Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-21
GOOD SOLID READING
STILL TO BE FOUND
New Books of Worth and Inter-
est on Matters Like Prepared
ness and Rural Credits

whoever wants to know the military
history Of the United states and the con-
ditiun of unpreparedness in which the
country now finds itself cannot do better
than read Frederic l.. Huidekoper's adj
mirabe book, THE Military Unprepared-
ness of the United States" macmillan
Company, New York;. The tubtitle, "A
History of American Land Forces From
Colonial Times Until June l, 19l5,' de-
scribes the volume with some degree of
accuracy but 1t is more than a history. 1t
is a plea for national preparedness based
upon a solid foundation of facts. The
chapter on 1.-THE Condition of the Land
Forces of the United States at the Begin
ming of 1915" should be read by every
Congressman, by every member of the
various societies organized to bring about
preparation for national defense, and,
above all, by every pacihst.
Mr. Huidekoper is not content with the
mere telling of a story. He attempts some
constructive work by suggesting a plan
for the organization of our land forces.
1t is so we'll thought out and so well
adapted to the present conditions that its
general outlines have the approval of the
Army War College. Mr. Huidekoper has
done for the public at large what General
Upton did for the army when he wrote his
great book on THE Military Policy of
the United States"
In the next Congress rural credits will
not be the least important subject to re-
ceive consideration. In the last few
years interest in 1t has become wide
spread among the people of city and
country and among legislators. Lately
two excellent books dealing with the
subject have been published one Is
Rural Credits" by Myron I. Herrick.
formerly Ambassador to France Cd.
1nNn e. rn md
is principles of Rural Credits" by
James B. Norman tthe Macmillan Com
pany). Both cover the methods and eN-
perience of European countries, and both
emphasize the idea of cooperation; but
the angle Of approach is somewhat diff
ferent.
The author Of the hrst-named work is
an experienced banker; Mr.. Norman is
an experienced farmer. Mr.. Herrick is
opposed to granting special privileges
or State aid to farmers, and believes
that the solution of the credit problem
requires neither.
Mr.. Norman, though he thinks that "the
principles of mutual help and self-help
should never be set aside for State aid"
favors State loans TO farmers under cer7
tain conditions. The two books deserve
a careful reading by legislators and by
others interested in rural welfare, and,
therefore. in national welfare; because
VI IIle VI llie NIN"S plN'S'itSN'
neither can take the place of the other
for student or general reader.
While Elements of Record Keeping for
Child Helping Organizations. by Georgia
G. Ralph Statistical Secretary Depart
ment of Child-Helpng, Russell Sage
Foundation, published by Survey Asso-
ciates, Inc, New York, Is primarily in
tended for the guidance of child-helping
organizations in the keeping of practical
and efficient records social workers who
are at all interested in child welfire work
will welcome the opportunity afforded to
become acquainted with the standard
forms used by the leading charitable Or
ganizations of the country. A reading of
this book will be OF considerable as
sistance in interpreting original records
and in abstracting information for annual
reports and the like.
Rupert Hughes new novel. "Cllpped
Wings CHarper & Bros, New York;, is
agreeably disappointing. II Is not one OF
the sex novels, in the composition of
which Mr. Hughes rivaled Robert w.
Chambers and owen Johnson. There is
nothing hectic about "Clipped Wings"
which has successful serial publication
as 1.-THE Barge of Dreams" 1t is a
straightaway novel of a young actress
rise to stardom, and presents intimate
and apparently accurate revelations of
the moods and impulses which move the
theatrical machine.