Review Articles

profitably in conventional form. However, Wills of the Justices at the end of the reading process, my eyes were much more tired than would have been The Wills of the justices; a Collection of the case after reading ordinary material in the Wills and T estaments of Twenty­ good light for a like period. Certainly, de­ Three Justices of the United States Su­ spite the amount of space which could be preme Court. Ed. by John C. Hogan. Los saved, I shall not advocate putting all our Angeles: Ray Fielding Productions, 1956. libraries into microfilm. Where the material Distributed by Oceana Publications, New consisted of photostatic reproduction of York. $20. (Microfilm.) handwritten documents, particularly if the This collection, which I am informed is writing was either obscure or unique, it was the first installment of what is to be a com­ almost impossible to decipher. This must plete publication of the wills (or of infor­ be considered a defect of the microfilm de­ mation concerning interstate administration vice at present, though obviously one would of the estates) of all justices of the Supreme be foolish to predict that it never will be Court of the United States about whom such overcome. However, even though the re­ information is obtainable, is extremely in­ production were perfect, I believe that there teresting. I do not know how gTeat will be would be less strain in reading a convention­ its practical value. However, I should think ally manufactured book. Nevertheless, as to that, at least when it is completed, the col­ rare and otherwise unobtainable matter, let lection could be a mine of information to us, by all means, have it on microfilm.­ biographers, historians, and commentators Maurice H. Merrill) University of Oklahoma. on the social scene in past years. In the pres­ ent selection, attention has been focused on the Chief Justices, ending with , on the members of the court Filing Rules participating in the Dred Scott decision, and on a group of other Associate Justices­ And Practice David J. Brewer, John M. Harlan (the first) , Horace H. Lurton, Stanley Matthews, Joseph Filing Rules for the Dictionary Catalogs of McKenna, John McKinley, Samuel F. Miller, the . By Processing De­ William Strong, and William B. Woods. partment, U. S. Library of Congress. The first two wills, those of and Washington, 1956. 274p. $2.25. (Available , offer an interesting con­ from the U. S. Superintendent of Docu­ trast. Jay's is verbose and detailed, with an ments.) elaborate introduction giving thanks to the Deity for numerous specific benefits to John In a foreword, John Cronin, Director of Jay as well as for His general care of man­ the Processing Department, explains that kind. Ellsworth, to the contrary, put his this printed and bound book of rules origi­ entire will on a single pithy page, with no nated in a loose-leaf edition for the Library exordium whatever. These two types of staff, begun by James K. Boyland, revised draftsmanship we still have with us. The by several committees. and compiled into a other wills afford examples of various styles comprehensive code by the late Linn R. of composition, as well as of variant states Blanchard. Others at the Library of Con­ of fortune, and concern or unconcern with gress have assisted in gathering examples, affairs of business and of domestic property. editing the final copy, and preparing the After reading this microfilmed collection, index. The work truly exemplifies corpo­ I infer that the function of microfilming is rate authorship, and if anyone deserves the the reproduction of material which, for one major credit, it is Charles A. Cutter, the reason or another, cannot be published fourth edition of whose classed rules (1904)

.JULY 1957 337