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Editorial Départaient. THE Civil Tribunal of the Seine has recentlydecided a novel kind of a libel case, for such it was, although technically it took the form of an action her lateby husband. a widow forHedamages was severely for thecriticised loss of | lately in some articles in a trade paper called L'Echo ties Chemins lie Fer. He took the criti cisms very much to heart, so much so that he committed suicide. He left a widow and one child. The wife, being of opinion that her hus band's death had been caused in reality by the articles in question, sued the proprietors of the paper for,£2,000 damages. The court in its judgment held that as the husband's suicide was brought about by calumnious imputations and menaces, the proprietors of the paper in which they appeared were responsible, and awarded the full amount of damages claimed, at the same time condemning the defendants in cost. Ap parently the Code Napoleon does not act on the maxim, Actio personalis moritur cum persona. THE Ohio Supreme Court is to be congratulat ed on its improved accommodation now being built at Columbus. Practically the whole build ing will be devoted to the Court and its law library, the entire second floor being occupied by a fine, large court-room with adjoining consul tation rooms and private rooms for the judges, while the law library occupies the greater part of the first floor. While the library room will be very handsome, it is unfortunate that library convenience has been so much subordinated to architectural effect. A gallery, unnecessarily massive and wasteful of space, occupies three sides of the room. Main floor and gallery will be shelved in alcove style, and if books are shelved to occupy the full height step-ladders must be generally used, or if not so shelved about three feet of space is wasted on each floor. It is doubtful whether the windows will satisfactorily light the gallery, and the heavy gallery floor cuts off all light from below. Handsome iron galleries and shelving would have best assured the essential features of modern library construction, namely capacity and elas ticity for growth, light and air, safety and conveni ence. The height of the new room would allow three such galleries, but two would give the same capacity as the proposed arrangement, and a third one when later needed would provide for

future growth. Better light and air would be as sured by the use of glass or iron-grated gallery floors. There would be no sacrifice of strength, and all shelves would be accessible from the floor. With all these advantages secured there need be no sacrifice in the appearance of the room, depending upon the architect's selection of iron work. It is unfortunate that the best f>raciical results should have been so unnecessarily sacri ficed to looks. INTERESTING

GLEANINGS.

THERE are 10,982 advocates, solicitors and pro curators in Italy whose gross incomes, according to the income tax returns, amount to $3,462.615, which gives an average income of about $315. Of these legal men, five profess to have an income of $6,000, eight of $5,000, sixteen of $4.000, seventy of $2,000, and 5,508 return theirs as under $200, which leaves a balance of nearly half the total number — 5-375 — to divide among them $2.087,015, which gives an average income to each of a little over $386. Archi tects and civil engineers fare still worse. PERHAPS in no other church in the world can be seen anything like the ornaments which grow in an old church in Ross, Herefordshire, England. They are two thriving elm trees, which naturally sprouted from the pavement of the edifice and stand one at each end of a pew. This pew was, many years ago, occupied by John Thyle. who spent a great deal of money planting elms in Ross, his native town. HUDDERSFIELD, Eng., must be the paradise of those who believe in municipal ownership. Every artisan, it is said, lives in a house owned by the city, comes to his work on a municipal car and gets his light, heat, bread, butchers' meat, bathing, recreation, hospital care and medical attendance from municipal establishments. We believe, however, that he has to bury himself. WHAT SHALL WE READ?

A forthcoming volume which will be welcomed by seriously inclined general readers, as well as by philanthropic workers, is Riis's Ten Years' War, which is to be published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co. No one among those who have battled with the slum has won greater respect for his sincerity, or greater regard for his knowledge of the subject, than Mr. Riis. Among the constantly increasing class of those who are students of the slum problem, or actual workers in it, the publication of the Ten Years* War will be awaited with interest. The Macmillan Company publish a book on