The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-31 00:00:00

THE ERAS OF A WOMAN'S LIFE.

The " seven ages of man," .have become proverbial. I
do not think anybody has pointed out the ages or stages
through which a woman passes. I shall try, making one
remark first. We men glide from one stage into the next;
women leap from stage to stage. If a man gets married,
for instance, ho may be awkward and uncomfortable
amongst his fellows for a few days, but after that he is
much as he was before—or if any change takes place, it
is gradual, almost insensible. But, as I say, a woman
leaps from stage to stage, and these following, as I think,
are hor stages.

sensitive, affec-
There is first the girl—shy, bold, saucy,
tionate, fond of pleasure and change, intelligent, somewhat
vain, given to enthusiasm and hero-worship. The plea-
sure that girls give us is akin to the pleasure that chil-
dren give us, and this again is akin to the pleasure that
kittens give us. lam quite prepared for a storm here, but
I have said nothing slighting—nothing that the girls or
their mothers need be angry at. Let us analyse the plea-
sure we get from kittens (of course I am assuming that the
reader has sufficient good taste to be fond of kittens).
There is first, admiration of their grace. There is second,
the pleased surprise at unexpected manifestations of intel-
ligence ; and there is third, very great pleasure at the dis-
play of affection, even though we may be conscious that
the affection is not at all special to ourselves. I think
any candid person will confess that these are the three
chief elements in the pleasure we derive not only from
kittens, but also from children and girls. I know that
there are girls of another stamp, who have the thought-
fulness and depth of feeling that usually belong to ma-
turity, but these are the exception.

The next stage is the woman proper—which is bounded
by no year, but by a great event. The day that a girl
knows that she loves she becomes a woman ; but con-
cerning this stage, the reader will remember that my ideas
have already been expressed in a previous chapter of the
present history.
Then there comes the stage wife. The girl carries
nothing upon her shoulders, the woman takes up the full
burden and meaning of the inner life, while the wife takes
up also the responsibility of the outer life. The girl lives
for the hour, the woman lives for the ideal, the wife lives
for the ideal made actual and practical. Hence the woman
is more stable and more intense than the girl, while the
wife, not less intense, is yet more lightsome than the
woman who loves and is not married, for high thought
and intense feeling weigh upon us less when they can
take expression in action. It scarcely ever happens that
a girl who has entered into the depth of love fails to be-
come more playful and gay when she is married.
Some of the other individuals introduced are
sufficiently attractive, but every interest is sub-
ordinated to that of the chief figure, who is
iy.sr.Let heroine.

Select Biography connected with European History
during the Sixteenth Century. By James Murray,
author of " Sketches of Ancient History." Tw,r,
vols. John Cauden lktten.

Three very important and interesting historical
characters form the subjects of these biographies.
The first volume is devoted to the history of Charles
V., the great Emperor of Germany, and the second
contains the lives of two very dissimilar individuals,
Pope Leo X. and Erasmus. A very momentous period
of history is considered on in these volumes, and
the careers and characters of the three heroes of the
narratives, the Emperor, Pope, and Author are each in
their way romantic and remarkable. The biographies
are written in a calm dispassionate spirit, and the two
volumes form a welcome addition to the rich stores
of historical rotnance.

The Good Child's Coloured Picture Book, with
twenty-four large plates. Routledge and Sons.
This is indeed a boon for " the good child!" A
large handsome volume, containing twenty-four
beautifully coloured pictures, divided into four
series, each one likely to prove to the little beholder
" more excellent than the other." First we have
" Domestic Animals," comprising " The Horse,"
" The Cow," " The Ass," " The Dog," " The
Cat," and " The. Sheep ;" then follow the " Wild
Animals," viz., "The Lion," "The Elephant,"
" The Tiger," " The Bear," " The Camel," and
last, but not least attraction for the nursery, " The
Monkey." All these pictures are accompanied by
brief but interesting descriptions of the various
animals. Having arrived at the conclusion of the
zoological series we come upon a delightful set
of Nursery Games, such as " Blind Man's Buff,"
" Nine Pins," " Punch and Judy," " Guy Fawkes,"
" Battledore and Shuttlecock," &c. In the letter-
press descriptions of these games the young scholar
may learn much important information ; as for ex-
ample, iu the elaborate directions for an amateur
Punch and Judy to be performed in the nursery.
" The House that Jack built," concludes the volume
with true and accurate portraits of " Jack" and his
world-famed " House," and his " malt" and his
" rat," and his " cat" and his " dog," and his
" cow" with the "crumpled horn," and the " for-
lorn" milk-maid, and the " tattered" man and the
" shaven" priest, and the crowing " cock," and the
jovial "farmer" who sowed the " corn," which
is the beginning and the end of the whole veri-
table history.

