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"Here, Robert, I bring thy wife to thee, wedded to thee, perhaps even by man's law, but surely wedded in the eye of God which saw the contract; wedded also to thee in heart, to be the mother of thy children, but with a tender conscience that would have the blessing of the Church to this wedlock, and would again speak its vows in the words made sacred by saintly sanction and long usage.

The vicar joined their hands together, and holding them locked in his own, he lifted his right hand and said,—

"Robert and Nancy, ye are man and wife. Whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder, but in obedience to the ordinances of the Holy Church, for the relief of your oppressed consciences, and to give a more solemn sanction to your marriage vows, you promise before God, in whose presence you stand, that, as soon as maybe, you will be again married in the Church in which your banns have been published. So help you God in your utmost need! What sayst thou, Robert ?"

"Oi promise fro' t' bottom o' my heart."

"Oi promise," said Nancy, falling on her husband's neck, and kissing him with a gentle, loving earnestness.

After a pause of a few minutes, during which the vicar paced about the chamber, he summoned all the family into the room.

When they were assembled, the vicar, standing at the bedside, and holding on either side the hand of Robert and Nancy, said:

"My brethren and sisters, in my office of minister of Christ's Holy Gospel, Nancy and Robert have told me, what they have withheld from their neighbours, that they are man and wife. They are so wedded, perhaps, by man's law, certainly in the eye of God. Let no man put them asunder. But they desire also to be married again in the Church, and I purpose, therefore, God willing, myself to marry them in Assheton Church next week, and to ask the blessing of Heaven on this act of conscience."

The vicar then sank on his knees, and silently prayed, as did all present. Rising presently he shook all by the hands, and left the tavern with Oliver without speaking another word.

This passage speaks for itself; it is one among many such contained in these volumes, depicting with the truth of nature the incidents, joyous as well as sorrowful, of humble life. We have indicated two very different phases of life and thought presented to us in Scarsdale, and it affords others as deeply interesting, and as widely diversified; indeed, it is the chief blemish of the book, as a novel, that it both attempts and fulfils too much, has too many characters, too many incidents, and too many interests, has, in short absorbed the materials of several novels, and also of a treatise on Social Science.

XXI.-OPEN COUNCIL.

(As these pages are intended for general discussion, the Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed.)

MADAM,

To the Editor of the English Woman's Journal.

As I understand that your Journal penetrates as far as New Zealand, I take advantage of it to offer a few observations in reply to an article in a New Zealand newspaper, reproaching the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women, for seeking to enlarge the sphere of female occupations in

England, instead of sending more women out to the colonies, where, and especially in New Zealand, they are much wanted. I quite agree that to do this comes within the scope of the Society, but the writer of the article must remember, that the information received on the subject of the want of women in the colonies, is most uncertain and contradictory; sometimes it is stated that the utmost inconvenience is occasioned by the scarcity of women; then again it is said that the seaport towns are overcrowded with them, and that they wander about unable to get work and exposed to the greatest privations. Under these circumstances I am sure no one can blame us, if we hesitate to send out women, until some definite arrangement for providing for them on their arrival has been made.

If a committee of ladies and gentlemen (containing in the list the names of some well-known persons, clergymen, &c.) would form themselves, in any seaport town of New Zealand, and positively guarantee that the women we send out shall be respectably and comfortably maintained till they are disposed of either in marriage or by finding situations, I have little doubt that the Committee of the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women would willingly send out a dozen or so as an experiment, and if it answered would increase the number afterwards.

I fear, however, that the exact description of persons required in the colonies will not be among those sent, if, at least, it is true, that the demand is for strong healthy maid servants, able and willing to do a great deal of hard rough work.

These seldom, if ever, apply at our office, as there is a demand for them in England, and they are able to find work for themselves.

The applicants are either maidservants whose health will no longer enable them to do hard work, and who therefore seek some less laborious employment than service, or else they are women of altogether a different class, tradesmen's daughters and others belonging to the middle ranks, whose fathers have been ruined, or have died and left them unprovided for.

If persons of this description are required in New Zealand, and a committee will undertake to provide for them on their arrival, I have as I said, little doubt that the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women would gladly send a few as an experiment; but if the colonists will pay the passage of these women, then there can be no doubt at all that the Society will gladly collect and send them. A want of funds might otherwise prove an impediment to any exertions in that direction, as the engagements into which the Society has already entered fully consume its income.

