Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-22
BOOK REVIEWS.

PUBLIC OWNERSHIP AND THE
TELEPHONE IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Restriction Of the Industry. by the
Hugo Richard Meyer. sometime as
sistant professor Of political econ
omy In the University OF Chicago.
author Of Government Reguiation
The Macmillan Company. Washing
ton: Woodward & Lothrop.
The great interest aroused By the ex-
perinents in municipal control being
| made in England and in certain of her
colonies is evidenced by the number of
books that are being published on various
phases Of the subject. In the present in
stance the author makes q strong case
in support Of his contention that, in the
| case of telephone service, the government
influence has been far from beneficial.
He starts with the statement: -Four
factors have shaped the telephone policy
of Great Britain. They have been: The
desire OF the state to protec. the national
telegraphs from competition from the
| telephone: the Duke Of Marlborough's let
tiers to the Times. alleging that it was
possible to supply telephone service to
metropolitan London on the basis Of $50
a year for unlimited use; the desire of
the municipalities to regulate the charges
Of the National Telephone Company. a
llcensee OF the postmaster general; and
the political ambition Of Mr. r. w Han
bury. who. as financial secretary to the
treasury. In the period from 1896 to 1900
! represented in the house Of commons the
postmaster general the Duke Of Nor
folk He then shows, by appeal to es-
tablished facts. that the government, in
cited by these influences, has constantine
| hampered the United Telephone Company
in its development.
| Owing to the exertions o: its four
enemies the National Telephone Com
| pany has been una BILE to obtain the nee
essary way-rates through various munich
| palities. and has found it impossible to
| introduce popular rates: moreover. since
the government has granted a charter
| only until 1911. the public uncert ainty as
| to what will then become Of the property
has prevented financ,ers from investing
| largely enough properly 10 develop the
enterprise. AS result. where. in the
| United States. one in every twenty per-
the United Kingdom only one person in
! every los is a subscriber. With allow
ance for the so-called conservatism Of
England and Scotland. ''one cannot es-
cape the conclusion that Great Britain is
very far from the position it might at
, captains Of industry and fnanciers."
NO one would deny says Prof.
Meyer. that the policy OF private own
ership eives rise to grave abuses in a
ever watchful as we'll as intelligent--on
the other hand. the experiences Of Great
Britain teach that equally grave abuses
are possible under the policy Of public
watcilful and intelligent Every viola
ton of the rights OF private property
! strikes at the very springs of progress.
None does 80 more surely and fatally
! than does the violation OF the rights OF
the inventor and Of the person who un-
RI rf EAa the ma r1OuQ ia Sk az 0eva10nin0
an invention from an ingenious mechani-
cal device or scientific toy into a paying
machine or article Of trade in daily use. -
This is a forcible volume Of Prof. Meyer
| ice industries. Whatever may be the
opinion OF the reader on the subject. the
authors citation OF facts and his lOSi-
cal directness must claim respect and
consideration.
THE BOY GEOLoGIsT. at School and
In Camp. BY Edwin ]. Houston.
Ph.D.. author Of Tho Young Pros
Philadelphia: Henry Altemus Com
pany.
4 successful example Of the tendency
Of the day to present the facts Of science
In an interesting and yet authoritative
manner for young readers il DR.. Hous
toms book. 1.-The Boy Geologist.'' The
author ia we'll qualified for such work.
He is emeritus professor OF physical &C.
ography and natural philosophy in the
Central High School Of Philadelphia. pro-
lessor of physics in the Franklin Insti-
tnte, and has served two terms as presi
dent Of the American Institute Of Elec-
trical Engineers. His many text books
have won him high standing in the
educational world. Tine present volume
is, however. far from being a text book
in disguise. 1t is a boys story. The boy
seologist and his chum, who is particu-
larly interested in chemistry. are students
In big boarding school near Philadel-
phia. There they fight the battles Of
their miniature world, and from there the
story broadens into the adventures Of
camp and. neld. The story is entertain
readers attention as well as excite his
interest in the wonders of mine and way
side.
Story. BY E. X. Sanders author Of
"Angelique Of Port Royal New
York: e. p. Dutton & Co.
This is delicate idyl. full OF tender
sentiment. in which. under guise OF the
supernatural, child il taught some OF
the eternal truths of life. A sensitive
and imaginative boy is taken away from
a bustling and cheerful environment to
live with his lately returned father at
an isolated English estate. In his lone
illness ne bids fair to become q nervous
and morbid child. until Ire meets 1.-The
forest playfellOw.'' who. under guise Of
the merriest play. teaches him loving
lessons. Growth into sympathy with his
father and the discovery of the identity
of the mysterious companion are the
outcome of an unusually charming story
THE PATH OF DEVOTION. with ar,
Appendix Containing Sanscrit Salu-
/. tations and Prayers with Iransla-
tions.) BY Swami Paramanada. New
York: The Vedanta Society.
This little volume consists chiefly Of
extracts from letters written solely to
meet an Individual need and with no
thought Of publication. Believing that
| the voice Of the Divine Teacher breathes
through the words, the one to whom
they are addressed has desired to
| share them with all. The thought 10
included under various general heads:
Devotion" Purity" '"Steadfastnsss,'
"Fearleseness." Self Surrender" Since
the interest aroused In esoteric philosophy
| at the time OF the Chicago fair the think
ing world has often been aroused to ad-
miration by the teachings Of the Swamis
who have come to this country at the
invitation Of the Vedanta Society OF New
York. THE PATH Of Devotion" breathes
a spirit Of purity, sincerity and absolute
self-abne cation.
THE POLITICIAN. BY Antonio Fogaz-
FARO. Translation by G. Mantellini
Boston: Luce & Co.
10 those who have acquired or who pos
fn,. foro mr.