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Leader (1850-1860), 25th June 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 774, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      in intelligence , art and learning ; and in England , in or about the time of . Elizabeth , were hi g hly educated as sctiolars . 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 knight clad in arniour and ignorance , were vainly essayed upon the accomplished scholar or philosopher . Women , accordingly took to mental culture , and ' seined at proficiency in learning / " Theological disputation

      was a fashion of the day ; they preached'in public , maintained controversies , published theses , filled the clairs of law and philosophy , harangued the Popes in Latin , wrote Greek , and read Hebrew ; nuns lecame poetesses , women of quality divines , and young damsels , with eyes in tears and in sof t 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 and women , and who , not content with Latin only , read the Old Testament in Hebrew and the New in

      Greek . " But this stem phase of study was not calculated to last . It appealed to the intellect , not to the heart ; and the latter is woman ' s kingdom . " Tie ! , erudite Erasmus , " accordingly , " doubted whetLer 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 , hardlj a woman could be found in Europe , who could dictate a tolerable letter in her own tongue , or spell it correctly .

      Women ,: both in French salons and English drawing-brooms , have since acquired literary eminence ; but they have for the most part been content with flie more light arid eloquent departments of knowledge . In treating of English women in the eighteenth century , Mr . Wade has given undue prominence to Dr . Johnson , and 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 Ore 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 .

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      THE LAWS OP LIFE , with Special Reference to the Physical Education of Girls . By Elizabeth Blaokwell . M . D . —Sampson JLow , Son aud 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 appears 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 . Hero 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 tine laws of her country to teaoh and heal those ¦ who may need instruction or medical help . The age , in this lady ' s opinion , is nrucli tod logical and intellectual ; and the laws of life suffer

      martyr violates this law , and by this violation ranks as a prophet . ; He is before , his time , and suffers . ' " We feel , " says she , " tile penalty of its violation as we stand before that noble pic t ure , ' The Martyrdom of Huss . ' Why does the noble martyr kneel there chained and vanquished ? Why were the voices of Wicklif ^ of Jerome , hitshed 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 not come . The divine order of

      development must be obeyed ; the age was not ripe for Wicklifi ^ therefore he failed ; the age was ripe for Luther , therefore . he succeeded . This reflection , carried as far it would go , would lead to many considerations both religious and philosophical , that might open Aip 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 , ah 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 shojild 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 la . ttei \ During youth , therefore , the development of the body in strength and beauty pught to be the first care . Such is the main doctrine of Miss BlackwelTs ' 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 in particular will do well to consult these pages . They will find the truth told , though delicately yet firmly ; and by observing its precepts they will preserve both their health , and their virtue . Let the knowledge contained in this little book be practically applied , and it will be converted into power .

      from the mental bias . We pay too little attention to the welfare of the material organisation . Former ages having made the fatal mistake of attributing sin to the body , instead of to a corrupt heart , we continue to despise it , to neglect its separate life . The healthy body is an aid to virtue . Miss Black--well hopes to call attention to the physical education of the young , and to describe the means by -which thb preeent degeneracy ( for suoh she insists doos really exist ) may be cheoked , and a steady progress made in the improvement of tho condition of the race . '

      The laws of , lifo are her professed theme . The foundation of all is tho law of exercise . Movemont ancl existence are inseparable . The next is tho law of order in exercise . This out authoress illustrates by moral instances as well as physical . I lieso strike at least with especial novelty . The

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      THE HISTORY OF PROGRESS INGREAT BRITAIN . By Robert Kemp Philp . With numerous Illustrations , by W . Newman , C . Melville , J . Gilbert , II . C . Magulre , & < j . —Houlston and Wrig-ht , Qni-y 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 . Now the greatness of England reveals itself as a ' necessit y for the safety of Europe , the dissolution of which would involve the disruption , as it wore , of the civilised world . Under a variety of heads , Mr . Philp has shown , step by stop , 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 yet to be . " His sketches are various , and occupy a goodly volume , yet each is brief , and traverses a wide space of time with exemplary celerity . The author is conscious of their quality , and justifies it by comparison . " As a railway , " says he , " 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 focus tho events

