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No. 408, January 16, 185&] THE LEADER, 6...
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A WOMAN'S THOUGHTS ABOUT WOMEN. A Woman'...
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PUBLICATIONS AND REPUBLICATIONS. Essays ...
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HAMLET AT THE PRINCESS'S. Ilamlet was th...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Anecdotes Of Literary Life. Fifty Years*...
a boy , he pretended to be very partial , bequeathed them to him out of gratitude for bis attention to her favour ^ grimalkins . An anecdote of Beckford must bring oar extracts to a close : — There is a characteristic story of Mr . Beckford . Both the coachman and his wife « rere old servants , and rather favourites . The lady going out one evening to see a friend and partake of a cup of bohea , found the rain inconvenient , and heT caro snoso ' the Jehu , arriving very opportunely with the carriage , she got into it , and was driven to her pleasure destination , as it was thought , unobserved . But Beckford s carriage was too well-known to escape observation . It was soon rumoured among the domestics that the coachman ' s wife used her master ' s carnage—nothing less ¦ would content her . They soon contrived that the intelligence should reach the master ' s ears . His passionate temper known , a tremendous explosion was expected to break over the devoted pair . The tidings were conveyed to the master , no doubt with all likely to rou 3 e his anger . But the master was perfectly calm . Much Ies 3 thin" * had been known to put him into an intolerable passion . It was probable , too , for there never was a kinder master , that he noticed malice in the mode in which the intelligence was conveyed to him . He , therefore , showed no anger , but ordered his steward to engage a footman for six months , and to give him a whimsical suit of livery When his orders were obeved , the coachman and his wife were sent for , and told that , as they vere so aspiring as to require his carriage when they paid their visits it was not consistent they should be without an attendant in the house , that he had provided th « m a footman , who , he insisted , should duly attend upon them at table and act towards them as usual in such cases , from that day forward . . Not a word ' of excuse would . have been permitted . The astounded coachman and his wife withdrew The footman was kept in his place for some months . The ridicule this caused in the establishment , it caimot be doabted , was a punishment every way sufficient for the offence . The garrulity of Mr . Bedding ' s egotism will not prevent his volumes from finding many readers .
No. 408, January 16, 185&] The Leader, 6...
No . 408 , January 16 , 185 &] THE LEADER , 6 fr ;
A Woman's Thoughts About Women. A Woman'...
A WOMAN ' S THOUGHTS ABOUT WOMEN . A Woman ' s Thoughts about Women . By the Author of ' John Halifax , Gentleman . ' Hurst and Blackett . The author of John Halifax writes a novel better than an essay . Her style is not sufficiently firm or p ointed for the species of disquisition to which this book of thought belongs ; nor is it probable that she has app lied her mind to her subject with sufficient seriousness or courage to enable her to do her best in a treatise on the position and capacities of women . The volume con tains , m fact , no more than fragments of familiar discussion on a favourite topic of the day , reflecting a good many of the popular forms of opinion , and setting forth a variety of moral and social truisms with that emphasis which is always at the author ' s command , but not advancing the real question any nearer towards a , natural and reasonable issue . Most persons will at once admit , with the writer , that women are degraded when regarded as fit only to live in lovely uselessness , fascinating frivolity , and delicious helplessness , a theory which would be untenable even if all feminine uselessness were lovely , all frivolity fascinating , and all helplessness delicious , which they are not . But it is a little extravagant to talk of those who Insist upon the equality of tlie sexes as blasphemers , nor are the objections adduced in this volume by any means conclusive . There are better reasons in favour of the law so violently laid down than are here suggested , and there are better reasons against it than are recognized in these declamatory chapters . If the author of John Halifax had read Theodore Parker ' s most eloqueut and masterly discourse on the public functions of women , she might have imagined it necessary to reflect more deeply , and to frame a more elaborate argument with ksa of triumphant levity in its composition . We are not now takin" up the decision pronounced by Parker against that pronounced in this book ; but we say that , setting the one in c ontrast with the other , the English negation is infinitely weaker than the American affirmative . The general scope of the thoughts , which ' do not pretend , ' we should remark , to solve any problem '—while they assume the solution of not a few—may be described by quoting the titles of the several chapters . —Something to Do , Self Dependence , Female Professions , Female Handicrafts , Female Servants , the Mistress of a Family , Female Friendships , Gossipy Women of the World , Happy and Unhappy Women , Lost Women , and Women Growing Old . We must add that these are nil conceived in & hi"h spirit , evmomg at once delicacy of sentiment and a faculty of keen and quiet observation . Still , it is as a painter of character and of social scenes that Miss Muloch ' s reputation has been made . A Woman ' s Thoughts about Women will add nothing to the Ftterary position of the author of Olive and Tlie Head of the Family .
