CRIMINALITY AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. By William Adrian Bonger. Translated by Henry P. Horton, with an editorial preface by Edward Lindsey and an introduction by Frank H. Norcross. The Modern Criminal Science Series. Boston: Little, Brown & Co. $5.50 net.

To the first part of this number of the series, Dr. Bonger of Amsterdam, Holland, contributes his monograph, entitled A Systematic and Critical Exposition of the Literature Dealing with the Relation Between Criminality and Economic Conditions, to which, ten years ago, honorable mention was given by the juridical faculty of the University of Amsterdam. But the author has brought his review of the literature up to the date of June, 1914. The bibliography begins with Sir Thomas More's Utopia. The second part of the work presents the author's own views on the relation of environment to crime. His conclusion is expressed in the words of Quételet, " It is society that prepares the crime."

We absolutely disagree with his conclusion, and yet much valuable help is to be found in his collation of the literature, and everyone will sympathize with his subsidiary conclusion given in the words from Manouvrier who, treating of the prevention of crime, said: "The maxim to apply is, act so that every man shall always have more interest in being useful to his fellows than in harming them."

It is interesting to find how thoroughly the author disagrees with certain criminological theories that are now being reduced to practice, save the mark! as if they were obvious first principles. He expresses his contempt for the theory that sterilization may be an effective method of reducing the army of criminals. He says: "One should be inclined to ask if the advocates of sterilization have never heard of Australia where a considerable number of inhabitants have descended from the worst of criminals, and where yet the rate of criminality is low." Dr. Bonger suggests that "sterilization would be about as useful against the flood of criminality as an effort to stop a brook in its course with a bottle."

While Dr. Bonger from his socialistic affiliations emphasizes too much the economic factors in crime, he throws many interesting side lights on present-day criminality, and makes it very clear that economic factors, as all must admit, play an important rôle in criminality. He deprecates such teaching as the quasi-moral precept "honesty is the best policy," or that widely-taught axiom for success in life, "every man for himself." Such teaching cannot

fail to lead men of inferior moral calibre into the commission of crime, whenever they feel it may be to their advantage. Inasmuch as the environment is readily improvable, while heredity is much less hopeful, Dr. Bonger's book has more promise in it than the discussions on "the born criminal" and "the criminal degenerate which have been so common in recent years.

BLACKFEET TALES OF GLACIER NATIONAL PARK. By James Willard Schultz. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. $2.00 net.

The apparently increasing interest in the true lore of the North American Indian will gain fresh impetus from this authoritative book. The author, an old frontiersman whose intimate knowledge of his subject extends over many years, gives a brief, effective account of the first entrance of white men into the Blackfeet country, and of his own return to it, after long absence, in the summer of 1915, to visit this people whom he calls his own, and to live their daily life with them, as of old. As they travel through the country that was once solely theirs, revisiting places to which the whites have given uninviting substitutes for the old Indian names full of poetical significance, stories are told while the lodge fire burns and the pipe makes its rounds. In the telling of these legends and folk-tales the author appears only as an interpreter: they are narrated with a simplicity that does little more than convey the meaning. Whatever of literary opportunity may be lost is, however, compensated for in the effect produced of absolute genuineness. There is fascination in them, and both the stories and the author's fleeting disclosures of himself fasten our attention and touch our sympathies.

The appearance of the book, with its many illustrations from beautiful photographs, does credit to the publishers.

TACT AND TALENT. By Irish Priests. 35 cents net. THE WRITINGS ON THE WALLS. By Conall Cearnach. Dublin: M. H. Gill & Son, Ltd. 35 cents net.

These slender twin volumes lead one to wonder a little why it was thought necessary to put forth matter so well worth while in a form so easy to overlook. They are made up of short essays and articles on miscellaneous subjects that are of interest to an intelligent reader. The themes are occasionally religious, more generally secular, and frequently humorous; but whatever the na

ture of the topic in hand it is treated thoughtfully and with leisured grace, and considerable information is scattered through the pages, imparted informally and entertainingly. The tone throughout is so urbane that one thinks of them as desirable traveling companions, responsive to demands for beguilement of tedious quarter-hours; but after they are laid aside we realize that a longer time is requisite to efface the impressions we have received, and that we would gladly repeat the experience of reading, for instance, such portions as: Croagh Patrick, Two Sea Scenes, and Patriotism and Language.

MICHELANGELO. By Romain Rolland. New York: Duffield & Co. $2.50 net.

It was a happy thought to choose the Venusti portrait of Michelangelo as the frontispiece of this volume. Study the portrait before you begin to read the text; notice the rugged face, the sweep of the brow, the strength of the nose, the inspired eye of the seer of visions and the dreamer of dreams; notice likewise the furrowed forehead, the seared cheek, the petulant mouth, the whole expression furtive, hunted and haunted. Then turn over the pages of the book and admit that the pen of M. Rolland has drawn no less skilfully and revealingly than the brush of Venusti. The universal power of the master who left no form of the fine arts, not even poetry, untouched, and who "touched nothing that he did not adorn," receives full meed of acknowledgment and reverence. But, just as in Michelangelo's own painting the shades seem to exist for their own sake rather than to strengthen the lights, so, in reading the sordid story of genius crippled by private enmity and political cabal, the impression grows that their success lay rather in his weakness than in his enemies' strength.

