Worcester daily spy., 1872-12-28

Earth and Sea" is published in the same stvle
with Mier elet's Bird" which appeared in 1869.
1t has two hundred illustrations by Giacomelli,
and is a very attractive book. My attention has
recently been called TO an English book on
woman, bv Elizabeth Strut. 1t is called "The
Feminine Soul" and was reprinted here about
two years ago. The author believes that the
sexes are equal in value and honor, but so
totally unlike that their spheres and employ
ments can never be the same; she believes in the
education of women, but that education should
be used to make home better and happier, never
for public instruction and display. To the argu-
meat that there have been female rulers of great
ability, and that female reigns have, generally
speaking, been more prosperous than others,she
replies that "queens, like the rest of their sex,
are invariably directed, virtually, by men;
whilst kings are too often governed by women"
She contends that women who have achieved
anything in science have been impeled 10 it not
flom love OF science, but from some secondary
motive connected with the affections. Caroline
HerschePs love for her brother, and desire not
to be separated from him, made her an astron-
omer; and Mrs. Somerville's devotion TO the
physical sciences originated in the advice CT her
physician, who wished to draw her from the
gloom into which she was plunged by the death
of her dearest friend Miss Strut is an adyo-
cate of early marriages, of well conducted
households, and of bright women who
know how to do all sorts of useful
things, who can talk well, and whose chief
ambition is to make their homes truly de-
lightful, and their husbands very happy. She
thinks married woman should never appear
before the public as an author, lecturer, actor,
singer or dancer, without the consent of her
husband; bu: admits that with single ladies
it is different affair; having only themselves
to please they have right to please themselves;
nor would it be fair TO deprive them of any of
the consultations celibacy may be capable of,
one of which undoubtedv is its freedom from
control" The book is addressed TO
the middle classes of England, for the author
says "It is by the middle classes that the char
acter of nation is known; it is their manners
and their morals that give tone to those above
and those beneath them. Their superiors in
rank would leel Inundated by finding them
selves outdone in intelligence, cultivation and
the reputation of benevolence, by those in
less exalted position; and their interiors will
ingly acknowledge, and are often led to initiate
the virtues which they have most opportunity
OF judging of, and by which they find they
profit" The author is New Church woman
and there is good deal about CORES pondences
and other New Church doctrines in her book;
she bases her arguments upon the Bible, and
fortifes them by illustrations from history,
and her own experience, and by quotstions
from well known authors, Her book is hot
satisfactory, but it has a great deal of good
Sense in it, and will interest persons who care
much for what is called the woman question;
or who take any part in the public controversy
in regard to il,