Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/576

 5S6 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

arguments ; that institutions cannot be transplanted from one people to another without undergoing radical changes. All these and many other things are restated in a somewhat new terminology, which gives them, perhaps, a touch of novelty, but they are interspersed with so many unwarranted generalizations that the book, as a whole, makes the impression of a brilliant, daring, but largely doctrinaire and untrustworthy body of personal dicta. Yet, in spite of all this, Le Bon deserves the credit of having indicated problems and outlined a system ; a service which social psychologists will willingly recognize as valuable. The translation is anonymous, and apparently the work of a "hack." To say nothing of awkward English, misplaced clauses, and the like, one or two inexcusable blunders may be noted. The American "War of Succession" (p. xvi) (orig. secession) is, perhaps, not so surprising from an English translator — the work was evidently done in London — but what can we say for this sentence (p. 195): ". . . . a few Arab tribes, unified by the thought of Mahomet, con- quered in a few years nations ze'-*^? /^«c'rif t'^'ry waww . . . ."(orig.

"qui ignoraient jusqu'4 leurs noms ") ?

George E. Vincent.

The Criminal Insatie in the United States and in Foreign Countries. Report by S. J. Barrows. Washington, 1898. This Senate document has been prepared by one of the most com- petent men in the nation. It deserves the careful attention of all who are interested in humane treatment of irresponsible persons, and in the protection of society against those who are dangerous. This work should quicken the movement to provide in all states special asylums for criminals of unsound mind. It is a wrong to the ordinary insane to compel them to associate with lawbreakers in the state hospitals.

C. R. H.