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670 THE LEADEK TLit^rapv ^i—^MM^i^—^^^^W...
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without interest-r-ayery few we hope—or ...
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Prostitution Considered in Relation to i...
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Logic In Theology, And 6$Hj2r Essays. By...
heavenward , and , stifling nature , obeys as she thinks , the call of Heaven . " In the company of Jerome , Paula travelled through Palestine * adopting and enduring the sternest austerities . She ate no meat , she abstained from fish , eggs , honey , and wine ; oil she used only on holidays ; she lay upon a stone floor with a sackcloth mat . Enough of this . We here abridge the narrative . She lived about twenty years at Bethlehem , and there died , " A pattern of Christian assiduity and of unity of purpose—Jiving a life on earth which in all things was . intended to secure the life eternal . " This " unity of purpose" is the thing which Mr . Taylor not only prints in italics but seenis to treat with most emphasis . Another point , too , he wishes to establish—that in these martyr-trials woman shows stronger than man , and took a higher place than he , as teacher and exemplar .
Analogies of such intercourse as subsisted -between Jerome and Paula , Mr . Taylor finds in that of Bunyan and the farmer ' s wife , and Whitfield and the Countess of Huntingdon . The example of Theodosius is used for the sake of illustrating the relation between " Pagan usages and the Christian magistrate . " Mr . Taylor here delivers himself of maxims applicable to our domination in India . He recognises a wide distance between the Hindoo and European mind ; without any previous preparation for closer intercourse . The condition nas not yet been generated fitted
to qualify the former " fauiy and knowingly to adjudge the cause at issue between the several religions of their ancestors and the o » e religion of their masters- —their conquerors . " The Pagan times were of a more favourable _ sort . Then , on the one - side , there was a superior doctrine ^ system of morality ,- and , above all , " a determinate belief held byi thousands of men and women with a fulness of persuasion and an attachment immoveably firm , " opposed to mere popular superstitions . X . * -m * /» - ¦•¦ ¦* _ i i 1 _ rl 1 — . 3 l . « . ^ r «» d beliefsridiculed b and
an , y philosophy ^ navmg no vital force on the other . " The polytheism of India , " says our author , " with its lurid ferocities and its filth , just because it lias never allied itself with : any conception of beauty or of order—as did that of Greece—and just because it takes no spring from any axioitos of reason , has confixed itself upon the Hindoo soul—has gjrown into itr—has gone down in its impurity , and in its cruelty , and m its absurdity ; as a girdle of brass it encircles the moral and rational faculties *
forbids even . so much expansive movement as might issue in a release from its hold . " Highly valuable are such remarks , with the authority of Mr . Taylor . The influence of . the conquering race is , unfortunately , as he points out , selfantagonistic . The governing class , represented by the young men who administer the foreign rule , and to whom revenue is paid , is deficient- ^ -and even atheistic— -in religious feeling : while , with the missionary class , "the same exterior European and English civilisation speaks to the Hindoo mind in tones animated by a profound belief of whatever
is emphatically Christian . The mere consciousness , " he rightly adds , " of so vehement an antagonism having place among those who have come tp rule and to teach them , would deeply affect the minds of races even less shrewd and intelligent than are the people of India . " With euch conditions and elements as here indicated , what other results could be fairly expected than a Sepoy rebellion P Let the experience so bitterly earned be turned to wise account . We will particularly direct attention to what Mr . Taylor says
of the probable reaction of the east upon the west . It is a , consideration of overwhelming importance , though as yet only mooted by the more thinking minds of the century . In connexion with this subject , Mr . Taylor ' s reflections on " Julian the Apostate" might be cited in elucidation ; bn % our space is exhausted , and we can but refer the pensive reader to , the topics indicated , and repommend him to meditate over a thoughtiul book for himself . The concluding essay on the more mysterious character * iatics of piety will demand much patient reading ; but , as on the rest of the volume , it wril be profitably bestowed .
