with the responsibility of either editing or working upon, as a "writer," an important work on pleading and practice or of state "jurisprudence." There is a broad distinction between a "sheepskin" and ability and efficiency in the law. The active practice gives to the individual a necessary fund of information not to be elsewhere procured, or otherwise obtained. It is related of a "theoretic lawyer" who had not only passed the usual period of a novitiate in a law school and came out with "colors flying," but had taken a post-graduate course in one of the old and famous universities of the New England states, who resolved to give a demonstration of practical and productive scholarship by writing a treatise on the law of waters. In the collection of his cases he had included an instance in which a convivial individual had indulged beyond the point of reason and sobriety in the "flowing bowl;" during the course of the early morning, feeling the necessity for relief from undue "water pressure," in a maudlin condition, this individual raised the hotel window and proceeded to use the ambient air as a urinal. A pedestrian passing along the sidewalk at the time took exception to the early-morning shower-bath. The matter went to the highest court of the state for final determination-hence its presence in the vast fund of cases collected. It is said that it was only after many "stormy" conferences with co-laborers upon the learned treatise that the case was finally eliminated from the informing treatise upon the law of waters. Had this sapling editor, of bumptious proclivities, but possessed a little fore-ground of practical experience at the Bar, he would have realized that the act of the bibulous individual was a tort pure and simple, and that the case did not belong to the domain of waters, or even of waterrights-notwithstanding the fact that the word "water" occurred in the report as the instrument used in inflicting the tort and personal indignity.

One more item remains to be entered to complete this brief survey of American worth-while law-books which lie scattered along the royal legal highway of the New World. Of this work I am disposed to and want to say much, but am inhibited to do so; I regard it as a work of genius but the author insists that it shall be appraised as "deserving mediocrity" conscientiously and faithfully and intelligently done. In 1906 James M. Kerr, the well-known law-writer, brought out his Cyclopedic California Codes, which became at once the standard works in that state, sweeping from the field of favor a work which had been the stand-by with the lawyers of the state for many years. A second edition was ready to go to press when the World War burst unheralded and America was drawn into the vortex of the conflict, with the result that publication had to be put off until the close of that war. Now, five years later than that war, the second edition is completing publication, "everything brought right down to date," the salesman will tell you-and this means much to the lawyers of that rising young state, many of whom find Kerr's Cyclopedia Codes, not only efficient "first aid" in all matters legal, but all-sufficient for their practice. This work is, in truth, as it is in name, "cyclopedic" in scope, and there are few problems presented to the practitioner which do not find a ready solution therein. It is difficult to convey a correct idea of the work by

mere descriptive words. It must be examined to be fully understood or appreciated. Some idea of the magnitude of the work may be gained when it is known that the Civil Code-which embraces the substantive law of the state is comprised in 3714 pages, bound in two volumes, and has about 45,000 separate annotation paragraphs; the Code of Civil Procedure— which embraces the procedural law of the state-will be comprised in about 4300 pages, and be bound in three volumes, with approximately 60,000 separate annotation paragraphs; the Political Code comprises 2200 pages, bound in two volumes; and the Penal Code contains 1876 pages, also bound in two volumes. The work is a veritable mine of pertinent points and supporting cases, and has absorbed the time and labors of the author for the past twenty years.

