The History of Co - operation in England : its Literature and
its Advocates. By George Jacob Holyoake. Vol. II.—The Constructive Period, 1845-1878. (Triibner.)—On one thing at least all readers of Mr. 1101p:fake's second volume will be agreed,—that it is admirably -written, vigorous and graphic in style, and making a subject which, in nnalrilfal hands, would have great capabilities of tediousness, highly interesting to others than disciples and believers. Mr. Holyoalres subject is so large and so difficult, that we prefer, writing -in these columns, to confine ourselves to the literary aspect of his book. One remark, however, we may venture, that he seems a little herd on the so-called co-operation of the Civil Service Stores, and -other similar institutions. At the genuine Co-operative Stores, all 43nstomera are, we presume, admitted (that is, at least, the present writer's experience). And we do not see an essential difference between the orthodox and heterodox methods of giving them a share in the profits of ready-money trading. In the orthodox store, the customer pays 85 for his goods, and receives counters which will give him a dividend of, say, 10s. At the heterodox, he gives 24 10s. for the goods at once. The first is certainly the more logical method, but it does not differ from the other as virtue differs from vice.
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