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Leader (1850-1860), 25th June 1859, Edition 2 of 2, Page 18, martyr violates this law, and by this vi...

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      Women", Past And Present : Exhibiting Th...

      in intelligence , art and learning ; and in England , in or about the time of Elizabeth , were hi g hly educated as scholars . This produced a reaction . During the age of chivalry , learning had been neglected ; but when men turned to pacific objects , woman varied her attraction . The personal charms that captivated the kuiglit clad in armour and ignorance , Trere vainly essayed upon the accomplished scholar or philosopher . Women , accordingly took to mental culture ^ and aimed at proficiency in learning . " Theological disputation was a fashion of the day ; they preached in public , maintained controversies , published theses , filled

      the chairs of law and philosophy , harangued the Popes in Latin , wrote Greek , and read Hebrew ; nuns became poetesses , women of quality divines , and young damsels , with eyes in tears and in _ soft and moving eloquence , beseeched Christian princes to rescue the Holy Land from the infidels : The ancient languages were esteemed an indispensable acquisition : they were taught both to men . women , and who , not content with Latin only , read the Old Testament in Hebrew and the New in

      Greek . " But this stern phase of study was not calculated to last . It appealed to the intellect , not to the heart ; and the latter is woman ' s kingdom . " The erudite Erasmus , " accordingly , " doubted whether learning and study were suitable feminine accomplishments . The Tudor age practically illustrated the tendency . of the proposition . " So strong was the reaction that in another generation , hardly a woman could be found in Europe ,-who eould dictate a tolerable letter in her own tongue , or spell it correctly .

      Women , both in French salons and English drawing-rooms , have since acquired literary emiwence ; ^ but they have for the most part been content with the more light and eloquent departments of knowledge . In treating of English women in the : eighteenth century , Mr . Wade has given undue prominence to Dr . Johnson , arid encumbered his pages with matter that might well have been spared . It is true , that he apologises for it ; but ,

      with the man in the play , we hate apologies ; we prefer the course of conduct that needs none ; but authors are fallible , and Mr . Wade is a voluminous one , and too frequently yields to the art of bookmaking , in which he is an adept . The present book is not sufficiently brilliant for the subject . Nor is it profund , where it ought to have been . The subjects of monogamy , polygamy and divorce are superficially treated . Here the philosophy of these topics should have been fearlessly interpreted and enforced .

      774 The Leader. [Literary

      774 THE LEADER . [ Literary

      Martyr Violates This Law, And By This Vi...

      martyr violates this law , and by this violation ranks as a prophet . He is before his time , and suffers . " We feel , " says she , " the penalty of its violation as we stand befoi'e that noble picture , ' The Martyrdom of Huss . ' Why does the noble martyr kneel there chained and vanquished ? Why were the voices of WicklifF , of Jerome , hushed and forgotten , while Luther ' s rang through the world , and every country still feels the throb of his heroic heart ? Men as truthful , as impatient of sham , as he -was , more beautiful in Christian life , had been lost to the world , for the right moment had hot come . The divine order of development'must lie obeyed ; the age was not ripe for Wickliff " , therefore he fiiiled ; the age was r ipe for Luther , therefore he succeeded .

      This reflection , eai-ried as far it would go , would lead to many considerations both religious and philosophical , that might open up ¦ new veins , of thought ; at any rate lead to new interpretations , of old dogmas . We must , however , remain with our authoress . She recognises a Method of Growth , an order not to be violated with impunity . Of man ' s double nature , there are three distinct periods in the development : the period ' of growth and . preparation , the period of maturity and active use , and lastly the period of decline and incapacity . However , a . difference ' obtains between mind and body . The specific needs of each predominate at 'different , periods ' 'of

      the human life . At a certain age the body ceases to grow- —it has reached its standard . To this the mind by no means conforms . The cessation of the body ' s growth does not mark the completion of the growth of the mind . A practical lesson not . to be neglected is implied . Physiology teaches that two organs do not act with equal energy at the same time . While the stomach digests the brain should rest ,: and the muscles be in abeyance . In the same way , the sovereignty of the body should be established before that of the soul is attempted . The one prepares for and is the continent of the latter . During youth , therefore , the development of the body in strength and beauty ought to be the first care .

