Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/433

 REVIEWS 413

mittee system in the colonies and provisional governments prior to the establishment of the federal constitution. After showing the relation of the congressional committee to the government and to the interests of the people, he takes up its development in the house and senate separately. While the author has not given special emphasis to the economic importance of such study, his standpoint being one of political science, the investigation may well be utilized by the student of economics. Government today, more than at any other time in the development of political institutions, has taken on an industrial and economic aspect. Its basis, the conservation of the general wel- fare, is economic. Every new decree is inaugurated, every modification is made, with this in view. The gradual development of new industrial functions, managed or controlled by the political organization, has brought the institutions of government more forcibly within the notice of the economist. The economic interest of the individual members of society is being worked out in the political organization. A study of the economic institutions of today must of necessity include govern- ment. The thesis of the author may be regarded as being the adapta- tion of the committee system to the economic interests of the people organized in the state. F. A. C.

The Study of Man. By Alfred C. Haddon. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons; London: Bliss, Sands & Co., 1898. The Science Series, Vol. I. Pp. xxv-(-4io, 8vo. $2.

Keeping strictly within the limits which the author himself marks out, this little book — The Study of Man — is a success. It is not intended for the specialist, not even for the student, but for the amateur and " the intelligent reader." It is a series of popular discussions of some of the subjects studied by the anthropologist, intended to show their importance and treatment. The work naturally presents chiefly the work of other students, but in the latter half Professor Haddon presents considerable of his own investigations into the meaning of children's games and toys. This part of the book appears to be a series of popular lectures and presents a fair degree of connectedness in developing a single line of research. Mr. Haddon's book may be expected to give " outsiders" an interest in and appreciation of the work of the anthropologist which may prove helpful. F. S.