Our Children: Sketched from Nature in Pencil and

Verse. Dean and Son.

These very charming pictures were, we are
told, taken from the life for the amuse.
went of one particular set of children by
two (evidently) very skilful and very loving
aunts. For the pleasure of other children
the artists have been induced to give them to the
public, and very attractive they are likely to prove.
The pictures are pencil drawings; and by some
curious process of engraving,they still, in the printed
volume, appear as pencil drawings with the gloss of
the black-lead still shining upon them. First we
have " Contented Nellie" playing with her toys, and
" The Little Brother" playing with his dear baby,
and the adventurous young rifleman, and a charming
group of all ages " reading aloud," and the " Railway
Train," where six little ones, "small by,degrees and
beautifully less," are holdiag on by each other's
skirts and jackets, and proceeding in a graduated
line of march. Some twenty or thirty subjects in
all, capitally sketched; and illustrated with simple
and amusing verses.

The Adventures of Diletto ; a little exiled Prince. A
Fairy tale. By S. T. Emery. Dean and Son.

This little story possesses a threefold excellence.
It is in the first place a charming fairy tale, full of
transformations and vicissitudes, and is likely to
engross the little readers' attention from first to
last. Secondly, it has a better moral than most fairy
tales. The selfish, spoiled little Prince Diletto is
banished from the indulgences of home by the
inexorable fairy Benevolence, until he Shalt have
learned better behaviour. Thirdly, in the course
of his exile, the unfortunate Diletto endures all the
varieties of climate (and his little readers gain a
pleasant acquaintance with many lands),now freezing
in the snows of Greenland, and shrinkieg with dis-

HER MAJESTY, &c•

OSBORNE, Jan. 30.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice,
walked and drove yesterday afternoon, attended
by Lady Waterpark ; and her Majesty walked in
the grounds this morning, accompanied by Princess
Louise and Princess Beatrice.
The other members of the royal family went out
also.
Dr. Robertson arrived at Osborne yesterday, and
had the honour of dining with the Queen and thu
royal family.

THE ROYAL VISIT TO SEIROPSIIIRE.—In accord-
ance with the plan of the Prince of Wales's visit to WO-
shire, as originally sketched, special arrangements were
made by the railway authorities for the journey of lies
royal highness from Trentham to Newport, via Stafford'
yesterday. On Tuesday evening, however, a telegran!
was received by Mr. Wood, the district superintendent or
the London and North Western Railway, stationed at
Shrewsbury, stating that the Prince of Wales had 0%-,
pressed his intention of delaying his departure for
for another day. His royal highness was to leaveTrenthaal
at 11 30 this morning, reaching Stafford at noon, Mid
travel thence by special train to Newport.
The Marchioness of Salisbury and family leave
Hatfield House, Herts, in a few days for town for the sea-
son. The noble marquis will be among the guests of Lord
Derby on the 4th Feb.
The Earl and Countess Gragville have arrived
in town from visiting the Duke and Duchess of Manchester
at Kimbolton Castle, Hunts.

The Earl and Countess of Clarendon have ar'
rived in town from The Grove, near Watford, Herts.
The Earl and Countess Grey arrived yesterday
at their house on Carlton House-terrace, from the north'
for the season.

