This condition makes it easy for the "curbstoner," who consults the indices in the Clerk's office only, to thrive. I would like to have someone who will and can, write an article on how best to educate the land owner to the importance of an abstract and just what an abstract is. We have a complete index of all the land in Torrance county, New Mexico, and this index consists of, at present, approximately 27,000 cards, giving the name of the grantor, name of the grantee, description of the land, kind of instrument, volume and page. These are filed alphabetically. Then we have a tract index, so arranged as to sections, townships and ranges that we can refer to the land description desired immediately. We try to do our abstract work as neatly as possible, arranging all title matter in a concise manner, abandoning all old forms where possible, and are not afraid to show too much of each instrument. We try to conform to all changes in title laws and requirements of title examiners where necessary. I know that there is still much room for improvement and would like to read other suggestions from those that probably know more about the business than I do. I want to improve the quality of my work, and want also to be able to educate the public to the importance of an abstract and to teach them that an abstracter is a necessity instead of a parasite. Many people, naturally, come to believe that anybody of ordinary intelligence can open up an office and make abstracts with little or no preparation, but I know that a novice should not attempt such a task. Yours very truly, NEW MEXICO ABSTRACT COMPANY. Estancia, N. M., May 13, 1923. Jas. J. Hall, Mgr. Editor, The Lawyer and Banker: Enclosed find check for subscription and listing for the current year. This remittance should have been sent earlier, but the fact is your statement for a renewal of subscription, which duly reached us, became lost or misplaced in the office. We trust that our tardiness in remitting will not result in our losing an issue of your valuable magazine, as we feel that it is a very valuable asset to our business. We cannot afford to be without it. Yours very truly, Santa Barbara, Calif. THE WRIGHT ABSTRACT COMPANY. Editor LAWYER AND BANKER. We wish to assure you that we always renew our subscription to THE LAWYER AND BAANKER With the greatest pleasure and with the satisfaction of having received full value therefrom. As you already know, the writer considers your publication as in a class to itself in so far as the interest of the title fraternity is concerned. There is no publication devoting the whole or any part of its pages to matters of interest to the title man as does your publication. With best wishes for your continued prosperity, we are, Yours very truly, UNION TITLE GUARANTEE COMPANY, Inc., New Orleans, La., May 9, 1923. BOOK REVIEWS PARLIAMENTARY LAW Parliamentarians and officers of clubs and societies will find General Henry M. Robert's latest book, PARLIAMENTARY LAW, to be a veritable encyclopaedia of parliamentary procedure and law. It is the most comprehensive volume that has yet come from the pen of General Robert, who is generally acknowledged to be the foremost living writer upon the subject. Although this volume embraces a wide field and is encyclopaedic in character, it is by no means difficult to understand nor dull to read. On the contrary, it succeeds admirably in its purpose to interest the average reader and to give to him a clear understanding of the rules and established customs that are commonly used to guide an assembly of persons. An interesting feature of the book i sthe section, of nearly one hundred and fifty pages, devoted to four hundred questions and answers selected frof the author's extensive parliamentary law correspondence. These questions were asked, for the most part, by officers of societies or teachers of parliamentary law, and they cover difficulties that are constantly occurring today in clubs and societies. They have been classified and separately indexed so that they can be easily and quickly referred to by the chairman of a meeting who suddenly finds himself confronted by a perplexing problem that requires an immediate solution. In PARLIAMENTARY LAW deals with Motions, Debate, Nominations and Elections, Boards and Committees, Discipline, Meetings, and By-laws. the last part of the book will be found charts, various lists of motions, forms of committee's reports, tally sheets, credentials of delegates, and minutes of numerous kinds of meetings. Cloth bound, 700 pages, Price $5.00. The Century Company, New York. THE CHICKASAW NATION By James H. Malone of the Memphis (Tennessee) Bar Published and for sale by John P. Morton & Co., Louisville, Ky.; 537 pages, cloth bound; price$2.75. We have read this book with great care and pleasure. It is probably the most valuable contribution which the literature of Indian life has been favored with. Judge Malone's clear characterization of Sequoyah will insure his lofty place in history more surely than his statue in the Hall of Fame. Lawyers throughout the country should be greatly interested in the legal questions involved and discussed. The author sympathetically