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    July 22, 1854.] THE LEADER. 689

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    MRS. STOWE ON T HER TRAVELS. Sunny Memor...

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    ., , -. ,, ., , , . , , R Baiibienie On ...

    the point blank evidences " of the absorption of the animal parts of tubercle— are always foutid imbedded in an artificial cyst , produced by the hardening and contraction of the coagvlable lymph -which nature pours out in inflammatory attacks , or in pauses ot the constitutional malady—i . e . in an improved condition of the blood- Thus we have solved the problem M . Louis considered unsolvable . / The conditions of spontaneous arrest of pulmonary lesions are , 1 st , an improved condition of the blood—the drying up of the corrupt fountain of the malady—and 2 nd , the effusion of plastic exudation around deposits or cavities , which serves in the former case ( deposits ) as a ' wall of circumvallation' to separate the diseased from the healthy , the living from the dead parts ; and in the latter case ( cavities ) to dry up and bring together ulcerating walls . " He also describes the four ( not three ) phases of consumption , and the causes of the disease . But the portion of the work which will most directly appeal to the public is the history of one hundred and forty-seven cases of consumption , some of them in the last stage , which have been cured , and which therefore prove that consumption is curable , or that at least it is not necessarily fatal . When we said that Dr . Balbirnie ' s treatment was not dependent on his theory , we alluded to the theory of tubercle being deoxydated fat ; of course his treatment depends on his theory of the causes of consumption , as , for example , in the following passage : " To us , indeed , it is the clearest of truths , viz ., that stagnation , or insufficient RENEWAL OP THE AIR IN THE CHEST—DEFECTIVE LUNG-PLAY , DEFECTIVE BLOODPURIFICATION , WITH AN EQUALLY ESFEEBLKD ACTION OF THE CUTANEOUS FUNCTIONS rALL RESULTING FROM BOI > ILY INACTIVITY LIE AT THE FOUNDATION OF THE PHENOMENA of the tuberculous constitution . Another equally obvious truth , to us , is this , viz ., that , the treatment that will full-surely realise the greatest success YET RECQHI > E 1 > , IS THAT WHICH IS BASED rRE-EMlNKNTLY ON THE CORRECTION ov these two master-evils . This treatment includes regimen , bathing , exercise , change of air and 6 cene , agreeable society , and every other precaution and resource which hygiene can supply . '• ' In females sedentarily employed , * the cases of consumption , compared ¦ with all other diseases , were three times as numerous as among those engaged in active domestic occupations ( servants , housekeepers , shopkeepers ) . Men following in-door work fall into consumption much earlier in- life than those employed out of doors . In females generally , the ratio of cases was highest in those following in-door sedentary employments , less in those having mixed in-door occupations , and least of all in those employed out of doors . In men , the ratio of cases of Consumption to all other diseases is somewhat higher in those following in-door labour than in those employed , in the open air ; and among the in-door operatives the ratio is highest where there is the least exercise , and lowest in employments requiring strong exercise . The disease also occurs earlier in life among those whose occupations give a higher ratio of cases . " The iiyuriousness of the worst occupations is not unavoidable , certainly not uncounteractable . No occupation by . which man may honestly earn his bread , need be , should be , per sef unwholesome . Employments owe their malign influence to the unfavourable circumstances of the employed— to the wilful , systematic violation of sanitary laws , under which they are pursued . The cupidity of the employer , and the recklessness of the workman , are the greatest disseminators of disease . The impure air of workshops , prolonged hours of labour , constrained positions of body while at work , deficiency of light , & c , are not . necessary or irremediable evils of man ' s toiling lot . Bat these evils are often tenfold aggravated by the mental and physical depression produced by dissipation and injurious habits of all sorts . Undoubtedly the inhalation of minute particles ot minerals , uqetals , and animal and vegetable -substances floating in the atmosphere , are sources of pulmonary irritation , and eventually causes of Consumption , in stonemasons , needle-pointers , nax and feather dressers , " glass-cutters , turners , & c . ; but by far the greatest injury is inflicted on the constitutions of the men by collateral causes which they have perfectly under their own control . " These questions we must leave to the profession—non nostrum , est tantas componere lites— enough if we have called attention to a book worthy of all attention on a subject of hnniense importance . 1 s ! : > > 1 5 » 3 1 r - n U

    July 22, 1854.] The Leader. 689

    July 22 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 689

    Mrs. Stowe On T Her Travels. Sunny Memor...

