With the New Books 



THE Macmillans are justifying the promise 

 made by the first few volumes in their 

 "Citizens' Library of Economics, Polities 

 and Sociology." Mr Charles Zueblin's book, 

 "American Municipal Progress," being "chapters 

 in municipal sociology," is one of the most clean- 

 cut and illuminating volumes of the series. 

 Within small space is given a most entertaining 

 record of what has been accomplished for pub- 

 lic betterment in America within a decade. The 

 opening chapter defines municipal sociology, 

 and explains the peculiar problems of our great 

 cities. Other chapters deal with transporation, 

 public works, buildings, schools and libraries, 

 parks, boulevards, and public recreation, san- 

 itation, public control, etc. An intimate ac- 

 quaintance with his subject and a vast care in 

 preparation is shown by Mr. Zueblin in his 

 book. He is peculiarly well fitted for such a 

 task. His position as professor of sociology 

 in the University of Chicago and lecturer for 

 the University Extension work has given him 

 uncommon opportunities to observe, to com- 

 pare, and to verify all his data. Mr. Zueblin 

 was for a period president of the American 

 League for Civic Improvement, and in this 

 way became familiar with the needs of the 

 smaller towns. 



The chapter of Public Eecreation is especially 

 interesting and valuable, although Professor 

 Zueblin has overlooked one rather significant 

 fact. He, of course, treats facts and figures 

 of recent years, and refers to the inauguration 

 in Brookline, Massachusetts, of the first public 

 playground for children some thirty years ago. 

 But to Philadelphia reall}^ belongs the honor of 

 having established the first public playground 

 in this country. In the will of George Fox, 

 made in 1690, there is an interesting bequest. 



This wise old founder of the Friends be- 

 queathed sixteen acres of land to the Quaker 

 Meeting in Philadelphia. Ten acres of this 

 land were for "a close to put Friends' horses in 

 when they come afar to the meeting, that they 

 may not be Lost in the Woods." The other six 

 were for a meeting-house and school-house and 

 for "a Playground for the children of the town 

 to play on, and for a Garden to plant witk 

 Physical Plants for Lads and Lasses to Know 

 Simple, and to learn to make Oils and Oint- 

 ments". Wise old George Fox. He combined 

 religion, education, recreation, and a love of 

 gardening in a small space, four essentials of a 

 happy people. But probably those six acres 

 enclosed the original public school-garden and 

 playground in America. 



This omission, of course, is no reflection on 

 the volume we are considering. Professor Zue- 

 blin makes a complete record of things done^in 

 recent years or in contemplation for the near 

 future. This record is an invaluable one, and 

 it is safe to say that this book contains material 

 and interpretation of current sociological de- 

 velopment not found in any other book yet 

 published. 



"Modern Civic Art" is the title of a new 

 book by Charles Mulford Robinson, the author 

 of "The Improvement of Towns and Cities." 

 This will be a sumptuous volume, beautifully 

 illustrated from etchings by Reginald Cleve- 

 land Coxe. 



The first .part of the proceedings of the sixth 

 annual meeting of the American Park and Out- 

 Door Art Association at Boston has been is- 

 sued in excellent form. Some of the notable 

 addresses will be issued later. 



What Ouf Friends Tliink 



Your magazine has set the highest standard 

 of excellence for itself, and is living up to 

 that standard in a way which must make it an 

 immense power for good. I think it ought 

 to be put in the hands of every intelligent 

 farmer in the country. Sallie B. Hatch. 



Hannibal, Missouri. 



Last vrinter I saw a copy of Home and 

 Flowers, and read it through. I found some- 

 thing I have dreamed of for years and scarcely 

 dared to hope I would ever see. I have been 

 enthusiastic over it, and have shown it to all 

 my friends. X. Y. Z. 



Clifton, New York. 



I regard Home and Flowers as really beau- 

 tiful—beautiful typographically and in its 

 literary quality, and I quite appreciate how 

 much taste and fine sense of selection has been 

 exercised in making it so. I have cut out and 

 am saving your editorial on "The Moral Effect 

 of Beauty." Lilian Whiting. 



Boston, Massachusetts. 



I am very much interested in your magazine. 

 Its civic improvement features, together with 

 its other most excellent features, makes it one 

 of the most useful magazines now published. 

 These combined should make it a permanent 

 part of good literature. W. W. Slabaugh. 



Nebraska. 