The women thus sent would be useful as nursery governesses, saleswomen, and in any other employments that require but little education and strength. As I am in no way authorized to act for the Society, I have of course no right, or power to pledge it to any course of action; still I may venture to state my personal conviction that if such a committee were formed in New Zealand, and would send the necessary funds, it would meet with ready co-operation from the Society in England."

I am, Madam,

Yours faithfully,

ONE OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIETY FOR
PROMOTING THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN.

MADAM,

To the Editor of the English Woman's Journal.

I was interested in reading a letter from "C. D.," which appeared in the August number of your Journal. I hope that the subject of insanity among females will receive the attention in your pages which it certainly deserves. It is one on which very little is known by the public at large. The number

of insane women in the kingdom, their rank in life, their previous occupations, and the treatment they receive whether in public or private asylums, are all questions of the greatest moment.

Can any of your correspondents inform me of the plan pursued in foreign asylums? Are the female insane in any case tended by Sisters of Charity? Do they share in this respect in the privileges of those who are suffering from physical maladies? If so, what is the proportion of cures among such patients? Again, can you tell me whether insanity among women is more rife in England than in France?—and what is the proportion compared with America? Are married or single women most liable to the inroads of this terrible affliction ?-and between what ages is it more to be feared.

I observe that your correspondent says that many, from utter ignorance of the laws of health, have sunk from a state of ordinary weakness to one of incurable debility and fatuity. We might, therefore, hope much from the extensive diffusion of sanitary knowledge, say radical improvement in the state of a neighborhood, or the habits of a class might be supposed to diminish the number of the insane.

She also observes, that the Commissioners in Lunacy might be inclined to license houses for the care of females to women, provided those of superior intelligence and character presented themselves; and that such women might pass through an examination as to intellectual and moral fitness for becoming proprietors of asylums for their own sex, provided they had first received some suitable training. How are women to be trained for managing insane patients? Is there any plan now existing in our chief public asylums by which educated ladies can acquire the necessary experience?

I am asking numerous questions, but I doubt not that some of your correspondents will supply me with answers, and that the whole subject will receive a thorough ventilation. I remain, Madam, York, Sept. 21, 1860. Yours truly,

Z.

XXII.-PASSING EVENTS.

GARIBALDI's entrance into Naples on the 8th September has been followed by uninterrupted success. General Lamoriciere has sustained a severe defeat at Ancona, which is besieged by the Sardinians, who have now openly declared for Garibaldi-a Sardinian army of fifty thousand men in the Papal states, and the surrender of two cities to a Sardinian general being the tangible proofs of co-operation; though Garibaldi is said to be much prejudiced against Count Cavour.

The Prince of Wales is now in Upper Canada. On the 25th of August he was engaged in by far the most inportant transaction of his visit: hammering the finishing rivet of the stupendous iron tubular bridge erected by the Grand Trunk Railway Company over the river St. Lawrence. This bridge is two miles long. A splendid bronze medal, with appropriate devices and inscriptions has been prepared by the workmen on the Grand Trunk Railway for the Queen, and given to the prince for that purpose In commemoration of the inauguration of the bridge by the prince, a gold medal has been struck, which is a beautiful specimen of art. It bears on it face a representation of a train of cars just emerging from the bridge, while in the foreground are visible a steamer ascending and a raft coming down the river. Above the bridge are the armorial bearings of the Canadian provinces the figures in bold relief. The inscription is as follows:-"The Victoria Bridge medal. The Victoria Bridge of Montreal; the greatest work of engineering skill in the world. Publicly inaugurated and opened in 1860. Grand Trunk Railway of Canada." Attached to the arms are the names of

Ross and Stephenson, the engineers. Three circular medallions on the reverse of the medal contain the busts of the Queen, Prince Albert, and the Prince of Wales, all well delineated. The city of Montreal was illuminated in the evening, and there were festivities of every sort.

