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the same task as the writer of a brief. If he is so constituted that he can summon to his task that combination of thoroughness and alertness to which necessity spurs the briefwriter, his book is likely to be a good one. If he departs from the method of investiga tion just outlined he will produce the kind of result which has brought modern text-books A SELECTION OF CASES ON INSURANCE. By into contempt. The compiler of a good case book must Eugene Wambaugh, LL. D., Professor of take every step which has been indicated as Law in Harvard University, Cambridge: essential in the preparation of a worthy brief The Harvard Law Review Publishing As sociation. 1902. Cloth: $4.50 (xiv-f-ii97 or of a useful text-book—except, indeed, the publication of a statement of the results of PP-) A lawyer with a brief to write begins by his analysis. The word "publication is used making an exhaustive study of the cases in advisedly: because the compiler must neces which similar problems have been dealt with sarily indicate in permanent form for private use the conclusions to which his study has led by the Courts. In so doing he is not seed ing information, in the ordinary sense of that him; so that every such compiler is already the author of a text-book, that is ready to be word. His primary endeavor is to bring be fore his mind all the different combinations clothed with literary form. An examination of the work under review of circumstances which may give rise to will satisfy the student of insurance law that problems related to his own. This he accom Professor Wambangh is the compiler of a plishes not only by noting the facts of de good case book and is, therefore, the author cided cases, but also by imagining variations from them. His next effort is to determine of an unpublished text-book. This point is insisted upon because it is not uncommon to with accuracy the exact decision reached by the courts in that fraction of possible cases hear from members of the bar suggestions to the effect that the preparation of a case which have actually come before them. Fi book is an easy matter: you merely select nally, he is interested in detecting by analy sis the considerations which have controlled! the cases and tell the publisher to have the the judges in the selection of one solution of selected cases printed. Obviously the whole these problems rather than another. It may question turns upon the meaning attached to happen that the several considerations which the word "select." If the selection is the re sult of laborious scientific investigation, the his analysis detects have presented them selves to different judges with unequal force. suggestion is not objectionable. If the selec The result is a "conflict of authority." In . tion is made hastily and at random, then the that event his problem is to vindicate those suggestion is applicable to many of the pub 'considerations, which, if applied to his case, lished case books, but not to the one under would result in a decision favorable to his consideration. In this volume of nearly twelve hundred client. If the authorities are uniform, his is clearly-printed pages there are set forth be either the easy task of urging a perpetuation of the existing judicial policy or the difficult tween five and six hundred cases., Most of task of recommending the substitution of a these are reported in full—at least so far as new one. His interest in the observations of any question of insurance law is involved. A individual judges is always subordinate. In relatively small number are summarized in careful notes. In addition to the number such observations he merely finds either ad stated, the notes contain the citation of a ditional difficulty or additional help. The writer of a text-book has before him large number of cases referred to as in har It is the intention of The Green Bag to have its book reviews written by competent reviewers. The usual custom of magazines is to confine book notices to books sent in for review. At the request of subscribers, however, The Green Bag will be glad to review or notice any recently published law book, whether re ceivedfor review or not.