      tnent and , existence are inseparable . The next is tho law of order in exercise . This our authoress illustrates by moral instances as well as physioal . These strike ftt least with especial novelty . Tho

      rHE LAWS OP UFE , with Special Reference to the Physical Education of Girls . By Elizabeth Blackwell . M . D . —Sampson Low , Son and Co . This lady , who practises as a physician in New York , has written a book which redounds to the honour of her sex . She is already known as a poetess ; but here she appeal's as a scientific lecturer , and as a physiologist . Every word in the present little volume bears the impress of wisdom and truth . It is with especial reference to her own sex that the lectures have been -written ; and by them they ought to be studied with the utmost care . Here is a learned sister , who will have

      nothing to do with weakness and frivolity ; who has studied medicine , who has trod ¦ the hospitals and the schools , who has furnished her mind with all that belongs to the masculine intellect , who speaks with authority , and who is authorised by the laws of her country to teach and heal those who may need instruction or medical help . Tho age , in tliis lady ' s opinion , is much too logical and intellectual ; and the laws of life suffer from thp mental bias . We pay too little attention to tho welfare of tho material organisation . Former

      ages having made the fatal mistake of attributing sin to tho body , instead of to a corrupt heart , wo continue to despise it , to neglect its separate life . The healthy body is an aid to virtue . Miss Black-• woll hopes to call attention to tho physical education of the young , and to describe the means by which the present degeneracy ( for such she insists < loes really exist ) may be checked , And a steady progress made in the improvement of tho condition of the race . , The laws of 4 life are her professe < l rf thome . Tho foundation of nil is tho law of exercise .

      Move-Such is the main doctrine of Miss Blackwell's book ; and she consistently advocates the claims of the body with all a physician ' s love for it , and with all a poet's eloquence . The young hi particular will do well to consult these pages . They will find the truth told , though delicately yet firinly ; and by observing its precepts they will preserve both their health and their virtue . Let the knowledge contained in this little book be pi * actically applied , and it will be converted into power .

      Carnages, Water Conveyances, Domestis Ar...

      Carnages , Water Conveyances , Domestis Arcliitoo ture , Shipping , Navigation , and Geographical Dk " covery . In all ,. he traces the degrees by which we haw ascended to the height of comfort and ' luxury that we now enjoy . The most interesting' of tlvse essays is perhaps that which relates to English architecture . It contains some aimisin < r par . ticulars . On the first introduction of chimneys " for instance , there were great prejudices against them . The popular apprehension oi" ill effects of change- from the rough and ready to the m ore convenient , is continually repeating itself . All improvement is objected to b y the unrefined as a tendency t 6 the luxurious , and to be content with poverty and ignorance is the . religious creed of the

      idle and superstitious ; so difficult is it to raise the prejudiced vulgar above mere animal wauls . Even monarch's were opposed to the needful extension of the metropolis . Elizabeth and . James were alike in this ; and there are yet persons who see only evil in the growth of building in suburban districts . The greatness of Britain expands beyond tlie appreciation of its inhabitants . It is only the few and instructed that apply the stimulus and direct the effort ; . the mass is ' not willingly stirred . But the leaven of education has been apj > lied ; the results are . already porceptiMa ; and ere long tlie reproach just expressed , ' ire hope and believe , -will cease to be true of the English people .