Though a short biographical sketch is given, the book is concerned chiefly in setting forth the relations of Michelangelo with Julius II. and succeeding Popes, and with the Medici in Florence. The monumental works, like the tomb of Julius II., the "Last Judgment," and the dome of St. Peter's, are described in detail and with a wealth of appreciative sympathy; and there is scarcely a plan or cartoon that has not its word of explanation. There is also a lengthy chapter on his relations with Vittoria Colonna, under whose influence his most beautiful verses were inspired.

Having taken as his theme Michelangelo's life as an example of the influence a great man may have on his age, M. Rolland

devotes his last chapter to summing up his data to show that this special genius realized itself in the most simple and abstract forms in which the senses play the least part and the spirit the greatest, and that, therefore, by him and through him the elegant subtlety of the Quattrocento was swept away forever. But this purely interpretative section is less happy than what precedes; the tone is a little morbid, the philosophy involved, the conclusions somewhat arbitrary. In general, however, the tone is elevated, the style highly imaginative, characterized by stirring figures well sustained and especially well rendered into English by the translator, Frederick Street. The twenty-three illustrations of the volume are an art gallery in miniature.

THE FORTUNES OF GARIN. By Mary Johnston. Boston: Houghton Mifflin & Co. $1.40 net.

The last quarter of the twelfth century and the wooded hills of southern France form the picturesque background of this mediæval romance. Impregnable castles on dizzy heights, rich knights and poor, a bishop, an abbot, high-born ladies, crusaders, troubadours and the usual supernumeraries, are woven into a story full of varied color and charm.

The hero has many wonderful adventures, overcoming them all in turn, and seems equally at home as the poor esquire of an obscure lord or the court favorite lately returned from the Holy Land with honors and gold. In the beginning of his career he rescues a maiden in distress and fights her unknown assailant, who proves to be a dreaded power in the neighborhood and the villain of the tale. Fearing the result of his quarrel young Garin "takes the Cross" and joins a company of departing crusaders, determined to win his spurs of knighthood and prove himself worthy of a noble lady whom he has seen at a distance, but whose face was hidden by her veil. It is refreshing to read that this unknown heroine is not the most beautiful princess of her time, but leaves that distinction to her stepmother, and that the two ladies are ever on the best of terms.

Garin returns from over seas at the right moment to rescue a princess and her besieged castle from the unknightly villain, and to find in her not only the lady of his dreams, but the maid, masquerading as a shepherdess, in whose defence he risked his life at the beginning of his fortunes.

Altogether it is a good story graphically told, and bearing more

than one resemblance to an ancient tapestry in the permanence of its characters. The hero is always the hero, the princess always the heroine with never a deflection; the villain is always the villain with never a redeeming trait; the bishops and monks are ever of the time-serving, table-loving variety, and the rank and file so grouped about the background that they never obtrude into the brilliant picture designed to show forth the trials and glories of their masters.

WHAT PICTURES TO SEE IN AMERICA.

By Lorinda Munson

Bryant. New York: John Lane Co. $2.00 net.

This volume with its excellent illustrations-over two hundred in number-covers the art museums of the United States from Boston to San Francisco and longitudinally from Minneapolis to New Orleans. It is not intended as a thorough guide to the different galleries, but rather as a help to those whose taste is in the forming, or who want to see the best and are unaware of its presence.

The pictures are described in clear, simple language with no technical flourishes, but entirely from the Non-Catholic viewpoint, which is apt to see far more to admire in the homely interiors and portraits of Holland than in the spirituality and symbolism of the early Latin dreamers. As usual in a work of this kind the author's personal tastes and prejudices are clearly seen, and more than once the reader wishes she had consulted his tastes and prejudices: for many favorites are ignored or dismissed with faint praise.

As a whole the volume cannot fail to interest the home-keeping traveler who knows a thing or two about art, and it will doubtless come as a revelation to many readers that the inimitable paintings of the old masters of Europe are so numerous in this country.

LUTHER. By Hartmann Grisar, S.J. Translated by E. M. Lamond. Edited by Luigi Cappadelta. Volume V. St. Louis: B. Herder. $3.25 net.

The fifth volume of Father Grisar's monumental Life of Luther discusses the ethical results of the reformer's new teaching, the dishonesty of his polemics, his melancholy, superstition, doubts and devil-mania, his attitude toward the Council of Trent, his literary labors and his views on society and education.

Father Grisar, as usual, never makes a statement about Luther's character or teachings without giving his readers ample references to prove his point.