Publications And Republications. Essays ...
PUBLICATIONS AND REPUBLICATIONS . Essays on the Drama . By WilUum Bodham Donne . ( J . W . Parker and Son . )—Mr . Doane lias reproduced eight essays originally published in the Quarterly and Westminster Reviews , and in Fraser ' s Magazine . His Bubjects are : Athenian Cc « u « dy j B « aumont and Fletcher ; Plays and their Providers ; Songs from the Dramatists ; the Drama ; Charles Kcmble ; tho Drama , Past And Present ; and Popular Amusements . Wo have already noticed the scholarship and acumen characteristic of these papers . Tyjteti of Genesis , Jiriijfy Considered , as revealing tho Development of Human Nature in tlie World Within and Without , and in the Dispensations . By Andrew Jukeet ( Longman and Co . )—After a series of elaborate chapters on tho TfiSyMicltrTffltfd ^ typ ^ develop , from tho special to the general , ' Adam , or Human Nature , ' ' Noah , or Regeneration , ' 'Abraham , or tho Spirit of Faith , ' and so forth , concluding with ' Joseph , or Sufl ' eriiw » and Glory . ' Th © work ia one for purely devotional reading , and : for religious librnries . The Poetical Works of Robert / Story . ( Longman and Co . )—The wellknown border-poet , befriendad by tho * chief of his native county , ' the Duke of Northumberland , has now collected his odes , bulluds , nnd songs , publishing thorn in one handsome volume , with rod and blue initial letters . Among
the reprinted -works is Guthrum the Dane , a tale of the Heptarchy , which has already passed through several editions . The herd-boy who watched his sheep on Lanton Hill , and ' walked in glury and in joy' along the Beaumont Valley , has seen his dream fulfilled , and has placed a volume of real poems in a niche of nineteenth-century literature . Roots and Ramifications / or , Extracts from various Books , Explanatory of the Derivation or Meaning of Divers Words . By Arthur J . Knapp . ' ( Murray . )—Mr . Knapp has a doubly-educational motive in publishing this volume , originally printed for private circulation . It is a manual in itself , and its sale is designed to promote a public school for the district of Pickwick , in the county of Wilts , ' containing a very considerable population , consisting chiefly of labourers and quarrymen . ' Mr . Knapp has compiled a number of interesting chapters , explanatory and suggestive , which students may profitably consult . Manual of British Government in India . By E . R . Humphreys , LL . D . Second edition , revised and enlarged . ( Longman and Co . )—Dr . Hum . phreys' excellent handbook has been considerably improved , without muct addition to its bulk . The information , systematically and concisely stated , has been brought up to the level of late events . The Revolver , its Description , Management , and Use ; with Hints on R-ifli Clubs and the Defence of the Country . By P . E . Dove . ( Edinburgh : A . and C . Black . ) Oliyer Cromwell said that if the Pope , the Spaniards , and the Devil were to combine against England , he would beat them off . With Adams ' s revolvers in the hands of Englishmen , Mr . Dove believes that coalition , recurring to the Protector ' s language , ' might as well walk into a volcano . ' That the weapon is efficient has been placed beyond doubt , but its construction appears somewhat more intricate than that of some other revolving fire-arms . _ . Grins and Wrinkles , or Food for Thougkt and Laughter . By J . M'Gngoi Allan . ( J . Blackwood . )—The author ' intention has been to entertain the reader and touch his heart by turns . With this view he relates a variety oi stories , of which some are amusing enough , though written with exaggeration , and an excessive straining for effect . If there be anything melancholy in the volume , it is the comedy . The Cavaliers and Free Lances of Netc Spain . By Gabriel Ferry . ( J . Blackwood . )—Mr . Ferry has written two books in addition to