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PHYSIOGNOMY AND EXPRESSION. Sixty cents. Humboldt Publishing Co., 28 Lafayette Place, New York City.

Having published a brief review of Senator Paolo Mantegazza's work in the September CURRENT COMMENT, some of the striking remarks may now be noticed. All through the book there are the drollest quotations and ideas from all sorts of writers. One of the latter is from Camper, who is doubtless worthy of the highest niche of honor, because he " opposes the opinion of some learned men who had admitted that negroes might be the offspring of the union of white women with apes "—page 19. The idea was not original (see Genesis vi, 2), only its application to the black races, whom the Senator considers the lowest (page 34).

The Senator is a keen observer, but he makes advance announcements when further observation might make him assured. For he says (page 38) that the tip of the nose is nearly always deflected toward the right, because of the custom of wiping the nose with the right hand; overlooking entirely the awkwardness of kissing with noses deflected to the same point of the compass. Information is wanted on this point, and the subsidiary one, of the direction of deflection of the noses of left-handed persons. If no deflection is observed, then manifestly the use of the left hand in wiping the nose has neutralized the natural right hand deflection of that number.

A learned man, Tommaseo, is quoted as indulging in a metaphysical revery over the chin, on which he finds a dimple, must denote more grace in body than soul, upon which our Senator remarks that two or three adjectives always define chin, as it is one of the features least abounding in detail.

Wrinkles afford a practical theme, or rather their avoidance, by moving the face as little as possible, anointing with greasy substances, protecting the face against the excessively hot rays of the sun, and, above all, by growing stout enough to stretch out the skin, say at forty.

There are some practical moralizings in this book, thus: Trembling is an extremely useful thing when it accompanies fear, for it warms up the chilled blood and drives away pallor from the face (page 66); there are permanent expressions produced by the repetition of certain emotions, by abuse of functions, by prolonged exercise of clockmaking, soldiering, sailing, taking affidavits, and some other professions, not including the law (page 72), which demonstrates, from another source, the wisdom of that jurist who taught the office of a notary to be incompatible with the profession of a lawyer. But then truth is many sided, and man's life is brief.

A quotation may be a useful closing: "Vanity is one of the most characteristic forms of pride. It is a little pride adapted to little things and little men. * * not remain eternally inflated: nor turkeys, or men without its limits. manent inflation is the most ordinary expression of pride, and gives to the free a characteristic and lasting impression."

* India-rubber balloons canis the distension of peacocks, A condition of slight and per

NEW ENGLANDER AND YALE REVIEW.
New Haven, Conn.

September, 1890. Thirty-five cents.

The opening article is an interesting first instalment of the opening of Japan by Com. Perry and his fleet. The young captain's clerk, of the Saratoga, tells the tale in such vivid sentences as raise up all the reader's patriotism, when comparing this just, though peaceful errand, with that of the other Invincible Armada which sailed from Spain of old, and Mr. Sewall's language is both virile and fluent to an unusual degree.

At the other end of the number is an equally interesting address by Charles J. Bonaparte, of Baltimore, Md., on "The Strength and Weakness of Popular Government in the United States." It was a Yale Law School address, but far from the usual "be virtuous and you'll be happy strain in which law school addresses are phrased too often. This Bonaparte sees the strength of our government to be in popular opinion, and its weakness in the rotten sort of officials which disgrace New York City.

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The other articles are both interesting and scholarly-an Unnoted Martyr among the Doctors of Islam, a Modern Greek Scholar and Patriot, a Review of a New Life of Wordsworth, the Ethics of Evolution, an open letter on a Poetical Heart-Break, and a few pleasant words about Consul-Ceneral Schuyler. It is a good Review, with a real Yale motto-Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri.

THE OCTOBER NUMBER of The Old Homestead, a monthly magazine published by Davis Bros., at Savannah, Ga., appears for the first time on our table. It is a publication of forty pages, 11x15, filled with original stories, poems, and essays. Its musical feature, handsomely illustrated fashion matter, children's page, and household and farm notes make it a welcome visitor in thousands of homes.

