A Book for the Home Circle

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 528, 6 November 1890, Page 2

A Book for the Home Circle

From Mrs Maria Smith, who acts as the Gisborne a?ont for its sale, we have received a large publication entitled " Woman: II»r character culture and calling." The book is issued bv a Canadian house, and is edited by the Rev. Principal Austin, of Alma Ladies’ College, Ontario, who has under him an imposing array of writers, including some lady doctors and clergymen. Unfortunately the majority of the writers arc not so. well known to New Z -alandera as they might be, otherwise to mention their respective names would possibly bo a narantee that they had performed their work n a creditable manner. The aim of the volume is to put woman in her different spheres in Hie best possible light, and in order to do this, almost every path in life in which woman has been tested, is touched upon, and her excellencies and capabilities pointed out. Thus we have women as wage-workers, and wage-earners, designers, artists, musicians, authoresses, phvsicians. religious teachers, missionaries, wires and mothers, and illustrations are drawn from all time. To give greater force to the assertions of the various writers nothing appertaining to women, and which wou'd raise her statue, appears to be neghc.ted or overlooked, while she is given the full benefit of her religious, social, and political influence. Nor are the more prosaic parte of a woman’s life passed over, for she is given plenty of advice as to her physical training, how to obtain and keep her health, and last, hut by no means least, the importance of acquiring a knowledge of cookery, and household duties are impressed upon her, and a number of valuable hints and recipes are given. There are so many departments in the volume, that it is not possible to grasp the contents of them all at a hasty glance. Judging however from a male point of view, we should say the book will be a valuable acquisition, and a careful study of it would be a pleasant and profi’able mental exertion. It is a work essentially for the home, and where there are young girls in the family, should be of benefit in educating them to a sense of their advantages, opportunities, and requirements, phy.icnlly, intellectually, socially, and spiritually. Mrs Smith has also the agency for some beautifully got up copies of tho Bible. The books are nicely printed, illustrated, and carefully provided with reference notes, I while the binding is extremely Uiuldseuic,