THE LITERARY GUIDE:
A M O N T H L Y R E C O R D A N D R E V I E W O F I N T E L L E C T U A L P R O G R E S S .
No. 1 19 .]
NOVEM BER 1, 1895.
[P r ic e One P enny.
N E W P U B L I C A T I O N o.
M e s s r s . Watts & C o. are issuing an unprecedentedly cheap edition of Mr. John Wilson’s “ Thoughts on Science, Theology, and Ethics.” The hook, well printed, on good paper, consists of about 160 pages, and the price is sixpence ! It is no exaggeration to say that the work is one of the most valuable yet issued from the Rationalist press, and we believe that its wide circulation will be exceedingly helpful in making known the objects and teachings of Ethical Freethought.
M e ssr s . B lackwood & Sons have published an interesting volume of reminiscences, entitled “ The Table Talk of Shirley” (7s. 6d.). The reminiscences include Huxley, Froude, and Tyndall, concerning each of whom much of interest is recorded.
A nother interesting work issued by the same firm is “ John Stuart Blackie : A Biography ” (21s.). The learned Professor, who was notoriously a liberal-minded man, once met Mr. Bradlaugh at the house of a mutual friend, and was vividly impressed by the great Iconoclast’s striking personality. Later he attended one of Mr. Bradlaugh’s lectures at the Hall of Science, London, and in this book an account of his visit is furnished, with some reflections on the oratorical methods and characteristics of the illustrious Atheist.
U nder the title of “ Silent Gods and Sun-Steeped Lands,” Mr. T. Fisher Unwin will shortly publish some very curious stories of Indian superstitions. The author is Mr. R. W. Frazer, LL .B ., who has not only lived long in India, but has devoted his life to a study of the language, literature, and history of its people.
A. & H. B radlaugh-Bonner announce that they will shortly issue an entirely new edition of the chief works of Thomas Paine. The text will be edited by Mrs. H. Bradlaugh-Bonner from the earliest and most reliable editions available, and an Introduction will be written by Mr. J- M. Robertson. The first volume will be ready in December, and will consist of “ The Rights of Man.” This will be followed in February by “ The Age of Reason in April by “ The C r i s i s a n d , later, possibly by a fourth volume, containing “ Common Sense ” and other shorter writings. The price of each volume will be 3s. 6d.
T he new issue of “ The National Secular Society’s Almanack” will make a big bid for increased popular favour. It will consist of thirty-two extra large pages, and will be published at threepence. There will, as usual, be special articles by Mr. G. W. Foote, Mr. J . M. Wheeler, Mr. Charles Watts, and other well-known Freethought writers.
M e ssr s . K egan P aul have published a compilation, by Major W. H. Turton, R .E ., which should prove attractive to Rationalists. It is entitled “ The Truth of Christianity : Being an Examination of the More Important Arguments For and Against Believing in that Religion ” (6s.).
M e ssrs. C hapman & Hall have, under the title of “ Thoughts on L i fe ” (is.), published a volume of selections from the writings of Thomas Carlyle.
L I T E R A R Y C IL A TS.
VIII.—WITH MISS MATHILDE BLIND. F or clear, powerful, picturesque English, Miss Blind’s poems stand in marked eminence among contemporary literature. The distinction and beauty of outline, contrasted with the blur and obscurity of the great mass of modern verse, evoke one’s keenest admiration and gratitude. Every word is delicately chiselled. The teaching is always acceptable to heart and brain. Never does the poetess'lose control of the steeds that draw her chariot of fire. Her thought never evaporates itself into a brilliant cloud of verbiage. Her “ Ascent of Man ” unfolds a sparkling panorama of human history unique in its method and sentiment. Were it not for confidence in her perfect taste, I should have regretted the intention, which she expressed to me in the course of conversation, of adding new material to the “ Ascent.” The very title of this poem pleases the Rationalist car. It poetically gives the lie to the outworn doctrine of the Fall. From early years, indeed, Miss Blind had emancipated herself from the thrall of pietism. The girl was mother of the woman.
“ I did not,” she remarked, “ as most girls seemed to do, take our position for granted. I used to startle my school fellows by asking why we should not go to Universities, enter professions, have votes, and sit in Parliament. I think the strongest desire of my life at that time was for independence— not to be hampered in my development by custom and convention. Life was a daily-renewed fight with the prejudices of those around me. Yet, though I was nick named Donna Quixote, most of my girlish notions as to Woman’s Rights are, one by one, being realised. You may imagine how I hailed the appearance of John Stuart Mill’s ‘ Subjection of Women.’ I read it one night from beginning to end, and day dawned when I closed this book, which is one of the milestones in the history of our development.”
“ And you were a youthful Nonconformist in religion?” “ I was never brought up according to the dogma of any creed. But there came a time when the sense of a void in the universe became a torment. I tried hard to find peace in the idea of Christ. For my school mistress, who belonged to the sect of Plymouth Brethren, had persuaded me that the world can never satisfy the cravings of the heart of man. But U had drunk too deeply already at the fountain of
