698 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
will be doing a great deal more for suffering humanity if they cease to rent poor and unhealthy dwellings ; employers must learn the necessity of protecting their employes against dangerous and injurious occupations by suitable hours of work and such other measures of precaution ; and all others must be made to comprehend the seemingly very simple truth that the possession of a healthy body is worth more than the nursing of a sick one in the most magnificent hospital. In other words : poor-relief must become the social science ; its proper exercise can be understood only by a comparative study of economic and social life. We know that no social effort can or will succeed in making poor-relief and philanthropy superfluous, within such a time as lies open to our present vision. But relief work would no doubt be performed far more thoroughly and more intelligently if those engaged in it know and realize that their work is to be for others, not for themselves. The essence of poor-relief is not the gratification of one's self-esteem by giving alms, but the complete resignation, sacrifice of self in the service of others.
DR. E. MUENSTERBERG. BERLIN, GERMANY.
