844 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
general public, which is concerned more with what is being done than with the machinery by which it is accomplished.
The scope of the book is indicated by the following chapter head- ings : "Introduction Municipal Sociology;" "Transportation;" " Public Works ; " " Sanitation ; " " Public Schools ; " " Public Libraries ;" "Public Buildings;" "Parks and Boulevards;" "Public Recreation;" " Public Control, Ownership, and Operation."
The method of treating each subject may be illustrated by selecting the important headings in the chapter upon "Public Schools," which are : the ideal school ; financial difficulties ; expansion of the curricu- lum ; modern methods of instruction ; physical culture and hygienic instruction; school baths and restaurants; school cities; training of teachers ; manual training ; vacation schools ; schoolroom decoration ; commercial education ; free lectures for the people ; school buildings as civic centers ; school gardens.
Under each subject Professor Zueblin cites those instances where the best results have been secured, and explains fully those points worthy of imitation by other cities. His wide acquaintance has enabled him to select, usually with good judgment, the instances most worthy of imitation. In such a work, with such a broad reference to muni- cipal activities, north, east, south, and west, it was inevitable that a few errors of statement and misjudgment of relative importance should creep in. Anyone may recommend Professor Zueblin 's book without hesitation and municipal reform would receive marked impetus if everyone, and particularly the pessimists, should read and ponder this stimulating account of municipal betterment.
MILO R. MALTBIE. NEW YORK CITY.
Anthracite Coal Communities. By PETER ROBERTS. New York :
The Macmillan Co., 1904. Pp. 387.
THE author of this volume has already presented the economic facts in his Anthracite Coal Industry, and in this treatise he studies the people. All the human interests are considered physical conditions, home life, marriage, amusements, treatment of children, educational attainments and facilities, the church and religion, saloons, savings, crime, charity, politics. In the concluding chapter is a careful yet earnest discussion of the most available resources for improvement. It would be difficult to think of a source of information which has not been drawn upon, and the facts are presented in relation to a standard
