The Washington herald., 1912-09-15
py A. d. JACOBSON.

ny A.. ID. JACOBSON.
MODERN CONSTITUTIONS BY Walter Pair
leigh Dodd Pm D. The University Of Chicago
P1ess. Iruhlishen. Chicago.
This is work valuable as a book Of
reference, as it contains the constitutions
or fundamental laws OF the following
governments: Argentina. Australia. Aus
trial Hungary. Belgium. Brazil, Canada.
Chile, Denmark. France. Germany, Italy.
Japan, Mexico, Netherlands. Norway,
Portugal, Russia, Spain. Sweden. Switzer-
land. and the United States. These con-
stitutions heretofore have not been avail
able in an English collection Each con-
stitution is preceded by brief historical
Introduction. and is followed by q select
list OF the most important books dealing
with the government Of the country un-
der consideration.
According to that expert on constitu-
tions and international law, the British
Ambassador, Mr.. James Bryce, there Is
much to be learned from comparison
as we'll as of legal forms under which
government is carried on as OF the actual
political phenomena Of civilized states.
Comparative constitutional law is now
studied in most OF the colleges and uni
versities Of this country. While const-
tutions do not represent the complete
political organization of a state, they
furnish an excellent framework about
which the student may complete his
knowledge of governmental organization
MARY PBcHELL By Mrs. Benos Lcwndes-
Charles scTibner's Sons. New York.
The spice of mystery and adventure
mingies in the course of this novel OF
original thought and vigorous action,
with two love affairs-the one being re-
+, lated in retrospect while the other is its
duplicate nearly half century later.
Schemes of high finance also are inter
woven in the solution of Mary Pechelr s
problem. and in the end she doesn't allow
an unfortunate episode in her lover s
past to overshadow the present or to
despoil her future. By this courageous
act she refuses to follow in the foot
steps of her maiden aunt, whose pathetic
story of blighted love forms a part OF
the narrative.
The book is an entertaining story and
4 study In the technique Of the writing
of novels. Its plots hang together firmly,
although several groups of characters
are involved, appearing and reappearing
in the pages exactly as they might do
in life. They all have their influence
upon the lives of Mary Pechell and Rich
ard CaryIl, even though in several in
stances they never meet and are un-
aware of each others existence. In fact,
MARY Pechell'' is a novel of action and
incident and displays on its authors
part an understanding of life and man.
kind. Mrs Belloc Lowndes cleyeriy
shows how it is possible TO tell a story
for the story's sake, and at the same
time make it seem like a series of events
and an array of persona ges drawn truth
fully from everyday human existence.
And If the events in Mary Pechell's life
are plausible, the actors in it are no less
so. Even the mysterious Mrs. Wigney
and Miss Richenda Wigney. who make
but f1eeting appearance, although their
influence pervades the entire story, are
memory-lingering. In manner and speech
and personality they are striklngly set
before the reader, though a description
of Mary's visit to their secluded Isling-
ton home fills only a half dozen pages.
In Mary Pechell'' the reader will find
a novel of exceptional quality. its very
lack of pretense gives it an added claim
upon our attention. 1t is a novel that
holds the memory and impels reflection
and afterthought.
THE PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT. BY Arthur
F. Bentley. The University of Chicago Press
publishers, Chicago.
The author in this valuable compen-
dium grapples with the most difficult OF
problems that confront the scientific stu
dent of society. The position is assumed
that all types of political orgapiZation,
whether bosses rulers, or government
functionaries, and all types of public
opinion, have value and meaning in the
social process only as they give express
sion or representation 10 underlying
group interests of the population. Some
times. he maintains, these interests are
unrecognized, while often they can be
detected definitely, but only by pains
taking labor.
The struggle of social classes. thinks
Mr.. BENTLEY. is only one of the crudest
forms in which the group pressures of
society exert themselves. Analysis that
goes no further than classes is but a
starting point, he holds. for the almost
microscopic analysis of society into It's
many group interests
In illustration of the theory. the re-
cent manifestations OF political forces are
discussed. including especially the poll
cies that have grouped themselves around
the name of Roosevelt. An appendix
sets forth facts about some of the under
lying interests affecting the municipal
ownership campaign in Chicago. which
were detected through analysis of elec-
tion returns.
THE COURT OF ST. SIMON BY Anthony Part
ndge. Little Brown & Co., Boston.
believe that the author in his latest
novel has surpassed all previous records
The story is original in plot, filled with
rapid action and plenty Of mystery, and
has sensations galore. Most of the scene
Of action is at Paris. where the Apaches
and their type are introduced: then
come robberies and murders in London,
and, finally, the contrast of the hero's