      THE HISTORY OFPltOGRESS INGREAT BRITAIN . By Robert Kemp Philp . With numorous Illustrations , by W . Newman , C . Melvillo , J . Gilbert , II . C , Magruire , & c . —Houlston and "Wright . Oni / t twenty generations ago our Celtic ancestors were yet barbarous , owing what cultivation they possessed to the Roman rule and polity , by which they were first subjected , then protected . JSTow the greatness of England reveals itself as a necessity for the safety of Europe , the dissolution of which would involve tlie disruption , as it were , of the civilised woi'ld . Under a variety of heads , Mr . Philp has shown , step by step , how this condition has been attained ; through what difficulties , and in spite of what prejudices ; and looking to the future from what *' has been , " dares to speculate on what " is yot to be . " His sketches are various , and occupy a goodly volume , yot each is brief , " and traverses a wide space of time with exemplary'celerity . Tho author is conscious of their quality , and justifies it by comparison . " As a railway , " says ho , " practically reduces space ; as a telescope 'brings distant objects near ; and as a microscope reveals the unseen : so a faithful historical sketch condenses into one foous the events of ages , and enables us in imagination to reach tho \ ery poles of time , and to explore tho antipodes of sobial conditions , Wo , " he continues , , " who can breakfast in Edinburgh and pup in London , have in these brief recitals boon carried back to a period when Scotland and Ireland wore unknown to England , and when tho Roman generals would only' venture upon expeditions of discovery in North Britian , m the summer time . " These few words describe tho scope , and style of tho essays that compose this masterly volume . Mr . Fhilp treats tho history of progress in England under eight heads—Agriculture , Roads ,

      A Panorama Of The New Wok1.I). Sy Kin Ah...

      A PANORAMA OF THE NEW WOK 1 . I ) . Sy Kin ah an Cormvallis . In 2 vols . —T . C . Newby . A book written in a style of levitv little likelv to beget confidence in the writer . His . first experiences in Australia , he tells u . « , wore his worst . One thing he found , that the game of life at Melbourne was no idle work . At Melbourne , too , there was no public gambling , ami , :- ; ito among men of the higher order at after-dinner ' play , but little money changed hands at the card-table . At San Francisco it was 'diilerenf . Our traveller became acquainted with a ninn who had shot another on one occasion , at Sari Francisco , for an attempt- to cheat him at cards . JSTo notice was taken of the proceeding beyond burying the dead man . There is a- ' " tale or two of bush-rangers , stirring enoughs Highway robberies on the gold escort are also described . But in all this , what is there new ? Pictures from the gold diggings , too , abound , but they lead to no reflexion . The conduct of the squatters towards the natives -was abominable ; they slaughtered and poisoned the blacks for sport or avarice . Two or three episodes of aboriginal life have more interest or novelty .

      Some romantic narratives are introduced , in which the writer shows a considerable amount oi pathos , A sketch or two of the Chinese immigrants is not without merit . In the year 185 / 5 , Mr . Cornwallis left the colony of Melbourne by steamer for Sydney , which he again left for Valparaiso , where , after n stormy voyage , lie arrived . AVc then follow the traveller from place to plain * , on which he bestows some very fair descriptions , anil in particular in relation to IVru . Hero is variety enough , and company enough ; and wo can believe the author when he records * that lie u Dover apprein

      ciated 'The Pleasures of Solitude till ho read it the secluded garden nooks of the island ol Toboga . It was " , hu says , « rofrusl liner , after the bustling din of Australia mid the frivolity ana gaiety of South America . " He sooms to have been pleased with the picture ?! of New York , and to have found in the Americans just the qufthtios of which ho most approved . Hero tho small interest that the book possesses ceases altogether . The author has , however , written works of more value 5 particularly one relative to Japan , no succeeds best in exploring now iiolcb . In the argumqnt of the volumes before us lie has been fatally anticipated .

      Europe's Woe And England'a Duty, By ^F^'...

      Europe ' s Woe and England ' a Duty , by ^ f ^' Clio . Elllnyluun > V ilson . Tins author ' s opinion is , that the prpfiont war > vas inevitable i it is an evil , however , which hngla »" should avoid . It ia the duty of Waiiil , "un ffl » directly assailed" to take no part In t . nov heart is neither fully with Franco nor with Austria , and whore Bho cannot altogether givo lior heart , sut ought not to lend her hand for tho torrlblo business of war . " However , wo dotest Austria more tnan wo distrust Ifranco j and cherish " a deep nnd lively tenderness for Sardinia . " Our author lias yot u reason In reserve . It is this ; " Imporlal Franco » s more suited ibr the stern business of cutting w »«

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 25, 1859, page 18, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_25061859/page/18/