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Leader (1850-1860), 28th May 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 670, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      heavenward , and * stifling natures , obeys as she thinks , the call of Heaven / ' In the company of Jerome , Paula travelled ibxough Palestine , adopting and enduring the sternest austerities . She ate no meat ; she abstained from fish , eggs , honey , and ¦ wine ; ^ nl she used only on holidays ; she lay upon a stone floor with a sackcloth mat . Enough oJ 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—Mving 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 seems to treat with most emp hasis . 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 has not yet been generated fitted

      to qualify the former " fairly and knowingly to adjudge the cause at issue between the several religiOns of their ancestors and the one 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 and system of morality , and , above all , " a determinate belief held by thousands of men and women with a fulness of persuasion and an attachment immoveably firm , " opposed to mere popular superstitions and beliefs , ridiculed by philosophy , and having no vital force on the other . " The polytheism

      of India , " says our author , " with its lurid ferocities and its filth , just because it has never allied itself with any conception of beauty or of order—T-as did that of Greece—and just because it takes no spring from any axioms of reason , has confixed itself upon the Hindoo soul—has gprown into it—has gone down in its impurity , and in its cruelty , and in its absurdity ; as a girdle of brass it encircles the moral and rational faculties , and 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 antagpnism having place among those who have

      come to rule and to teach them , would deeply affect the minds of races even less shrewd and intelligent than are the people of India . " With such 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 . ¦ m , In connexion with this subject , Mr . Taylor ' s reflections on " Julian the Apostate" might be citedin elucidation ; but our space is exhausted , and we can but refer the pensive reader to the topics indicated , and recommend him to meditate over a thoughtful book for himself . The concluding essay on the more mysterious characteristics of piety will demand much patient reading ; but , as on the rest of the volume , it will be profitably beptowed .

      Untitled Article

      Prostitution Considered in Relation to its Cause and Cure . By James Miller , F . K . B . E ., F . R . C . S . E ., &c . —^ Edinburgh : Sutherland and Rnbx . These remarks have already appeared in the Edinburgh Medical Journal . The writer calculates that there are 10 * 000 prostitutes in Ixradon . In Glasgow and Edinburgh there is , what he calls , " a multitudinous amazonian army . The stones seem alive with lust , and the very atmosphere is tainted . " O Scotland ! Almost ashamed to know thyself ! JjLllllwOl * 4 ip * l ( lJLl * UW * A / * v ** v »» •»» J ~~ .-m ,-

      InAmeriathe amount of social evil is stated in dollars . Dr . Sanger , of New York , states that an OKKregate of nearly four millions of dollars is invested ia this filthy business , and the money squandered on it about seven millions annually . Woman , as one of its causes , is the least guilty . She seeksrat first rather to gratify her lover than herself . In lower ranks , early habits and bad education are the immediate occasions . Children of disreputable parents are born in unchastity . In Paris , ninctyiive-hundredths of public women arc thus born ana reared . Poverty is the stimulus in some cases in all countries ; in others , the insufficiency of the . dwellings of the ' poor , affording no room for decency . Yanity and love of dress are sometimesL "M * " ™> ; ^ moHmeo intemperance . As to the last , Mr . Miller mai

      remarks— " Drink becomes necessary to » am the prostitution , and prgstitution must he contlnuert to provide the drink . Terrible reciprocity ! 'Our decided impression is , ' Says Pr . Sanger , ' that not one per cqnt . of the prostitutes in New York = P *« gJ their calling without partaking of intoxicating drinks ; ' , hear the weighty words of a poor London Magdalene , * No girls com-P liiadihc < Me 'we do without gin . '" But of all , ignorance is the greatest general cause . The above reasons affect the female sex . Botat vo to man , we have to consider his stronger Pfjjons ivna vu ' ious culture , and the injustice done to him W our marriage customs . On the contrary , umonfi ; 110 poor , premature marriage produces the BamooftcUH ' . There are also causes that effect both W ~ E drreligion , looseness of moral opinion , and the siacic D 6 SS of civic rule . But is tho effect of $ Q 8 <>™™' linnrl nmisfia . after all . inevitable ? Mr MU er

      decides in the negative . Ho proposes a romou «» an improved education of tho ihiwscs , bottor 1 m » «« for workingmon , tho restoration of vwioiw aidldio parents to bettor habits , tho roproBeion o 1 tempo ninqe , ¦ tho rovision of fomalo labour and W ; thorough and epeedy , reform to ftjmalo costu no , nm Boundar views of physiology . Some of theso lomo lies evidently require time , and are matters ol eotitu

      Untitled Article

      without intei-est ^ -a very few we hope-- <) r 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 ; librarians 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 one who wishes to read the book must purchase it , if the library-to which he subscribes has not got it . Whereas the novel is certain to have some kind of success— -more especially if the writer can come to terms with' Sir . Mudie . We hope that this system of " novelising " subjects wul 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 , this

      been a governess ; but I don't know exactly what her extraction was ; she said she was a clergyman ' s daugh t er , but so did many of them . I only 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 inan . who had been sent to college by some kind ladies who thought him very clever , but that he ¦ was not respected , and his daughter 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 in our sad ranks at all above jny ' 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 the 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 do 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 feel profound commiseration for the poor creatures wliose 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 will arouse public sympathy . Could the young men who infest the casinos and gardens nightly , be taught to look at their conduct iri a less selfish light , there would then be some chance of diminishing the social evil . It is true there are many other causes , but none , we think , so great . But to discuss all the pros and cons of the social evil is not our object .

      " Out of the Depths" is the work of a person of great and liberal views , with a vast sympathy for his fellow creatures ; lie 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 . .

      because we should , be sorry to encourage 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 having got the facts from no second-hand source . Mary Smith passes through all the grades , from 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 qupting , as they will present somenew 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 bo ; and starving would not drive them to such places ; their pride revolts at it , sir I but I don t eayi thai those places may not do good to some of the lower orders , ibr 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 tpuch 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 vounc men , sir ; for as long as there are

      men to t empt , there are women to be tempted , and will fall . But I have often thought lately , sir , that a great deal might be dono by parents—fathers especially— -watching over their children while they are ypung , and teaching them self-restraint and continence even in the simplest things ; and they might forewarn their sons of the dangers of life , and tell them plainly what noblo things virtue and . chastity are , and how bare and demeaning intemperance and profligacy are , I read in a little book which you lent me sometime since , sir , that there were some heathen nations long ago , where young mon were educated to be so hardy and virtuoxis that they never thought of suoh things as too many of our young men in England think of before they are mon . "

      OUT OF THM J > BI » THS j tho Story of ft Woman ' s Life . — ¦ Mnoiolllan and Co . " O « XQ « "rHnI )») PT « 8 " is tho life tf Mary Sniith , an unfortunate woman . It is but right that we should mention this at the commencement of our notice , eo that those to whom the social evil is

      She is asked to what class those outcast women principally belong . " From all eluseos , sir , but chiefly * from suoh a rank as I myself sprang > at least , I never but once met any woman bettor educated thanjrayBclf , and bUq had

      Untitled Article

      670 THE LEADEK , rLiTERAnV

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 28, 1859, page 670, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2296/page/14/