670 The Leadek Tlit^Rapv ^I—^Mm^I^—^^^^W...
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Without Interest-R-Ayery Few We Hope—Or ...
without interest-r-ayery few we hope—or to others an unfit subject , will see into what kind of company they are likely to be introduced . We mention the subject of " Out of the Depths" more particularly , because of late we observe there is a growing tendency on the part of the novelist to make use of all questions that occupy the public attention in works of fiction . The object of this is plain enough to us — nothing reads or pays so well as novels ; Hbrarians ' . 'must subscribe to anything in the shape Of a novel ; but of books on social questions of the day they are not supposed generally to supply their subscribers . The expense , then , becomes individual , as it were ; every cue who wishes to read the book must purchase it , if the library to which he sub-Whereas the novel is certain
scribes has not got it . to have some kind of success—more especially if the writer can come to terms with Mr . Munie . We hope that this system of " novelising " subjects will not become a nuisance as great as one of the evils that the writers themselves try to put down . Had " Out of the Depths " reached us from a less respectable source we should have been inclined to have passed it by without notice , because yfe should be sorry to encourage this system of novel-making . Again , many parents might , without due notice were given them , get such works as " Out of the Depths" from the library for their daughters . The title , although a : good one , does not convey to the general reader the subject of the work . It would have been better understood had the second title been " The Life of an Unfortunate Woman , " as it
can scarcely be said to be a work suitable for juvenile female readers . Having made these few preliminary remarks , we . will proceed to notice the book . The work professes to be written by a young woman reclaimed by a clergyman from the streets . Her story presents no extraordinary features ; it is the stereotyped tale , the writer very likely havino- got the facts from no second-hand source . from
been a governess ; but I don't know exactly-whatw extraction was ; she said she was a clergyman '* daughter , but so did many of them . Ionly knew one of whom I ever had proof that her father was a clergyman ; she came out of Lincolnshire ; and I was told by a girl that knew her home , that her father was really a parson * but that he was quite a common man , who had been . , sent to college by some kind ladies who thought him very clever , but that he was not respected , and his daug hter certainly was very common . In my experience—and it has been very large—I can affirm that it was a very rare case indeed to see any woman hi our sad ranks at all above my own condition , and many were far lower as regards education . " It is clear to us that this is not the writing of a woman reclaimed from tlie streets . These are the opinions of a person ( a clergyman , we think , ) that has well studied the Subject . The whole gist of the matter is here given ; and " Out of the Depths " will clu a greater service to the cause on which it is written than any work before published . The writer is so thoroughly in earnest that the reader is made to f eel profound commiseration for the poor creatures whose cause he so eloquently advocates ; and hard must be the heart that has no pity for all the unfortunate Mary Smiths . This is a good way of " putting things . " It . ¦ wi ll arouse public sympathy . Could thd young men who infest the casinos and gardens nightly , be taught to look at their conduct in a less selfish light , there would then be sonic chance of diminishing the social evil . It is true there are many other causes , but none , we tliinlc , so great . But to" discuss all the pros and eons of the social evil is not our object . " Out of the Depths " is the work of a person of great and liberal views , with avast sympathy for his fellow creatures ; he is a powerful and earnest advocate , and his work will , we predict , do more good towards elucidating this great question than , any book of fiction yet published ; and we heartily and sincerely recommend it to all those that are trying to seek remedies for the great social evil .
