THE LIVING TRADITION

An interpretation of history, statistics and facts about America's way of life that goes to prove the ""conditions of previous days (are) still our problems"" -- the complex national life, capital, poverty versus luxury, the masses, the farmer and his farm, etc., are still with us. Strunsky's maintains that the American character is set and that changing environment can't affect it. He draws parallels:of Colonial illicit trade corresponding to recent prohibition-breaking: he outlines various parts of the America Idea -- size, disobedience, mental habits, equality, etc.; and covers all aspects of the American scene --life, health, housing, food, play, children, business, workers, machines, farmers, cities, regions and traits, politics, press, World War, depression, democracy, uniformity of American life, and our position, unique, as the middle nation. He produces some paradoxes, but is sincere in his optimistic findings, often at variance with present-day beliefs. Controversial -- revolutionary -- but somehow impressive.