Kent, Vol. II, 289–315.

Law Studies.

Corporations. (Part II.)

October, 1890.

“It was an ancient and technical rule of the common law that a corporation could not manifest its intentions by any personal act or oral discourse, and that it spoke and acted only by its common seal: Afterward the rule was relaxed, and, for the sake of convenience, corporations were permitted to act, in ordinary matters, without deed, as to retain a servant, cook, or butler."

Acts of a corporation evidenced by vote of directors as binding as acts under seal. Contracts made by agents of corporations in the ordinary discharge of the business binding.

"It is a general rule that corporations must take and grant by their corporate name." Effect of a misnomer in a grant to a corporation.

In

Corporation act by its board of directors, or by its constituent members. the latter a majority of those present, in the former a majority of the definite body. It is settled that a by-law cannot exclude an integral part of the electors, nor impose upon them a qualification inconsistent with the charter, or unconnected with their corporate character.

Elections by public and municipal corporations personal vote, in moneyed corporations for private purposes, voting can be held by proxy. Officers holding

over, mistake as to time of election. Where elections are to be annual the words are but directory and don't take away the power incident to'a corporation to elect afterward where without design or fraud the annual day had been passed by. Disfranchisement of members, a motion (renewal) of officers. Express authority required. Corporate powers strictly construed. Corporations for trade, power to accept bills and issue notes.

Dissolution." A corporation may be dissolved, it is said, by statute; by the natural death of all the members, by surrender of its franchises; and for forfeiture of its charter, through negligence, or abuse of its franchises."

Public corporations subject to change by legislation.

Private corporation a contract between the government and the corporators. " According to the settled law of the land, where there is no special statute provision to the contrary, upon the civil death of a corporation all its real estate, remaining unsold, reverts back to the original grantor and his heirs. Debts to and from corporation extinguished. Loss of an integral part, that cannot be restored, which essential to exercise of power, works a dissolution. A corporation cannot be dissolved by reason of any misuser or nonuser of its franchises, until the default has been judicially ascertained and declared.

Questions.

1. In the Bank of Columbia v. Patterson, what was decided as to parol contracts of a corporation?

2. When is a corporate act by directors binding without a seal?

3. When are corporations bound by acts of their agents?

4. Will a misnomer where the true name can be gathered from the instrument invalidate a grant to or by a corporation ?

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of equity, assign its property to a trustee, in trust, to collect its debts and pay debts, and distribute as directed. It has unlimited power over, its property to pay its debts. A corporation may also, like an individual, give preferences among creditors, when honestly and fairly intended and done. The doctrine is well established in equity."

On, a motion and disfranchisement of members of private corporations, distinguished, and power to make bylaws, see 5 American Law Register, N. S., page 443. A corporation has power to mortgage its franchises with its other property, to secure its liabili ties. 3 American Law Register, N. S., page 18.

Corporations having power to borrow money on its notes may do so by pledge of its assets. 4 American Law Register, N. S., page 124.

T. ELLIOTT PATTERSON.

REFORM PROCEDURE.-Judge BROADY, of the first judicial district of Nebraska, in his address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Beatrice Court-house, said: "But conservatism even can be over done and perverted. This is the golden age of action, when time is largely the essence of all transactions. There are two ways to be smart ; one is to say smart things and the other is to do smart things. The former usually amounts to nothing, the latter moves the world. He is not the most meritorious who makes the fewest mistakes, but he who accomplished the most good in spite of his mistakes. The judiciary lags behind. The delays of the law are little less than a disgrace to our jurisprudence. The leading cause is an exaggeration of appellate proceedings, until the judiciary is carried across the border from the practical into the realms of the sentimental. The rich, with a financial surplus, can stand it, but the poor, with no such reserve, cannot. Usually it is better for the latter to be beaten at the start than to succeed at some indefinite time in the distant future; usually the chances of justice lessen in proportion to the postponement of the time of final adjudication, and the public confidence in the judiciary weakens in the same ratio."-Lincoln Journal.

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