The Washington herald., 1913-06-01
By A. D. JACOBSON.

THE SOUTHLAND OF NORTH AMERICA;
OBSERVATIONS IN CENTRAL AMERICA
DURING 1872: By George Palmer Putnam. Illus
trated. New yort-G. ?. Putnams Sons Prce,
SIS
The authors aim is to point out in a
graphic, entertaining. ana informing
manner from his observations made,
while rambling through the Central
American republics last year by land
and sea. that at our very door lies an
almost untouched treasure land. He
calls this a region OF fascinating possi-
bilities" which, with the increasing
travel southwark, is bound some day to
command attention.
Mr.. Palmer has had exceptional oppor-
tunities, through prominent connections
in the lands described. for gathering an
insight into many things that are de-
MED a less favored observer. And tine
result is q volume that leaves untouched
no important phase OF hitherto out NJ
tie or specifically known countries
Neither Panama nor the Canal Zone
have been overlooked by the author. In
fact, II In the open sesame to the en-
tire volume, for Mr.. Palmer begins with
our great national enterprise anc mas
quite q good deal TO say ABOUT tne
work, the country, its fiora and the
fauna
To make the descriptions more vivid,
the book more interesting. he lets
prominent natives or American consuis
or diplomats do the talking and explain
ing. To go here into detail about the
work. would not mean to review 1t
there IS nothing to criticise by the
Ntteratteur-but to deprive the STUDENT or
reader Of his chance to delve into II
and consume its fund of information in
trammeled by fragmentary opinion
Mr.. Palmer has given us a much
needed book of travel and Of reference
EUROPEAN CITIES AT WORK: By Dr. Fred
Sous Price. S.1
The present work of this well-known
economist is a study of Old World cities
as they appear TO an American. study
gained from actual contact with burgo-
masters officials, and businessmen at
Berlin and a number of leading German
cities: at Brussels. Glasgow. Manchester,
Liverpool, and London. II is the result OF
repeated visits to Europe, one Of which
was to make a municipal investigation
the United States government. An
other was made by the author as MEM
Der of the Boston Chamber Of Commerce
party in 1911. which went abroad to
study city conditions. II is study of
all that. distinguishes European cities
from American.
DIR Howe expresses his convictions that
the German city is an experiment sta
ton for, us all. In midst of monarchies.
each city is a little republic with power
to y almost anything for the welfare
of its people The city is sovereign.
and it uses its sovereignty to build in
conscious, intelligent way. 1t may
mod its own destiny as did the cities of
ancient Greece. It controls property as
Well as people. 1t acts with an eye to
the future. not only of the city, but Of
the lives and comforts of the people as
well. The German city is built something
in the manner Pericles built Athens, as
Louis " planned Versailles. or as the
two Napoleons rebuilt Paris.
Twenty years ago the phrase munich
pal housekeeping was common in Ger
many. 1t expressed the current ideals OF
city administration. Since then thought
has progressed. Men now talk of COM
munity living" It is being realized that
the city involves vicarious costs that can
and should be shifted from those who
suffer from city conditions onto those
who profit by them
Already the cities of Germany and to a
great extent those of other continsntal
nations and of Great Britain have DEM
onstrated that many of the sacrifices of
the modern industrial city can be avoid |
ed. Poverty can be reduced and the life
of the people be enriched in countless |
ways not possible under rural conditions. !
Many activities are so closely related to |
the life of the people that they cannot |
with safety be left in private hands |
There must be provision for play, for |
leisure, as well as for education The |
landowner. the householder, the means |
of transportation, the supply of water, |
gas, and electricity environ life in so
many ways that they must be subordi- |