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Leader (1850-1860), 28th July 1860, Edition 2 of 2, Page 9, FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. SP'RCT.Vli. TIan...

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      The Horse And Its Piaster.* W E Arc Taug...

      he possesses . The horse , he says , is the most timid of creatures ; hut quickly learns to recognise the voice of its owner . In its vast affection , it soon trusts with confidence to the person who is kind to it . An occasional word thrown to a patient . - and willing servant , spoken softly to the animal which is putting forth all its strength for our pleasure , would not he cast away . When dread overpowers the horse and it begins to run at its topmost speed do not pull the reins : the first ; check should he given hy the voice . Speak cheerfully to a timid creature . If the first word produces no effect , repeat it . Watch the ears . If these are turned backward to catch the accents , talk encouragingly to the horse . The voice of one it loves will restore its confidence . The pace will slacken . Talk on , hut always in a tone calculated to soothe distress . Then gently touch the reins . The first gentle movement may not bo responded to , but the second or the third will he ; and the animal , released from terror , is once more under your control .

      Such are the gentle instructions that Mr . Edward Mayhew give 3 in regard to the gentle though spirited creature which man so shamefully misgoverns . The style in which his hook is written should carry it into every household , whether the owner of it keep a horse or not . \ VV all of us have something in some way to do with horses . If we hire a Hansom , we are brought into a responsible relation , and should see that the driver does nothing that is cruel . It will do us no harm to know something of the subject , when we have to argue out some matter with cabby , or with the ostler when we borrow a steed for the day . In the latter case , the remarks above made . will be useful to the driver or rider . And thus , in some manner or . other , the present admirable volume may be made of universal xitilitv-

      ¦¦ July 28, I860.] The Saturday/Analyst ...

      ¦¦ July 28 , I 860 . ] The Saturday / Analyst and Leader . G 89

      The Middle Ages.* Ttnder The Practical T...

      THE MIDDLE AGES . * TTNDER the practical title of " From Eve till Mora / ' Mrs . l _ j Agar has wi'itteii a well-intentioned woi'k oil what have been called the DakK or the Middle Ages iri Europe . In composing this work , the writer proposed to suggest a eoinparison ¦ . . 'between the old civilization and the new , and to point out the gradations by which the existing communities of Ghristendom attained their present degree of polish and refinement . In illustration of her position , our authoress has admitted facts and details , anecdotes and incidents , whollVi excluded from history . The condition assio-ned to women at different periods has likewise 'interested , asmight " ^ have b een expected , the mind of a female essayist . —For the matter contained in her volume she prefixes a list jaf respectable authorities , well indicating the general course of her reading and study .

      - So muchly way of preface to an inquiry of no-ordinary intewjst , conducted with no ordinary care . We begin with the Gauls and Franks , who , in their rudenoss , drank wine out : of the skulls , of their enemies , mounted in gold ; when not only cities , provinces , arid districts , but even single families , were at feud with each other ; and when , in their loye of liberty and independence , they immblated their wives , their children , and themselves , rather than become the prey of the victor . They set little value on life , much on honour . The Druids even sacrificed human victims to the Deity , believed in sorcery , and were otherwise superstitious . the Gauls attained

      Becoming tributary to the Romans , consequently a comparativ ^ ly ^ h ^ h ^ el ? r ^ e ^ —WitTTess ^ hTcr ^ Trllie cities of an early period (( 500 B . C . ) such as Narbonne , Autun ,. Aries , and . Marseilles '; and the ' . 'naval ports " . crowded with the sails of commerce . But on the decline of the Roman power , barbarism again overspread those countries ; and the Franks soon . afterwards undertook and effected the conquest of Gaul , the women accompanying their husbands in their warlike expeditions . Then came the ravages of the Huns under Attiln , " the scourg-o of C > od , " and their defeat by the Merovigniaivs . Clovis , the grandson of Mcrovip , embraced Christianity about A . D . 491 .

      Clovis was a hybrid character . He " could display at will the sanguinary manners of the heathen , or appear to he touched by the milder doctrines of Christianity . He could assassinate n prince of the blood , or attend a synod of bishops , with equal # an < i-frui ( l . " But his successors were less vigorous , whether for prood or evil , mid ultimately , indeed , justly obtained the name of . the " do-nothing kings . " But Charlemagne arose , and the face of affairs ehang'od . The events of these times nro well sketched by the pen of Mrs , Agin * , which touches with facility , and sets in glancing lights , tho symbolic facts of each particular epoch .

      The scene now changes , and the Normans tread the stage . The rugged nature of the Scandinavians conies into piny . That nature was favourable to liberty . In Norway no feudal nubility could exist , or slavery prevail ; for man ' s incessant labour ¦ barely enabled him to obtain mibsistonco for himself and family . Oh , Hum stern Xorth nurse of equality , of freedom , of brotherhood ; teaching nil thorn ) by the one lesson of mutual need . Oh , poverty , how much safer art thou than riches ! All hail , thou stern North , mid thou cold poverty ! Tmmortnl blessings nve the issues of your united influences .

      History rejoices in you , and justifies Nature , oven in her utmost sevmlyT ^ jwstT lnot ; liVi"i ~ flT 6 uS'Ii seoiiiingly" lmtliinlliuC ''^ TlwT \ srt > ns safer than prosperity ; lot iw welcome that truth , aridrloiirn to bo heroic . The reader " must seek lor the detail ; illustrating tlie indicated principles , in our authoress ' s pioturesque review ; reserving to ourselves one excorpt : —'" After the Northmen had embraced Christianity , they entered , with all tho enthusiuHin belonging to their character , into tho prevailing superstitions of their age . " And even this is a mystery which it would take more , than columns ( nay , tfods and mon besides ) to interpret .