this—Vagabond Life in Mexico , and Coztal the Indian . T o many readers , therefore , he is already known . He now offers a story of tremendous adventure , with glaring descriptions of New World scenery , and such portraits of character as are consistent with a romance half Spanish and half barbaric . Transatlantic Sketches . By Professor Kelland . ( Edinburgh : A . and C . Black . )—Professor Kelland has set a meritorious example . He saw as much of America as many travellers see who write large volom . es , and yet he describes all that was worth remembering in seventy-six pages . His narrative formed originally the substance of two lectures , entitled ' British America * and ' The United States , ' which were delivered at the opening of the University session at Edinburgh last year . The sketches are animated and informing . Malvem as I Found It . By Timothy Pounce , Esq . ( J . Blackwood . ) - — Visitors to Malvern may take this volume with them . It is like the physic in the play , and if it will not do much good , will do no harm . We conclude our list for this week with the ninth volume of The Ragged School Union Magazine , published by Messrs . Partridge and Co . Its contents are deeply interesting , and , announcing the publication to-day , we reserve a statement of results for another opportunity .
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Hamlet At The Princess's. Ilamlet Was Th...
HAMLET AT THE PRINCESS'S . Ilamlet was the character in which Mr . Kean made his first appearance , and his performance on Monday night brought back many old recollections—thoughts of that bygone lime when , as ' the younger Kkan , ' a mere boy , lie plunged with boyish ardour into the theatrical profession , animated by a chivalric desire to fulfil the duty of filial affliction . His subsequent histrionic career has given rise to the most diverse criticism , and perhaps no actor of modern times has had such warm partisans and such bitter enemies ; but whatever may be the opinion of him as an artist , in the broad sense of the word , it is impossible to deny the superiority of his Hamlet . His reading of the part is that of a scholar and a gentleman , his attitudes are graceful , his fencing admirable , and his elocution forcible and just , although , perhaps , from the habit of frequent repetition , those peculiarities of accent and thickness of utterance which form the stock in trade for the imitations of funny men at supper-parties , were more noticeable on Monday night than we have heard thorn for many years . His beat delivered speech was the first address to the players , where ho cannot recal to his memory the speech commencing with ' The rugged Pyrrhus . ' In the play-scene the expression of his face and the by-pluy of his limbs wore most artistic , but tho howl of exulting rage at the climax was , perhaps , a little excessivo in its energy . All praise to Miss Heath , who played Ophelia with truo sweetness and quiet pathos . What a blessing it is to see a lady on the stage , who will remember that , whatever passion she may be called upon to portray , a gentleness of blood and bearing must form the necessary substratum for the majority of Suak--BPEAi & H ^ femftk > -elmr « oter 8 l ^ Mr ,-: ftttANK-M ^^ the unthinking grinnors in tho pit and gallery , never forgot that Poloniuo , though a pliable courtier , was a gentleman ; and Mr . Walter JLaov ' s elocution us the Ghoet was Boleran , without being monotonous . Of tho representatives of tho King , the Queen , and Laertvp , we prefer being silent . X . The exquisite representation of the Midsummer Niykt ' a Drva » * was revived on Monday , and is played on alternate nights with Uamkt : to tho delight of vast audiences of holiday playgoers .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 16, 1858, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_16011858/page/19/
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