      Carriages ; Water Conveyances , Domestis Architecture , Shipping , Navigation , and Geogrnplucal Dis " covery . In all , he traces the degrees by which we hav « ascended to the height of comfort and luxury that we now enjoy . The most interesting of these essays is perhaps that which relates to English architecture . It contains some amusing ' particulars . On the first introduction of chimneys for instance , there were great prejudices against them . Thejsopular apprehension . of the ill eTFect * of change from the rough and ready to' the more convenient , is continually repeating itself . All improvement is objected to by the unrefined as a tendency to the luxurious , and to bo content with poverty and ignorance is the religious creed of the

      idle and superstitious ; so diflicult Is it to raise the prejudiced vulgar above ' mere animal wants . Even monarchs were opposed to tlie needful extension of the metropolis . Elizabeth and James ivere alike in this ; and there arc 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 stimuli ! .-and direct the effort ; the mass is not ¦ willing ly stirred . But the leaven of ' education has been applied ; the results are already perceptible ; and ere long the reproach just expressed , -wo hope and believe , will cease to be true of the English ju-ople .

      of ages , and enables us in imagination to reach the very poles of time , and to explore the antipodes of social conditions , We , " he continues , " who can breakfast in Edinburgh aud sup in London , have in these brief recitals boon carried back to a period when Scotland and Ireland wore unknown to England , and when the Roman general * would only venture upon expeditions or discovery in North Britian , in the summer time . " These few words describe the scope and style of tho essays that compose this masterly volume . Mr . PiiUp treats the history of progress in England under eight heads—Agriculture , Roads ,

      Untitled Article

      A PANORAMA OP THE NEW WORLD . -ByKiiiahan Cornwallis . In 2 vols .- —T . C . Newby . A book written in a style of levity little likely to beget confidence in tlie writer . His first experiences-in Australia , he tells . up , wore his worst . One thing he found , that the game of lite at Melbourne ' was no idle work . At Melbourne , too , there was no public gambling , and , :-: j .. ve among men of the higher order at after-dinner , play , but little money changed hands at the ctird-table . ' At San Francisco it was different . Our traveller

      became acquainted with a man who had shot another on one occasion , at San Francisco , for an attempt to cheat him at ' . cards . Ko notice was taken of the proceeding beyond burying the dead man . There is a tale or two of bush-rangers , stirring enough . 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 nnd poisoned the blacks for sport ox 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 1855 , Mr . Cornwallis lef t the colony of Melbourne by steamer for Sydney , which he again letl for Valparaiso , where , aflor a stormy -voyage , he arrived . Wo then follow the traveller from plnce to plsico , on which he bestows some very fair descriptions , nnd in particular in relation to Peru . I lore is variety enough , and company enough ; and wo rim behove tho author when lie records that he " never appreit in

      ciated 'The Pleasures of Solitude ' till ho rent I tho secluded garden nooks of tho island oi Toboga . It was " , ho says , " refreshing , after the bustling din of Australia nnd I ho frivolity and gaiety of Bouth America . " He seems to have been pleased with the pictures of Now ^ ork . onci to have found in tlioAmoriean 3 Ju . i t Inequalities of which he most approved . Here tho BmaU interest that the book possesses ccusc-i altogether . Tho author has , hpwevor , written works oi woro value ; particularly one rolutivo to Jnpnn . we succeeds best in exploring now fields . In tiie argument of tho volumes before us he has been fatally anticipated .

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      Europe ' s Woo and England ' s Duty , by £ "f ^ Clio . liilhitflmm Wilson . The author ' s opinion ia , tluvt tho present war was inevitable ; it is ivn evil , however , which iMigiona should avoid . It is tho duty of England , unless directly assailed , " to take no part in it . nor heart is . neither fully with ITranco nor with Austria ! and whero she cannot altogether givo lior heart , sno ought not to lend her hand for tho torriblo business of war . " Howover , wo detest Austria more timti wo distrust Franco j and cherish « a deep mid lively tenderness for Sardinia . " Our author has yet a reason in reserve . It is tills : " Imperial Jfranco is more suited , for tho stern business of cuUlug tuo

      Untitled Article

      _ 774 THE LEADER , ^ JJ J ggRAiir

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 25, 1859, page 774, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2300/page/18/