Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 18.pdf/50

 The Green Bag PUBLISHED MONTHLY AT #4.00 PER ANNUM.

SINGLE NUMBERS 50 CENTS.

Communications in regard to the contents of the Magazine should be addressed to the Editor, S. R. WRIGHTINGTON, 31 State Street, Boston, Mass. The Editor will be glad to receive contributions of articles of moderate length upon subjects of in terest to the profession; also anything in the way of legal antiquities or curiosities, facetiae, anecdotes, etc.

The publishers of the GREEN BAG at the conclusion of the first year, under its present management, being- desirous of ascertaining if the numerous changes which have been made in the scope and arrangement of the magazine in the last two years were, on the whole, meet ing with the approval of our subscribers, with characteristic directness have prepared a cir cular, which the reader has doubtless received, asking if these changes have proved satis factory, and inviting advice and criticism. They have been extremely gratified at the willingness of subscribers to answer the cir cular and at the interest they have shown in the development of the magazine. We, there fore, wish to take this opportunity of thanking them for their courtesy. Of the ten per cent of subscribers who have so far replied, all but a few have expressed in general their approval of the changes and we are, therefore, encouraged to continue our policy. The most important suggestion by way of further improvement was a request for re views of new books. In the past we found it very difficult to get impartial and com petent men to thoroughly read and review important books within a reasonable time. The result was annoyance of authors and pub lishers, as well as reviewers, and distress of the editor, who was between the two fires. Partly for these reasons and partly because of the increased demands upon our space, the old system of book reviews was abandoned at the beginning of last year. It was understood, how ever, that later, some attempt should be made to cover this important field. The appropriate lime seems the beginning of the new year, and the systematizing of other departments affords an opportunity to make a beginning. Here

after, the department of Reviews of Current Legal Articles will be called Current Legal Liter ature, and will include reviews not only of mag azine articles but of new books which are sent us for review. Books which appear to be merely acctirate collections of decisions or convenient manuals for the lawyer will be given very brief notice. This is not because the value of such books is not appreciated but because a brief statement of the field cov ered and a word of commendation or criticism will suffice to call the reader's attention to the book so that when next he has occasion to investigate the subject of which it treats, he can use it and form his own opinion. Books which seem to present novel features, which a reader would be likely to overlook, will re ceive somewhat more extended notice. But only in very exceptional cases will text-books be elaborately criticised or summarized. We intend, however, to continue our custom of publishing occasionally, as leading articles, essays upon topics suggested by important or interesting new books. The GREEX BAG has been fortunate in the last year in having an efficient and faithful printer, and the excellence of the work of its proof-reader has materially lightened the editor's labors. Occasionally, the best sys tems will break down, however, and Decem ber seemed to be fated with troubles. The most serious typographical error that we have so far committed occurred in Mr. Hubbell's article. Near the end of the first column, after some criticism of the insurance officials, he stated, "these men had the unlimited con fidence of their fellow-men." Thinking thisimplied a little too sweeping criticism he wrote us at the last moment desiring us to add, "and it is only fair to say that most of them deserved it." We added it. But it is one of the mysteries of providence that the printer changed the "v" to "t" and, while leaving the sentence perfectly intelli gible, completely reversed its sense.