    MRS . STOWE ON HER TRAVELS . Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands . By Airs . Harriet Beecher Slowe . Author of " Uncle Tom ' s Cabin , ' . " Sampson , Low , and Co . In the preface to these volumes Mrs . Stowe states that she would not have published her new book in England but for certain misrepresentations of the circumstances related in it , which have obtained currency in this country , and which she thinks it desirable to refute . She also begs the English reader to remember that her " Memories" are addressed especially to the American public- —requests that due allowance may _ be made for them accordingly ^—apologises for taking an inveteratcly amiable view of our country and its inhabitants , by assuring us that her "impressions" have been set down as the results of " a most agreeable visit "—and declares that she would have been placed far more at her- ease if there had been no prospect of issuing the present publication in England . To speak plainly , wo believe these explanations and excuses to be occasioned by a very natural anxiety on Mrs . Stowb's part not to be tried by the literary standard of " Uncle Tom ' s Cabin , " on her second appearance among us as a writer . Feeling this conviction , and having , moreover , no sympathy with that unprofitable kind of criticism -which cannot examine a writer ' s later literary oflspring without making disparaging references to the first born children of his brain , we beg to assure Mi's . Stowe that her present book of travelling experiences is in no danger of being estimated by us , in any critical point of view , by the literary standard of her iiunous fiction . Sp far us the main purpose of this notice is concerned , whatever genuine sparkles of light there may bo in the " Sunny Memories" shall not bo darkened for a moment by so much as the shadow of" Uncle Tom . " Looking , then , at this work only as the production of an American lady , who , from certain circumstances , -was received with very uncommon respect and regard in England and in other European oountries that she visited , wo have , in a general way , nothing but a negative objection to make against it . It is not in any respect a striking book ; it has nothing fresh and original about it ; and it differs in no important point that wo can discover , from the printed travelling gossip of American ladies in general . Mrs . Stowe , as a traveller , may claim tbo merit of looking at th « brightest and best aide of everything that she observes , mid of writing in certain places , and on certain subjects , with great good fiertso . Wo wish that she was a little leas pfimly conscious of her own humility in soino passages , and a little lesfl devoutly froc o « d eoay on serious subjects in others , Plonty of limits migbt be . found ¦ with her besides the defects just indicated , if-we choeo to go . into details , l * uh . » he has nskad us to mnko allowances , ana w aa ' Ve ™ ny WO ed

