+ The Times [London] Lit Sup p487 S 11 ’19 200w
ERSKINE, JOHN. Democracy and ideals: a definition. *$1.50 (3c) Doran 304
20–11647
The author’s preface states: “These chapters, with the exception of the first and the last, were written while I was serving as chairman of the Army education commission with the American forces in France in 1918 and 1919, and as educational director of the American expeditionary force university at Beaune, 1919.... I have tried to express here from several angles a central conviction that we in the United States are detached from the past, and that this detachment is the striking fact in all our problems; that if in the future we are to become and to remain a nation, we must collaborate for common ends.” The six essays are: Democracy and ideals; American character; French ideals and American; Society as a university; Universal training for national service; University leadership. The author is professor of English in Columbia university.
“A pleasing clarification of ideas not particularly new or startling.”
+ Booklist 17:11 O ’20
“Among the best of the recent books dealing with the problems of citizenship and Americanization. It is written in a style so simple that anyone with but an elementary knowledge of English can enjoy it.” A. Yezierska
+ Bookm 52:497 F ’21 720w
“Scattered here and there through the volume are observations showing a thoughtful understanding of American problems, but the generalizations suitable to public addresses seem somewhat commonplace in their published form, when the inspiration of the occasion is past.”