FOOTBALL—CIVIL SERVICE V. CIIARTERHOU°
ScitooL.--A match was played at Charterhouse yesterdel
afternoon between the above clubs, which resulted la
victory for Charterhouse by three goals to none. In '2ltde
of the rain which fell prior to the commencement of -
continued throughout the match, both sides were rePre"
sented by full teams. For the School, E. E. Venable!:
W. L. Boreham, and Y. A. Foote played well ; for tiw
Civil Service, A. F. Kinnaird and C. G. Wandby.
goals for the School were obtained by A, S. Manireat"
W. Wallace, and E. E. Venables.
SHOCKING CALAMITY NEAR HULL.--011 Toes"
day morning a shocking occurrence took place nt
the village of Sproatley, seven miles from Hull. About
six o'clock the domestic servants at Sproatley Grars
Farm, occupied by Mr. Henry Robinson, discovered tll'3
the premises were on fire. The Male servants, who were
then in the stable, heard the alarm of fire, and on rusbine
outside they saw that their sleeping room in the nortb
west corner of the building was in flames. The forealay'
John Jackson, at once got out a ladder, and reared it
against the room in which he knew hie master and nest
tress slept. On ascending he found the apartment
with dense smoke, but he smashed open the window en"
called upon the old people to come towards him. At first
the only reply were the groans of the unfortunate farmer
and his wife, but in about a minute, Mrs. Robinson, Al°
was rather stout, made her appearance at the wind°w;
Jackson tried to pull her out, but owing -to her gre3d
weight and her helpless condition he could not succe°
and the smoke began to pour out with such violence
old
Jackson was obliged to relinquish his hold. The peer 0
lady then fell down on the floor, and Jackson, who
almost blinded, descended the ladder. Shortly afterwards
Superintendent Watson, of the East Riding COO-
bulary, arrived from Sproatley, with several of the in;
habitants of that village, and the attempt to regcu
the old people was renewed. A young bricklaYe:;
named Thomas Johnson, ascended the ladder, and
he had a rope composed of men's scarves attachu°
to him in case he should become overpowered'
entered the room, and after groping about for some dine
he found the dead bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson °0
their youngest daughter Clara, who it was supposed vlB
safe. She had, with her elder sister, got out of the barn;
ing building, but had, it appears, returned to try and.,,?l:
her father and mother, and there lost her own life. 13'760
of the bodies were burnt, with the exception of
Clara, who was slightly scorched on her right cheek' be
Robinson, who was 78 years of age, appeared to have
dressing when overpowered by the smoke. The wif° bad
on her night-dress, her stockings, and one of her b°°,,
and Miss Clara had most of her clothes on. A melanchce
interest attaches to the death of this young lady, asalbbil,
had been far some time preparing for her marriage•
wedding was to have taken place in about a fortnight. 9-'0
farm, which is the property of Sir Clifford Constable,
about 400 acres in extent, and the house in which the 34'.
originated was a very old-fashioned building Mr. Rob to
son had occupied it for about 50 years, and was about d,
retire at Lady-day. The furniture was nearly all sia° '
and none of the cattle or farm buildings were injured'
LIMITED LIABILITY AND THEATRICAL OWN::
sine.—The limited liability principle as applied to Cheat is
cal business appears to result iu loss; and theatrie%
under the supervision of a board of management, conVshe,
of unpractical men, are not successful. The report of :„st
New Prince of Wales Theatre Company, Liverpool, has J:,-i,
been issued. The theatre, which is one of the most raagi-lp
ficent in England, has cost about £40,000. The Paid tali
capital is £27,000; and at the present time there isbei,
amount of £15,000 to the debit of the company at tni to
bankers. The bankers are willing to allow this as°u-rst
remain at the debit for the present at 5 per cent. int°De
per annum, on the understanding that the sum is i 0 the
cleared off, if required, by mortgage, a further call, or
issue of new shares. ,Tfp.
A RAILWAY GUARD AND POINTSMAN CONVI' des,
—At Macclesfield, on Tuesday, Thomas Ith° ed
guard, and Wm. Smith, ground pointsman, were chgel
with wilfully neglecting their duty, whereby the liv lot
several persons were imperilled. On Friday ev°lol
an accident occurred on the North Staffordshire
when the 5 30 train from Macclesfield ran into four Tee
ral waggons found standing on the up-line of rails.
0,00
shock was very violent, and many of the pasSengell,e.alerf
much shaken and bruised. Mr. J. Rowson, tea "0 be
London, had his teeth knocked out, and was obliged !ware
taken back to Macclesfield ; and other passengers.,,ive-
more or less hurt. Both lines were blocked with the u"" coe
ral stone from the waggons, and in consequence °2 800
of the carriages being thrown off the rails the trawelor
impeded two or three hours. It appeared that two
icor
gons had been left on a siding to be taken up by theo,,era'
gage train of which the defendant Rhodes was the yfo the
When the train was shunted into the siding, tvi° aiugt
trucks broke loose and ran with considerable force gi'telf
the two waggons waiting to be taken up. Unf°rttin sP°t)
f
the defendant Smith (who was the pointaman on tho°o3 to
had, as he admitted, removed the "stop block" ogalar
siding, to facilitate, ho said,' though in a veil irrhecoar
way, the shunting; and the consequence was that t'doeia
waggons were propelled from the siding across theo,oget
and on to the up-line, at the very moment the Pas to the
train was due on the same line of rails. Owlyggssee
darkness of the evening neither the driver of the Pau'ionea"
train nor the signalman in his box on the calla the de:
could see that the line was not clear, and before 0 The
fendants could give warning the collision took Plae 'bloc°
defendant Smith admitted having removed the sterod al'
to expedite the shunting, as the trains were late' lie lied
lodged that the stop block was so imperfect that i° the
known waggons shunted on the siding with more t%
usual impetus to pass over the stop block and rued) th°
on the main line before stopping ; so that (he argLd Del
accident might have happened if the stop blocki-ilitosel
in its place. The defendant Rhodes sheltered , th°
dos,'
under the plea that if the stop block had been rt it ,
waggons could not have left the siding, and tioasse,ger,.
not his, duty, but the signalman's, to stop the liod
train coming on. The defendants were each
and coots, or two mouths' hard labour.