The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-04 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

MISS AYLMER; or, THE MAID'S HUS-
BAND. 3 rots.
Bentley, London, 1840.
There are two fatal objections to be made to this
tale—first, that it is too prosy and didactic—too
full of mere reflection, too little charged with senti-
ment ; and, secondly, that it is throughout false in
doctrine. The author's object appears to be to im-
' press on all young women—not the expediency of
being careful and fastidious in the choke of a hus-
band—but of never marrying at all. Now we pro-
test most strenuously against this doctrine. Let all
women marry, we say ; and the sooner the better ;
for, by so doing, their chances of happiness in life
are increased a hundred-fold. What have they to
fear frpin matrimony ? It is not the fashion now-
a-days for a husband to thrash his wife : and even
if he be a little irregular in his actions, it is always
in the power of a discreet and affectionate woman to
effect a thorough reform. Sonic men there certainly
are whom no ties can bind ; but these are the ex-
ceptions ; by far the major portion of mankind are
always to be won over by kindness. But our au-
thor—authoress rather, for we suspect we are noti-
cing a lady's publication—says no ; she is all for
single blessedness, and of course advocates its usual
accompaniments—asour, discontented temper,a pry-
ing nature, snuff; tea and scandal, and a drop ofcom-
fort in the corner cupboard. By way of enforcing this
preposterous doctrine, the authoress places before
us a young lady named Aylmer, who is represented
as young, beautiful, accomplished, rich, and
strongly smitten—as it is fit and natural she should
be—with an earnest desire to get married. Un-
fortunately, however, she is difficult to please.
She cannot find a husband to her mind. One is
too flighty, and looks as if he had a bad temper ;
another is wholly devoted to study, and will not
take her hand, even though she plainly hints that
it is much at his service ; and a third is too old,
and, what is worse, is discovered to have .had a
contraband baby in his youth. Thus disappointed,
Miss Aylmer rushes off in a paroxysm to the Con-
tinent, where she remains twenty years, and then
comes back to England, and enlists for life among
the tabbies. We are not told what are her parti-
cular predilections at this mature period of her
life ; but we can pretty well guess at them, and
have little hesitation in expressing our opinion, that
at the time when our authoress takes leave
of her heroine, she has become decidedly
partial to snuff; a snug, quiet dish of scandal ;
a rubber of sixpenny points ; and just a tiny
thimbleful of brandy in her tea, by way of keeping
off the vapours. Possibly, she'may be a member of
a Bible Society ; addicted to giving away cheap
missionary tracts; and partial to some particular
evangelical preacher who has a loud voice, broad
shoulders, and stands six feet in his shoes. On
these latter points, however, we are not quite posi-
tive ; but we will swear to Miss Aylmer's addiction
to snuff, and the refreshment of " strong waters."
Now we contend, in opposition to our authoress,
that her heroine had far better have married in
youth, even though the man she fancied was not
altogether a miracle of immaculateness, than have
lived to become a lean, dry old maid, with a waist
like a wasp, and a temper so utterly soured, that
one might almost be tempted to believe that she had
been begotten of a crab-apple on a vinegar-cruet.
When folks can marry, let them marry. This
is our doctrine ; and herein we agree with Dr.
Johnson, who has justly observed that though the
married state may have its anxieties, yet a life of
celibacy has few, if any, real enjoyments.