    and amiable , in its general tone , and straightforward and sensible In certain detached passages , we have spoken our conscientious opinion , and need say no more . Having expressed what our ovrn estimate is of " Sunny Memories , " the only duty that remains to be performed is to let Mrs . Stowe appeal from our judgment to the judgment of our readers . Are we right or wrong in considering that this passage might haye been written by any woman of ordinary intelligence or education either in England or America?—" When the ship has been out about eight days , an evident bettering of spirits and coindition obtains among the passengers . Many of the sick ones take heart , an < r appeal again among the walkB and ways of men ; the ladies assemble i » little knots , and talk of getting on shore . The more knowing ones , who have travelled before , embrace this onportui ^ ty to show their knowledge cf life by telling the new hands all sorts of hobgoblin stdfies Sbotrt the custom-house officers and the difficulties of getting landed in England . It is a curious fact , that old travellers generally seecm to ' take this particular delight in striking consternation into younger ones . , " ' You'll have all your daguerreotypes taken away , ' siiyfr one lady , who , in fight of having crossed the ocean nine times , is entitled to speak ex cathedra on theksujbject . , • 41 ' All our daguerreotypes ! ' shriek four or five at once . * Pray tell what for ? " 44 ' They will do it , ' says the knowing lady , with an awful nod j ' " unless you hide tliem and all your books , they'll burn up ' , ; " ' Burn our books 1 ' exclaim the circle . " O , dreadful 1 What do . tfiey dcy t hat far ?* 44 They ' re very particular always to burn up all your books . 1 knew a lady Tyho ' had a dozen burned , ' says the wise one . " ¦ ¦ -r . : ¦ ¦ ¦ :. ' >¦ ; 44 ? Deaf me ! will they take our dresses ? ' says a young lady , with increasing alarm ... t , j 4 " No , but they'll pull everything out , and tumble them well over , I can tell you . " ' How horrid ! ' ' ; ' ,,. """ , ' "An old lady , who has been very sick all the way , is revived by this appalling intelligence . " ' I hope they won't tumble over my caps . ' she exclaims . , . . . / " Yes , they will have everything out on deck , ' says the lady , delighted with the increasing sensation . ' I tell you you don ' t know these custom-hoiise officens . * ""• ' ' " ¦ ' ¦ - ¦ ? " It ' s tbo badi' 'It ' sdreadfull' 'How horrid ! exclaim all . ..- ; ..- . : " 'I shall put my best things in my pocket , ' exclaims one . 'They don't search our pockets , do they ? ' - »'¦ » ¦ ' j -n " " ' Well , no , hot here ; but I tell you they'll search , your pockets at Antwerp and . i » rasca \ o ' RflVfi til 6- lmiV . . . . . . " ' Somebody catches the sound , and flies off into the state-rooms with the intelligence that ' the custom-house officers are so dreadful—they rip open your trunks , pull out all yofcr tilings , burn your books , take away your daguerreotypes , and even search your pockets j > and a row of groans is heard ascending from the row of state-rooms , as all begin to revolve what they have in their trunks , and what they are to do in this emergency . ¦¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' -j ¦¦ -. " Pray tell me , ' said I , to a gentlemanly man , who had crossed ibar or five ume % las there really so much annoyance at the custom-house ? ' . , . .. ., '(_ , " * Annoyance , ma ' am ? No , hot the slightest . ' "' But do they really turn out the contents of the trunks , and take away peoples daguerreotypes , and burn their books ?' "' Nothing of the kind , ma ' am . I apprehend-no difficulty ^ I never had any . lhere are a fe " w articles on which duty is charged . I have a case of cigars , for instance ; I shall show them to the custom-house officer , and pay the dtctyy If a person seems dispbseatwtoe fair , there is no difficulty . The examination of ladies' trunks is merely nominal } notuLng is deranged . ' ¦ " ' ..- ' ' t - ; $ }¦ . ' xfivA . " So it proved . We arrived on Sunday morning ; the custom-house' officers , very gen $ lemanly men , came oh board ; our luggage was all set out , and passed through a ' rabid exatfnnation , which in many cases amounted only to opening the ttunlc and ShottingIty iinid 4 U was over , The whole ceremony did not occupy two hours , "; - . ' : ; i Take another example . Is it above the average magazine writing mark ?