These codes are builded along new and helpful lines. The annotations are not reasoned discussions of points or abstract questions, and it is not a "gloss," merely; not a hodge-podge, but systematic and logical arrangerient, in an analytical manner, of pertinent points liable to arise in everyday practice, giving “instance cases" in almost every conceivable form in which each and every point of law or practice, both civil and criminal, which can arise under the code provisions, can be presented for solution. Unusual attention is given throughout the work to pertinent practice points, and the author, in his foreword to the Code of Civil Procedure says that "it is fondly hoped that no practice point will arise upon which aid and a 'line on authorities' will not be given." Another outstanding feature is evidenced by the fact that the author has the happy faculty of compressing into a few apt and significant works the "meat" of a whole annotation paragraph, which "key works" are set in black-letter type, and the paragraphs of annotation arranged alphabetically by the black-lettered catchwords, so that the searcher in the note appended to any particular section of any code is not required to read the annotation, or any paragraph therein, to get the case wanted on the point-in-hand; he simply casts his eye down the “analysis”—also arranged alphabetically—preceding the annotation or note to the section of the code, until the desired point is met with; and then turns at once to the paragraph in which the case wanted is to be found. These black-lettered lines are expressed in those words which suggest to the mind of the searcher the exact point, and are "keys” which unlock the compartments of the vast storehouse of admirably systemized points and cases.

The method of treatment in the annotation matter is unique in that each annotation paragraph contains but a single law-point, or practice-point, although there may be from one to twenty cases cited, all upon and bearing out the point as stated. The cases pro and con on all questions respecting which the cases are at variance are given, together with the distinctions, limitations, qualifications, and "refusals to follow." The author has no theory to advocate, other than sound fundamental principles; but he does not hesitate to give an "editorial" opinion upon a decision or a line of cases, which he regards as out of harmony with the fundamental principle which should be applied and govern, or which is contrary to a sound public policy.

Especial attention is given to "knotty" questions, in which are found discussion of principles and a collection of the more important cases.

A commendable feature of the work is the "format" or "get-up" of the page. Each page is a gem, in which the skill of the author and the printer combine, with the result that the work is unquestionably the handsomest set of books on the market today, from an artistic standpoint.

CRITICS OF THE LAWYER AND BANKER
Contributed by a Member of the A. A. of T. M.

He likes the magazine but he fears
His judgment may be off,

So he's afraid to give three cheers,
And yet he fears to scoff.
Afraid to praise, afraid to scold,
He's rather stumped, but soon
He's writing down a standby old:
"Good of its kind." "Poor Tom."

"Brewer" doesn't use that one,
He has another way

Of saying yes and no. (It's fun
To watch the hedging jay.)

Afraid to pen an honest razz,

He'll write a knock-and end it
With empty words like: "Still it has
Some things to recommend it."

Don't think that I've exhausted all
The ruses that these guys

Possess; I have seen them scrawl
An even better lie.

For though I give them ugly looks
One scribbles, to a letter,

This spineless line: "In later days
The Editor should do better."

To which we should like to add:

If all our critics were the kind
You mention, "Perry B.,"
We really think we shouldn't mind
Whate'er they'd say or do.
But what gets us is he who needs,
With every rhyme and reason,
The Lawyer and Banker Magazine:
"The best we've read this season."

BOOK REVIEWS

The July edition of Sharp & Alleman Co.'s Lawyers' and Bankers' Directory is just off the press and was ready for circulation in July. A new feature has been added-a list of the principal journals in the United States and Canada, devoted to the interests of the legal profession, arranged under State and City headings and properly indexed.

During the forty-one years, since the establishment of Sharp & Alleman Co.'s Directory, have been gathered over seven thousand competent and trustworthy attorneys and their names appear in the Directory classified so simply that in a moment these names may be found, covering every state, city and country town, in the Union, Canada and Foreign Countries. The Directory contains a digest of the Commercial, Banking, Patent and Divorce Laws, together with Legal Forms, Court Calendars for all the States, as well as much other matter of a valuable nature. There are two editions yearlyJanuary and July.

In addition to the Directory a "List of Attorneys" is published contain ing all of the names of attorneys as they appear in the Sharp & Alleman Standard Directory.

RAILROADS, RATES, SERVICE, MANAGEMENT

By Homer Bews Vanderblue, Ph. D, and Kenneth Farwell Burgess, LL. B. Published by The Macmillan Company of New York City.