Mary Simith passes through all the grades , the kept mistress down to' the commonest street walker . One night she accosts the Hon . and Rev . Alberic . Berkeley , a philanthropic clergyman . He points out to her the sinful life she is leading , prays with her , and at parting , tells her that if ever she should wish to change her disgusting course of life , if she will write to him she will always find a true friend . She refuses indignantly ; abuses him in the coarsest manner ; but in
time she relents , and after passing through many hardships in trying to reform , she writes to him . He takes her in hand , and ultimately we find her settled in the village of Flintworth , a schoolmistress , following a quiet religious life , attending the sick , and discussing with her benefactor the best mode of reducing the social evil . Her opinions are worth quoting , as they will present some new features to those that are interested in the subject : " I have thought often about it , sir . There are societies—penitentiaries which will receive them , but I never knew any one who went into them , or who would not have turned away in scorn at the
idea of doing so ; and starving would not drive them to such places j their pride revolts at it , sir J but I don't say that those places may not do good to some of the lower orders , for there are ranks and grades among those people quite as exclusive as anything of the kind in respectable society . The common bond of sin creates no fellowship , but penitentiaries will never touch the higher grade of unfortunate women ; and I do not see what will , unless it be a more pure state of society altogether . It must begin with the young men , sir ; for as long as there aro men to tempt , there are women to be tempted , and will fall . But I have often thought lately , sir , that
a , great deal might bo done by parents—fathers especially—watching over their children while they are young , and teaching them self-restramt and continence even in the simplest things ; and they might forewarn thoir sons of the dangers of life , and tell them plainly -what noble things virtue and chastity are , and how bare and demeaning intemperance and profligacy aro . I read in a little book which you lent me some time since ,, sir , that there wore some heathen nations long ago , where young men were educated to be bo hardy and virtuous that they never thought of such things aa too many of our young men in England think of before they are men . "
« HTK ! OF THW PKI'THSi tUo Story of ftWomaa ' e iLtfo . — MaqmiUan and Co . Q vii ctv "jpjqa JDwxHa" is tho life of Mary Smith , aX unfortunate woman . It is but right that wd ehQuld mention this at the commencement of our notice , go that- those to whom tho social evil is
She is asked to what class these outcast women principally belong . " From alt classes , air , but ohiofly from such a rank as I myself sprang -, at least , I never but once mot any woman cotter , educated than ' myeelf , and she had
Prostitution Considered In Relation To I...
Prostitution Considered in Relation to its Cause and Cure . By James Miller , F . K . S . E ., F . R . C . S . E ., & c . —Edinburgh : Sutherland and Knox . These remarks have already appeared iii the Edinburgh Medical Journal . The writer calculates that there are 10 , 000 prostitutes in London . In Glasgow and Edinburgh there is , what he calls , " a multitudinous amazonian army . The stones seem alive with lustr , and the very atmosphere is tainted . " O Scotland ! Almost ashamed to know thyself ! In Ameria the amount of social evil is stated in dollars . Dr . Sanger , of New York , states that an aggregate of nearly four millions of dollars is invested in this filthy business , and the money squandered on it about seven millions annually . Woman , as ono of its causes , is the least guilty . She seeks at first rather to gratify her lover than herself ; in the lower ranks , early habits and bad education are the immediate occasions . Children of disreputable parents are born in unchastity . In Pans , nraetyfWhundredths of public women are thus born and reared . Poverty is the stimulus in some cases in all countries ; in others , the insufficiency of tbe ^ dweUinRsofthe poor , affording no room for decency . Vanity and love of dress are sometimes motives ; mTXumintmnnerance . As to the last , Mr . M . ller mwntam
remarks—" Drink becomes necessary to tho prostitution , and prostitution must be continued to pxovide the drink . Terrible reciprocity ! ' On decided impression is , ' says Dr . Sanger ' thatnot ono per cent , of the prostitutes in New Yprk prwfaco thoix calling without partaking ^ ^ toxicating drinks ? ' and hear the weighty words of opooi London Magdalene , ' No girh couip l *«* J L ffi we do without ami" But of all , ignorance is tno greatest general cause . _ The above reasons affect the female sex . JJolativo toman , wo have to consider his stronger passions and vicious culture , and the injustice done i toMm by our marriage customs . On the contrary , awongtlio nooy , promafcure marriage produces the same oflttotB . There are also causes that effect both boxcb--buc 1 i as irreligion , looseness of moral opinion , ^ J ; ^ J ^ . ness of civic rule . But is the effect of theseicom Wn ^ rl omiRfls . aftor all . inevitable ? Mr Mllioi
decides in the negative . He proposes aremwan improved education of tho , maBses , . bettor Uoubw for working men , tho restoration of vietoxinftndWio parents to bettor habits , the repression oj m tempo vmao , tho revision of female labour and i " « oj J thorough and speedy rcforin in lbniale costume , » sounder views of physiology . Some o . thosei roino dice evidently require time , and aro matters ot . worn *
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 28, 1859, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_28051859/page/14/
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