•« - " Well , we are in Scotland at last , and now pur pulse rises as the sun deolioes inCthfe west . We catch glimpses of the Sol way Frith , and talk about Kedgauntlet . ' f ; . ; : ¦ . ' ¦ ¦ 41 One says , ' Do you remember the scene on the pea-shore , with which it opens , describing the rising of the tide ? ' _;¦ ¦ . ( . L ; " And says another , ' Don't you remember those lines in the Youag JL-ocmnyar song 5 ;^ - ; 4 Love swells like the Sol way , but ebbs like its tide . '' ., . ¦ , ' , * " I wonder how many authors it will take to enchant our country frongi Maine to ^ ew Orleans , us every foot of ground is enchanted here in Scotland . ' " The sun went down , and night drew on ; still wo wxsre in Scotlatid . Scotch ballads , Scotch tunes , and Scotch literature , were in the ascendant . We sang Anld Lang- Synfl ,- ' ' Scots -wha hae , ' and ' Bonnie Doon , ' and then , changing the key , sang ' Dundee , * ' Elgin , and ' Martyr . ' .., - ' ' •» " * Take care , ' said Mr . S . ;' don't get too much excited . . . .. ... .,. ik-414 Ah , ' said I , ' this i ^ a thing that cornea only once in a lifetime ; do let us iteve'tne comfort of it . We shall never come into Scotland for theirs * time again . ' ¦ ¦ ' . aw " ' Ah , ' suid another , ' how I wish Walter Scott was alive J' >' . ¦ : » ' While we thus at the fusion point of enthusiasm , the cars stopped at Lockerbie , wjlere the real Old ' Mortality is . buried . All was dim and dark outside , but we soon became conscious that there was quite a , number collected , peering into the window ; and , witto a strange kind of thrill , 1 heard my name inquired for in tho Scottish , accent . I wfent to the window ; there were men , women , and children there , and Stand'after hana wtte presented , with the words , *¦ Ye ' re welcome to Scotland I' . ' ¦' 4 l Then tliey inquired for , and shook , hands with , all the party , having ? m . Borne myii * terious manner got the knowledge of who they were , even down to Httla G ~ , ttham they took to be my aon . Wa 3 it not pleasant , whon 1 had a heart so warm for tUiaold country ? I shall never forgot tho thrill of thoso words , 4 Yo ' rc welcome to Scotland j ' nor tho ' Gudo night . '" ^ , I ' . ' What does tho reader say to the following religious reflections on chivkli *^ and its enthusiasts?— . > i ;> " I have often been dissatisfied -with the admiration which a poetic education ihasJwovea into my nature for oLivalry and feudaliant 5 , bufc . on a closer examination ,, , 1 . i ^ a oobt vinced that there is a real nnd proper foundation lor it . and that , rightly , wid < frp ^ od ,,,. ^ h 3 a poetic admiration is not inconsistent with tho spirit of Christ . " Forj lot us coriaidcr what it is we itdrniro'mthoBoDouglaSes , fot instancojiwhov'as * opre-Bcntcil by Scott , are pevliupa as good oxponcnta of th « idea as any . -Waaiti their ; hardtfeBft their cruelty , tiieir hfistlness to take offonco , tholr fondness tor blood and jmurdor ? JVP these , by mul of thomsdvea , are simply disguBting . What , thbn , do wo admire ? Tiieir cournco , their fortitudo , their scorn of lying and oisafnrulation , th « irhig ( iBonBO ' of perflowrt honour , which led them to foci thcmsolvctj the prowctora of tho weak ; « n < l't » disdaiw to tat » advantage of unequal odds ngn ' mut nil enemy . If wo read tho book of lBai * lH wo shalreoo that aomo of tho most striking ropieaontutions of Clod nppcal to-tho voiy ' snnio prlftoSpfOB ot 44 Tho fact is , thero enn be no roliablo character which hha notita basis Intliooe ®&* W | fe qualitit'B . Tho bcautlnd lhuat over rest in tho anna of the Bubliiue . Tho fi enll ° " " ?* I" ; 8 ironB to sustain it , a « much na the roclcnowerd n « erf rookw to grow on ; or y ^ J ( * V ^ rufiged wall which it ombawea . When wo aro mhnlring thoao things , ^ eMWro , W * « J ™ only iidiuiring some BfUrlclos and glimmers of that which is'dmoo , . iind'dd oMh ittffn ^' to Ilhn in wnom all lulnosB dwcllu . " , ' . ' ' ' . ^ l ' Wcjvo ia Mw « Stpwe ' s HccOnnt of h , er wioo ( , ing with so < no udrnir ^ g g ^ tch ' ladies : t—r- ' . . . ¦ . ¦ . » .. •••'/ , ih ho , " As wo wore walking along a Cftrria ^ came up after w , in which wore ^ fj ^^ buwol , of primron « s thrown fn > ra tl » i « enniugo lull « t my inLr IpiQbcd ) ib'up , v * ndU 1 Bn > th « cvrrh go itopped , and t , ho tadfw roquwtca to know xt I wu » - Mm $ U » w « u _ r ^ »^ £ tho nfflrmatfvo they urged mo ao mramtly to come under their root and take some refreshmen Si fy $ K & nombor , trMt I Imd partly . loan Might of ; thRtl wKa -YWyvtfefed ; '*>>

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 22, 1854, page 17, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_22071854/page/17/