The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-02-25
BOOK NOTICES.

A WoMAN's TnouGurs ABOUT WOMEN; By
tho Author of John Halifax Gontloman,'
"Agatha's Husband" Tho Ogilvics,"
"OIive," otc etc. With an Introduction
by Rov. Anson Smyth, Ohio State School
Commissioner. Columbus Folett, Foster
g. Co. Domy 9vo. Price, 81 90.
Ours thauks are due to tho publishers, for
u copy of this admirable work, which we
have perused with unusual interest. 1t
consists Of series of articles which origi-
naly appeared in "Chambors' journal" but,
though designed for English circulation, it
is, in tho main, quito as we'll adapted to the
wants Of tho women of America, as to those
of the women Of Englund. 1t should bo OK
tCnsivoly circulated and carefully read
Tho writer is evidently truo woman, and
ardcntly devoted to tho work of eeyating
her sex. Most earnestly, and we trust not
unsuccessfu!ly, docs she urge upon her
sisters, the importance of industry, self
dependence, and noble aud unselfsh life.
We cannot botter recommend this work to
our readers, than by making a few extracts
from its pages. Tho following is from tho
chapter on Something to Do: :"
Young ladies, It's worth gravo thought
| what, ii called away at eighteon, twonty,
I or thirty, the most of you would leave be-
hind you when you die :: Much embroidery,
I doubtless; various pleasant, kindly, ilegiblc
letters m" .ora'c store of good deeds
and n cart-load Of good intentions. Moth
ing olse--savc your uame on tombstone, or
! lingering for Ia few moro years in family o,
! friendly mcmory. Poor, dear---! what
"A nice lively glr sne was! ! For any benefit
accruIug through you to your generation
you might us wen negor have lived at all"
I each days account ought to leave this
balauce-ot something done; something
beyond mere pleasure, ones own or anothcr'
though both are good and sw cot in thoil
way. Let tho superstructure of life bt
enjoyment. but let its foundation be in sole
work-dally, regular, conscientious work
in it's essence and results as distinct as any
business of mon. What they cxpond fol
wealth and ambition. shall not we offer fol
duty and ove--the love OF our follow. crca
lures, or. far higher, tho love of God La
Dor is worship, says the proyerb also-ay
necessarily so--Iabor is happiness. Onl,
lot us turn from tho drcary, colorless lvo
|
nothing to do, to those of their sisters WHIT
are always busy doing something; who. be
loving and accepting the universal law, tina
pleasure is tho mere accident of our being
and work its natural and most holy noccssi
tyy have set themselves steadily TO seek ou
aud fulfill theirs"
We cannot forbcar to mako an extrac
from the chapter on Gossip" Ever
candil and intelligent reader will testify t
its uuthlulness. After enumorating soverl
sources of gossip, tho writer proceeds thus
"The next grand source Of gossip-an
this, too, curiously indicates how true mus
be tho instinct of womanhood, even in II
lowest forms so evidently corruption froI
tho highest-is love, and with or withol
that preliminary, matrimony. What O
earth should We do if We had no matches
makn.o or mar no unfortunate attachment
to shake our heads over; no tlirtations
= speculate about and comment upon wit
knowing smiles; no engagements on {
Off to speak our minds about, nosng ol
every little circumstance, and forrcting OF
~ our game to their very hole, as if all the
- affairs, their hopes, trials, faults or wrong
were being transacted for our own priva
and peculiar entertainment OF all form
10 of gOssip-l speak of mere gossip, as dist
guished from the carTion- crow and dunghi
ily system ofscandal -mongering--tbis tittl
tattle about love affairs is the most gener,
the most odiOus, and tho most dangerous.
- Evory one Of US must have known, with
Il our own experience. many an Instance
V dawning loves checked, unhappy loves mac
: cruelty public, happy loves embttere
ID warm, honest loves turned cold, by this no
rIble system of gOssiping about young
unmarried people, evening to one anoth
. folk who have not the slightest mutual i
le cinaton, or if they bad, such an idea p
into their heads would effectualIy smotht
il; setting down every harmless FREQ lkir
as "a case or a filtration !; and if anythiT
r. serious docs turn up. pouncing on it.hun
ing it down, and never letting it go till di
membored and ground to tho bone Shou
- it ever come to a marriage-and the wOnd
ID is. considering all these things, that any 10,
or affair ever does como to that climax at a
pe or that any honest-hearted, delicate .mndC
Young people, ever have the courage to il
- dulge the world by an open attachment
Observation-Disclosures aud earth how
is talked aboutl How one learns ever
II single item of what he said and She sal
and what all tho relations said, and how
Y came about. and how it never would hay
= come about at all but for So-and-so, an
% what they have to 1.-Two upon, aud how capt