This work is designed to give information concerning government regu lation in the United States, through the accomplishment of an elaborate system of governmental machinery. This work became of the utmost im portance following the enactment of the Transportation Act of 1920, and particularly on account of the interpretations which are placed upon it by courts and commissions in its practical application.

It is of a present law and system of regulation that this book treats, in relation to rates and general management, as well as service. Important statements of fact and principle are authenticated by reference to cases, so that readers who desire may go to the primary basis or source of information.

How the Commerce Commissions work, the actual results based upon a thorough acquaintance with railroad conditions and active practice before courts and commissions, with a reference to twelve hundred decisions, the work cannot but prove of value as a strictly high class and authentic pub. lication.

AMERICAN LAW OF ADMINISTRATION

By J. G. Woerner, third edition by William F. Woerner of the St. Louis Bar in three volumes, 8va. Law Buckram, Sale Price $30, delivered. Little, Brown & Company, Publishers, 34 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. There has long been an urgent demand upon the part of the legal profession for a work covering in a general way the law of American Administration of Estates including wills. There have been from time to time local publications which have been little more than statutory forms and citations to decisions rendered, which have filled the bill, poorly, but still sufficiently to partly cover the ground and suffice.

More than half of a century ago John C. Woerner, Judge of the Probate Court in and for the City of St. Louis began a manuscript which eighteen years later was published as the first edition of "The American Law of Administration." Ten years following this, in view of the fact that this work of Judge Woerner had found favor in the eyes of both the bench and bar, a second edition became desirable in order to keep in touch with the changes

in the law and the decisions of the courts. This second edition was the joint authorship of Judge Woerner and his son William F. Woerner of the St. Louis Bar.

The rare and valuable experience of the authors of this work in the particular branch of law, has been of more than passing value in enabling them to present to the lawyers of America both as judges and leading practitioners, a work preeminent in its breadth of treatment, accuracy and general value.

This work is of value to the lawyer having anything to do with Probate Court proceedings. With ordinary reasoning and intelligence he can present any case which comes to him in the matter of administration of estates including wills without hesitancy and if he follows the law as laid down in Woerner's work, is certain to be on the right side.

The table of contents contains each and every subject of value to the active practitioner who has to deal with administration of decedents' estates from the beginning to the end.

BYRNE'S DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH LAW.

This is a truly erudite work. It is a glossary and mine of history as well as a definition of current terms-while the plot is missing yet it is a pleasure to read its many pages.

The lawyer with an hour to spare cannot do better than spend it in browsing among the titles in Byrne's Law Dictionary. Not only will he rub up his knowledge of the principles of current law, but he will find the quaint antiquarian knowledge of the origins of our law, the old tenures and customs, and the old writs and maxims, of absorbing interest. One article will lead him to another-and he will shut the book with regret and a determination to open it again at the earliest opportunity.

The work covers 986 quarto pages. and is by W. J. Byrne of the London, England, Bar. Published and for sale by Sweet & Maxwell, Ltd., 3 Chancery Lane, London, W. C. 2.

THE CREED OF INDIVIDUALISM

By A. B. Reading, Auburn, California

We believe in INDIVIDUALISM, the quality of being individual, the source of human existence, fundamentally determinate of the character or the quantity, state and condition of the mind or soul of the individual in all his relations. We therefore believe in the finite essence of Individualism.

We believe in the flesh and blood of Individualism and its soul or spirit as the prototype from which has been evolved the progressive civilization of the present age, with the rights, liberties and duties of the individual clearly defined by the long accepted moral code of conduct based upon it.

We therefore believe in the necessity, wisdom and justice of a civic relation that is clearly defined, embodied, restricted and maintained under a law of government that is individualistic in character.

We believe that the elemental factors of quantity, quality, state and condition of Individualism, so defined, embodied, restricted, and maintained, constitute the product, the letter and spirit, the polity or structural nature of democratic government.

We therefore believe that all legislative and political policies should accord with such indubitable polity.