19 MAY 1923, Page 22

This is an extraordinarily interesting little book as showing Mr.

Hoover's charming ideas about the United States. Un- fortunately, however, we fear that it is more a statement of an ideal than a reality. Its general note is enlightened conservatism, but we wonder if its philosophical aspect will bear close scrutiny in the light of all the facts. We wish we could believe that America has an individualism differing so strongly in the way Mr. Hoover suggests from that to be found in other parts of the world. We should not like to accuse Mr. Hoover of faulty observation ; let us say it seems not quite thorough nor guided wholly by the scientific spirit.