we are able to check them, thoroughly depend- able; and these will serve to indicate, even to a beginner, those references which will be most valuable for him.

The style is sometimes too involved for rapid reading — many sentences needing to be broken up and recast — but the work is to be strongly recommended as a textbook because of its inclusiveness, conciseness, accuracy, and unified treatment.

Howard Woodhead

Butler College, Indianapolis