The New York herald., 1922-12-10
Problems of the Day
Continued from Preceding Page.

case, his conclusions are essentially unre-
liable, for he forgets that the ancient
Greeks, the intellectual giants of history.
were blend of two prehistoric races that
the ancient Hebrews, likewise of foremost
intellectual caliber, are believed to have
been compound of two peoples: that the
Normans, one of the finest races of modern
times. are known to have been of mixed
blood, and that the French. the Anglo
men, have an ancestry that includes many
racial strains.
Turning to books that deal more directly
with the industrial problem we may men
tion Whiting Williams's Horny Hands
and Hampered Elbows" discussion of the
mind of the worker in western Europe.
The conclusion reached by Mr.. Williams
is that the worker in Europe tolls harder
than does his brother in America, that in
return he receives less in the way of COM
forts and even of necessities, and that,
largely because of the plight of labor, Eu-
rope has need both of the good will of
America and of our intelligent cooperation.
Somewhat more VITAL because the problem
il deals with is a vaster one, is A A. Hell
ler's volume on Industrial Revival in
Soviet Russia" far sighted and discern
ing account of conditions in the land of the
Communist. 1.-The Russian revolution"
declares the author will go down in his
tory as the most profound and far reaching
social upheaval since the fall of the Roman
Empire and it claimed a surprisingly
small number of victims for so widespread
and serious a struggle" The revolution is
still in progress. but the destructive stage
is over and the constructive stage has be-
gun. Though it may require a generation
before it runs its course this is really but
a small period for so fundamental a social
change; and, meanwhile, those who rail
at the Communists for not having achieved
perfection only demonstrate their failure
to apprehend the vastness of the problem.
Actually, except in the famine ridden
areas, the Russian peasant is now better
off than under the Cars; and there is no
doubt, the author indicates. that his lot
will gradually improve as the process of
reconstruction continues
OF the three remaining books two are
of but casual interest for the general
reader, and therefore may be passed over
with but brief mention. Prof. Gillette's vol
ume on Rural Sociology is what the title
implies-a carefully compiled and compre-
hensive study of the social, economic, san
tary, agricultural, educational and religious
problems of country districts. Likewise,
Prof Perman's History of Trade Union
ism in the United States" is what the title
implies; the author discusses minutely the
development of American trade unions
from the earliest days until the present,
ard reaches the conclusion that the unions
In this country have tended to be con-
servative and that, therefore. "the hope of
American Bolshevism will con-
tinue to rest with the will of the employers
to rule as autocrats."
Last, but certainly not least, is Dallas
Lore Sharp's slender but acute and thought
full volume on Education in a Democracy"
This consists of four essays, which vigor-
ously condemn current educational ten
denotes. which make a plea for more pub
lie education and indict that negation of
democracy known as the private school.
Prof Sharp observes a dangerous trend
toward educational snobbishness and aris-
tocracy; combined with this he sees a no
less dangerous tendency toward CONNER
cialism; he finds that the academic courses
instill knowledge in a machine made, me-
chanical fashion, that those which purport
to give a commercial education are sheer