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The first line of street railway has been formally inaugurated at Birkenhead. Throughout the day the town was in a state of enthusiasm, and the people turned out in immense numbers to witness the novel and interesting experiment. As early as ten o'clock in the morning vast crowds were congregated in the vicinity of Woodside ferry to witness the first trial of the new railway. The total number was upwards of three hundred, nearly all of whom took part in a trial trip along the line as far as Birkenhead Park and back to the dépôt in Chatham Street. There were four carriages, each containing about seventy passengers, and each drawn by two horses. The " cars moved along the line as easy and as smoothly as any first-class railway carriage. Each carriage was fitted before and behind with " sweepers -miniature cow catchers—which kept the rail clear of stones, &c., thus rendering the passage of the vehicles smooth. Each car is 24ft. in length over all, and 7ft. wide, with a height of 7ft. from the floor to the roof. The plan on which they are constructed is exceedingly well adapted for street traffic. In the inside there is accommodation for twenty-two persons, whilst from the great width of the vehicle, standing room is left for a similar number. On the outside of the cars there is also sitting room for twenty-two persons, for whose protection a handrail is fixed round the top. It will be thus seen that accommodation is afforded for sixty or seventy individuals in each. In the fitting up, every attention has been paid to the comfort and safety of the

passengers.

MADAME CLARA NOVELLO.-Among the female vocalists whose talents have given lustre to their art, and drawn forth the acknowledgments of continental Europe, and of their native country, no one has reached a higher pinnacle of fame, and no one has more richly merited her elevation, than Madame Clara Novello. If there be one style of music to which, more than another, the fine voice and grand classic manner of this artiste are adapted, it is the sacred style; and to her achievements in this lofty department of art, her great celebrity (in this country at least) is mainly attributed. "As prima donna assoluta" of the oratorios of Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Spohr, Madame Clara Novello has long been well known in the English concert room; great provincal towns, no less than the metropolis, have paid homage to her genius, and confirmed year after year the favorable verdict so unanimously pronounced upon the earliest exhibition of her powers. By the retirement of Madame Clara Novello, we shall be deprived of one of the greatest singers to whom England has given birth. On comparing her genius, her attainments, and her powers, with those of the most famous of her countrywomen of previous days, we do not find one who is entitled to a higher place in the annals of English music. In connexion with the farewell of Madame Clara Novello, arrangements have been made for two great festival performances ("Messiah," and "Creation"), on a scale worthy of the last appearance of the celebrated English soprano, at the Crystal Palace.

The Government is paying much attention to the Volunteer movement, and with a view to advance the various corps in efficiency, an order has recently been issued, for holding county and district reviews, under the direction of fields officers of rank.

The Melbourne and Sydney journals received in advance of the Overland Mail, bring news of a very painful and disastrous character from New Zealand. An advance upon the rebel pah at Waitara had been made, and, after fighting for more than three hours, with great gallantry, against large numbers of natives, covered by their entrenchments, our forces were obliged to retreat, leaving 29 dead and 33 wounded on the field.

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XXIII.-SPECIAL MEETINGS AT GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH, WITH REFERENCE TO THE INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN.

THE Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, which took place at Glasgow during the week of the 24th ultimo, is pronounced on all hands to be the most successful yet held. The Association has succeeded in gaining the public ear, and is fast attracting to itself an amount of public interest which bids fair to swell its list of associates and members to colossal proportions, and to extend the field it has opened for the public discussion of important social problems to dimensions unthought of by its originators.

The Association has been charged with merely adding to the already overwhelming "talk, talk" of the day; and it is fairly open to the danger of encouraging much idle and useless discussion, and of fostering the vanity of would-be-reformers and real pedagogues. But this is a matter completely within the control of the Council, and it is one to which careful consideration should be given. There were a few papers read in some sections of the late meeting which seemed to serve the single purpose of clearing the benches, and which could result in nothing satisfactory to reader or listener.

The press has so fully chronicled the proceedings of the Association from their opening to their close, that we feel ourselves exonerated from repeating general details here. There is, however, one feature which more particularly comes under our province, and the social value of which it is not easy to overrate, that is, the admission of women as associates and members on equal terms with the men, even to taking part in the closing dinner, instead of watching the men "feed" from the gallery, which is ordinarily supposed to be the limit of female capability and enjoyment upon such festive occasions. The sexes here find their right place, side by side with each other, and we hail this as the commencement of the breaking down of that unnatural barrier between them which, separating the interests of men and women, acts in a thousand pernicious ways on the moral health and well-being of the community.

VOL. VI.

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