"Rural Problems of Today"

By ERNEST R. GROVES, '03 (Association Press New York City, 1918.)

This little book, will be of interest to all those who love country life and are interested in the betterment of conditions in the rural sections. In the study of the problems of the country folk Professor Groves is a pioneer. To this study he brings a sympathetic mind and the point of view of a social psychologist. Various forces in rural life, the country home, the country school, and the country church are discussed in separate chapters. In each chapter there are practical suggestions looking toward making the normal functions of each of these institutions contribute to social uplift. Recent educational legislation in New Hampshire has put upon the statute books of the state laws in harmony with Professor Groves' ideas expressed in the chapter "The Rural Worker and the Country School."

In "The Mind of the Farmer" and "Psychic Causes of Rural Migration", the author makes his most valuable contribution to the psychology of rural life. His explanation of the causes leading to the well recognized movement cityward is both scientific and convincing. In a chapter on "Rural Socializing Agencies", due credit is given to the work of the Grange and other secret organizations. No work on this subject would be complete without at least a brief study of the effect of the World War on country life. Such a study is made in the final chapter. It is Professor Groves' opinion that there has been a distinct growth in respect for the rural worker coming out of our war experience and likewise a strong socializing influence exerted upon those from the country districts who have crossed the seas or had training in the cantonments.

The style of the book is clear and well adapted to the requirements of the layman who has not mastered the technical vocabulary of sociology and psychology. All lovers of country life who are looking toward rural betterment in the years to come are under obligations to Professor Groves for this work.

"A Clearing House for Pamphlet Literature" by John Cotton Dana '78 appears in the May issue of the Library Journal.

The May number of the Granite Monthly contains a poem "Lincoln: A League of Nations: The Peace Council of Paris", by Clarence E. Carr '75.

Ben Ames Williams '10 is the author of the story, "The Unconquered", in the March issue of Everybody's Magazine. "All the Brothers were Valiant" by the same author is published serially in the April and May issues of the same magazine.

"Redrawing the Map of Europe" by Charles Downer Hazen '89 is published in the April issue of the Atlantic Monthly.

The April issue of Scribner's Magazine contains "The Professor and the Wide Wide World" by Gordon Hall Gerould '99.

"Not for Publication" by Kendall Banning '02 may be found in the issue of Collier's Weekly for April 19.

"The Gospel in the Light of the Great War" by Rev. Ozora Stearns Davis '89 will be reviewed in a later issue of the magazine as also "International Aspects of Christianity" by Rev. and Mrs. O. S. Davis.

A. D. Holmes '06 is the author of "Experiments on the Digestibility of Wheat Bran in a Diet without Wheat Flour." This is published as U. S. Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 751. Bulletin No. 613, "Digestibility of Certain Miscellaneous Animal Fats" is also by Mr. Holmes.

"Messages to the General Court, Official Addresses, Proclamations and State Papers of his Excellency Governor S. W. McCall ('74) for the years 1916-18, Compiled by Henry F. Long, Secretary to His Excellency" has recently been printed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This is a volume of 457 pages.

"The University of Minnesota. What the Twin Cities offer to Students" by Fletcher Harper Swift '98 has been published as a pamphlet of 36 pages.

"The Psychology of Clothing" by George Van Ness Dearborn '90 appears as No. 1 of Vol. 26 of Psychological Monographs.

Fred Lewis Pattee '88 is the author of "Americanism through American Literature" reprinted from the April issue of the Educational Review.

"War Risk Insurance" by Ralph H. Blanchard '11 is published in the April issue of the Columbia University Quarterly.