The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-19
THE BOOKSOF The WEEK.
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Wards Life
of Her Father.
THE SABBATH IN NEW ENGLAND
"The Little Millionaire =" Much on the
style of Fauntieroy-Chiidren stories
I'm English Literature-Peopie Who
Write for Other People to Read.
Mrs. phelps-ward's Life of Her Father.

Mrs. PheIps-ward's Life of Her Father.
AUSTIN PHELPS. A Memoir. BY
ELIZABETH STUART PHFLPs. New
York: Charles Scribners' Sons.
When one reads Elizabeth Stuart
Phelps Wards book on the life OF her
father, Austin Phelps, he does not wonder
that the daughter has become great
woman. Such father, having such
daughter, could not fail so TO train her as
TO develop every capacity 20 the full.
Perhaps many of us know more OF the
daughter than of the father, but that only
reflects the more credit on the former.
The book is charmingly printed and con-
tains fine pictures of Mr.. Phelps and his
library.
Here is a quotation from his autobio-
graphy:
ID count II among the providential and signal
blessings OF my life that in the forming per-
iod OF my mind was brought in contact with
ments, rich in scholarly acquisitions, and all
OF them reverent students OF the works and
ways of God. From them gained, very early
r in life, a reverence for learning and LOFTY
estimate of mind, which have entered pro-
foundly into all my experience IL was of In
estimable value TO me 10 have such specimens
OF mental culture To look up to through these
creative years. The influence was such that
do not now remember an hour OF my life in
which the temptations OF wealth, which turn
aside so many educated young men from lit
erary and professional pursuits, had any
sway of my mind at all or stirred my ambi-
tion.
This is n fine tribute Of a'Christian
scholar TO his teachers.
Prof Phelps was fitted for college at
the early age of twelve and the year fol-
lowing entered Hobart Mt Geneva. AT
the close Of the second year his father re-
moved him TO Amherst. On completion
Of his sixteenth year he removed from
Amherst to the University of Pennsylva-
mia. These changes were principally due
to considerations Of his fathers domestic
convenience, and in 1910 he was licensed
to preach by the third Presbytery of Phil
adelphia.
The Pine Street Church at Boston was
Mr.. Phelps first and only pastorate. He
married Elizabeth Stuart, eldest daughter
of Prof. Moses Stuart, of Andover, in 1912,
and he said of her, 'To the day of her
death she was as much n queen TO me as
she was the day | married her"
After six years at the Pine street church
he became professor mt Andover.
The book goes into the life Of Prof
Phelps in his class room and tells of his
earnestness, devotion and enthusiasm,
and then Of his home life and his liter
airy efforts. The sad tale of the illness and
death of her mother and the mothers
struggle TO live is very touch
ingly told by the daughter. II
was stunning blow TO Prof Phelps, and
only those who have lived through such
dark hours can realize how the daughter
recalls her childish recollections of the
death of her mother. His later marriage
TO Mary Stuart, sister of his first wife,
and his work as preacher and author are
related, and with a splendid yet delicate
sympathy the daughter narrates the story
OF the years of illness and his death. Her
estimate Of him rs father must necessa-
rily be interesting. Letters written by
Prof. Phelps are appended to the book.
People who have read the productions
Of Miss Phelps cannot pass this memoir of
her father. It's every page glows with
sanity loveliness that charms, instructs,
inspires aud leaves one feeling as he
reaches its end that the world has been
benefited and Austin Phelps memory per-
petuated.