portrays the profanation of the Indian proprietary rights. If this book could be placed in our public schools as a history of the social customs, morality, bravery and loyalty of these desert kings, the children of this age would acquire a much better understanding of the origin of our government and the strength with which it grew. From page to page, interesting and notable events are pictured. The Chickasaw race in point of virtue and sex morality were as far ahead of the white men in these balmy days of civilization as it is possible for imagination to depict. The Chickasaw Nation should have a place in every public library in America. With a sense of regret and wounded pride do we attempt a discussion of the all-important question to the lawyers of this country: Is the practice of law still the work of professional men, or is it fast becoming nothing more than the competitive business of trained and skilled commercialists? If our legal profession is becoming commercialized, and to be frank this must be admitted to be true to an alarming extent, then, for the sake of the profession and the best interest of the people, what must the lawyers do? Shall they supinely allow the continuance of this degradation of the profession, or take heed and abolish the causes of the debauchery? These questions face us and we must answer them! Historically, the legal profession, since time immemorial, has been looked upon as a learned profession, composed of men highly educated and well informed, possessing high standards of morality and honesty, and embodying those noble principles requisite to loyalty and patriotism. Because of their intellectual abilities and honesty of purpose, lawyers have been always the chief defenders of the common rights and liberties of mankind. In this sense did De Torqueville declare of the lawyers of America: "Lawyers belong to the people by birth and interest, to the aristocracy by habit and by taste, and they may be looked upon as the natural bond and connecting link of the two great classes of society. If I were asked," said he, "where I place the American aristocracy, I should reply without hesitation, that it is not composed of the rich, who are united together by no common tie, but that it occupies the judicial bench and the bar." Of the learned professions, that of law, next to the Christian ministry, affords the greatest opportunity for altruistic and humanitarian service. True is the saying of Burke, that, "Law is the pride of the human intellect, and the collected wisdom of the ages; combining the principles of original justice, with the boundless variety of human concerns." And as beautifully said by Blackstone: "Law is a science which employs in its theory the noblest faculties of the soul, and exerts in its practice the cardinal virtues of the heart." No wonder, then, that up to the Twelfth Century, the only lawyers in England were clergymen! It was well, however, that the practice of law was taken away from the clergy, since their first office and obligation is to care for the salvation of the soul of man, whereas municipal law relates to the political society of mankind. This distinction is well defined by Sir Philip Sidney, when considering who of the learned serves best to bring forth from others virtuous action, said of the lawyer: "And for the lawyer, though Just be the daughter of Justice, and Justice the chief of virtue, yet because he seeketh to make men good rather formidine poenae than virtutis amore or, to say righter, doth not endeavor to make men good, but that their evil hurt not others; having no care, so he be a good citizen, how bad a man he be; therefore, as our wickedness maketh him necessary, and necessity maketh him honorable, so is he not in the deepest truth to stand in rank with these, who all endeavor to take naughtiness away, and plant goodness even in the secretest cabinet of our souls." Although the lawyer may not be expected to look after the welfare of the souls of men, it is his duty to safe-guard and protect their temporal rights, yet, with an intelligent mind and an honest heart the lawyer, in whom is reposed the confidence and innermost secrets of his client, by giving righteous and honest advice and by leading an exemplary life, has, perhaps, a greater opportunity than even the clergy for influencing the client toward thinking and acting honestly and equitably. So, then, the two essential prerequisites for the making of an ideal lawyer are intelligence and honesty. Lawyers belong to a knightly profession, because whether paid or not, we are ever fighting other people's battles. We should be peacemakers, and never forget that our office binds us to promote reverence for the law. Reverence for the law, Lincoln once said, should be "the political religion of the nation." Said he, "If any of our laws. prove unjust or unsuited to the times, it is easy for us to repeal them; but while they stand it is the high office of the lawyer to see that they are respected and obeyed." Today, when people everywhere are possessed of a spirit of restlessness, critical of any existing law or government, and desirous of taking the law into their own hands for the ex |