      Feudality was signalised by many eccentric characteristics , on which our authoress , dwells with amusing" r / usto . There are traces of it atnoncj the Orientals ; in the Syrian skrvjaJes , for instance , and the customs of Tartary . Thus , the father of Genghis Khan held many fiefs from the IChail of Caracorum . who , though a prince of great power , was subject to the Emperor of Cathai , when the latter , in accordance with feudal usages , summoned his vassals to quell an insurrection which had taken place in his kingdom . The / Keltic barbarians also supplied examples of such institutions , dividing themselves into three classes—nobility , priesthood , peasantry . Under Hugh Capet and his successors , feudalism displayed itself in the most tyrannical form . By the end of the eleventh century , most of the estates of France had become feudal : and in a short space of time , fortified castles arose in every direction . In our times , the practice has degenerated into the slaveholding system of the Southern States of America ; a svstem which , next November , is likely to

      receive a death-blow . Into the story of feudal contests we have no space to enter ; nor have we any inclination to repeat the detail of barbarous manners , already familiar to the intelligent reader . Some incidents are , however , full of instruction . Let us trace a few of them : for instance , the treatment of children . Young men , in the times of barbarism , stood silent and bareheaded in the presence of their fathers ; grownup daughters were onlv allowed to repose by kneeling on a cushion , until their mothers left the chamber . The most trifling- faults were punished with blows . Learning , also , was a reproach ; arid nobility and clergy were - alike ignorant . Even the possessors of two hides of land imwillingly sent their children to school , and had to be compelled by law " to do so . The law-making monarch was in advance of his subjects . To the institution of chivalry we can only allude . In its poetic form it survived to the sixteenth century ; and Elizabeth imbibed its spirit from Spenser ' s verse .

      The mention of chivalry and Elizabeth naturally introduces the subject of the condition of Women during this night of time . Mrs . Aflfar has devoted an intelligent chapter to this topic . In the earliest ages it was Letter than in later . In Egypt nearly all business was transacted by women ; and in Greece also they were honoured . The ancient Roman women were domestic and virtuous ; and - the " ancient Germans treated their . women with great respect . In ancient Britain also the equality of the sexes was established . The barbarous treatment of Bpadicea and her daughters-by the than

      Rojuans made more impression on the British chiefs _ any injury they suffered . - In the late ag-es of Christianity women found relief from ' adversity witjriir the cloisters' walls . And though the life led by the barons in the dark iiges opposed powerful barriers to " all improvement , vet , while they remained in their castles , they lived with their wives and families on terms of equality and when they lefitheir stronghold ' s , their wives remained mistresses of the casttes , representing' their husbands , arid defending the honour of the fiefs . Women , accordingly , g-ave abundant evidence of courage ! ind self-reliance . Instances of womanly heroism abound . In the

      sixteenth century women were educated with great care ; many Averc good Latin scholars . . Such is , a meagre account , of a . book abundant m resources , and well arranged . We can conscientiously recommend it as an instructive volume , written with that womanly instinct which makes example serve instead of philosophy . Mrs . Agar gives us the ftvets , andrleaVes it « . tTrinferirhcrinNvs . - Bnt ^( Hatter- * i * --aeeii ~ m the former as their symbols . From the latter , the student , or even the ordinary reader , may deduce the proper conclusions , and learn the wisdom ' that is involved in experience , for those who industriously seek it out , and compare it with those inward monitions which are the criteria of judgment in the human consciousness . This every individual can do for himself ; and , indeed , must do : for the employment of a substit u te in the work is the source , in every <\ ise , of personal weakness and deficient development .

      • From Eve Till Morn, In Li'ttroj'i: Hy ...

      • From Eve till Morn , in li ' ttroj'i : Hy Mr * . Aij'iir . London ! 'Nioh . Cuntloy Ncwliy .

      Foreign Correspondence. Sp'rct.Vli. Tian...

      FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE . SP'RCT . Vli . TIanovkr , July 24 , 1860 . IT is difficult in this country for the most impartial observer to maintain an unbiassed judgment with regard to the Emperor of the French and the policy of England . Press and people have , since the Italian war , kept up one constant howl against both France and England . That all is not as it ought to be , and might bo , is evident from the fear of war , and consequent injurious stagnation in trade which everywhere prevails . It is certain that tne alliance or conspiracy against the liberty of tho peoplO j formed and maintained till 18 : 18 by Russia , Prussia , and Auatrnx , managed matters better than Fran . ce and England . Since 1848 wo have nothing but wars and rumours of wars , and no sooner is one war concluded than the prospect of another opens to view . How was

      it that the alliance of Ilussia , Prussia , and Austria secured peace and confidence in the future , while tho alliance of England and France has brought war and confusion among the nations ? "Ins iaaquestjaalmm ^ oblivious to the Anti-1848-Slavery , a \ y \ degradation of the nations , nml the proud independenco of the princes , For my own part , well remembering tho oflicial insolence of former days , I am perfectly content to live in the midst of alarms , and see tho potentates trembling at the threatening attitude of the traditional enemy . As n lover of civil liberty , I revel in their unceasing alarm . And why t < Because ! low and fool , in my own ppwon that the liberty at present tolerated is entirely owing to tho attitudo of \ rance . jn ipito of tho natural antipathy of tho Germans to ^ ouifl N ; Ar 6 wh . OK , nnd thoir dissatisfaction with tho policy of England , they cannot

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 28, 1860, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_28071860/page/9/