PUBLISHERS' NOTICE. . A LIVING book like “WOMAN'S RECORD should at intervals be revised and enlarged. In presenting to the public this new edition, the publishers beg leave to call attention to the excellence of the plan and the perfectness of its execution. The progressive History of Women was the plan, and the New Index (see next page) will show that the history has been brought down to the present year, 1869. The publishers have positive proof that the contents of this book are highly valued, not only from the sales of the previous editions, but from the use that has been made of it by distinguished authors and editors, at home and abroad, in preparing works about women. The editor of a work published in London, who has made up his own book chiefly from “Woman's RECORD,” frankly confesses his obligations to the American work, and has judged it worthy to be placed before his own countrywomen. He says in his preface : “Such a complete record of womaniy excellence and ability cannot fail of being highly interesting and useful ; and it must be evident to all that the task of its compilation must have been one of great labor and research ; far more, indeed, than the present editor can claim credit for his work having been chiefly that of condensation from a large and costly volume published in America, and entitled “WOMAN's Record," by Mrs. Hale, who states in her preface that it cost her three years of hard study and labor—a volume which in itself is a striking example of feminine ability in authorship.” INDEX UN NEW NAMES ADDED, AND NAMES OF THOSE DECEASED SINCE THE FIRST EDITION. NAMES OF THE LIVING. BAKER, LADY........ Page 900 .584, 898 900 900 900 900 899 .634, 900 899 899 .819, 890 899 899 901 .644, 901 901 901 827, 899 898 892 901 901 898 Page KEMBLE, MRS. .712, 901 LINTON, E. L.... 899 McCORD, LOUISA S... 894 METHODIST WOMEN... 899 MOWATT, ANNA CORA.. 90g MULOCK, DINAH M. (Mrs. Craik).. ..896, 902 MUHLBACH, LOUISA... 902 NIGHTINGALE, FLORENCE.. 902 NORTON, HON. CAROLINE.. .761, 902 OLIPHANT, MRS.... 902 PHELPS, ELIZABETH S... 896 PUTNAM, MARY LOWELL. 896 RANYARD, MRS.. 899 ...789, 902 STOWE, HARRIET BEECHER.. .837, 898, 902 SWISSHELM, JANE C.. 898 TAUTPHEUS, BARONESS. 892 TERIUNE, MRS. 902 TIIACKERAY, MISS. 903 THOMAS, ANNIE.. 899 VICTORIA, QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN..806, 903 WETHERILL, THE MISSES (Warner).......898, 903 WAUGH, IDA..... 899 WHITNEY, MRS. A. D. T.. 903 WOOD, MRS. HENRY 903 YONGE, MISS. 90 ..... 902 LIST OF THE DEAD. In this second revision we have a long list of the departed; some of the most distinguished lights of feminine genius have been withdrawn from earth ; noble women, who have made the world better and happier by the example of their lives, as well as by their literary works, have ceased from their labors. Let us honor their memories, and record their names anew. Page AMELIA, EX-QUEEN OF FRANCE. Page 566 HECK, BARBARA.... ANGOULEME, DUCHESS D' 904 .899, 903 HENTZ, CAROLINE LEE. ARNIM, BETTINA VON.. ..697, 904 .569, 903 JAMESON, ANNA..... BAILLIE, JOANNA.... .706, 904 ..574, 888 KENT, DUCHESS OF. BREMER, MISS.... .715, 904 .596, 898, 903 KIRKLAND, CAROLINE M. BRONTÉ, CHARLOTTE. .716, 904 ..597, 903 LESLIE, ELIZA.. BROWNING, MRS. BARRETT. .721, 904 .605, 898, 903 LYON, MARY. 892 BURD, ELIZA HOWARD. 903 894 COLERIDGE, SARA... .629, 890 MITFORD, MARY RUSSELL, CORNWALLIS, MISS.. .744, 904 903 MORGAN, LADY.. DACRE, LADY .747, 904 .640, 890 PACKER, HARRIET L.. 896 EMBURY, EMMA C........ .653, 904 RACHEL, ELIZA FELIX. FELLER, MADAME... .773, 904 ..864, 904 RUMFORD, COUNTESS OF.. 896 FER MARY.. ..661, 904 SALE, LADY.. 898 FLETCHER, MARY.. .890, 904 SIGOURNEY, LYDIA IIUNTLEY. .782, 904 FOLLEN, ELIZA LEE. .661, 904 TROLLOPE, MRS.. GASKELL, MRS.. .801, 904 .664, 904 WELBY, AMELIA B..... GOULD, HANNAI F.. .811, 896 .844, 904 WESLEY, SUSANNA. S96 GORE, MRS.. .680, 904 WRIGHT, FANNY (Madame Darusmont)......812 898 HAVEN, ALICE B. (Cousin Alice). .755, 904 INTRODUCTORY-NEW AND OLD. In the Second Edition, issued 1855, a few names were added. See Index, page xxxiv. This Third Edition is prepared in order to give Woman her true Saxon name ; also, to add a Synopsis for “Woman's Record” (see page 899) from 1855 to 1868,thus making the work complete. 6 The opinions of the Press have been highly approving; the author trusts this Edition will meet with increased favour, as each year brings the public mind more into harmony with the views advanced, namely,—that on the right influence of women depends the moral improvement of men; and that the condition of the female sex decides the destiny of the nation. American Legislators are awakening to these truths; within the last fifteen years, laws more equitable in regard to the property and rights of married women have been enacted; the education of girls is more liberally provided for; “Colleges” and “Schools of Design for Women” have been incorporated; Medical Science is opened to women; their fitness to be physicians for their own sex admitted; and over three hundred women have received the full diploma of M. D. As teachers, young women are taking the place of men everywhere in our public schools, to the acknowledged improvement of national education. During the present century, these ideas of the true mission of woman have been developed. Within the last fifty years more books have been written by women and about women than all put forth in the preceding five thousand eight hundred years of the world. The greater portion of these books have appeared within the last thirty years—and “Woman's Record” is the exponent of all. The Publishers, it must be seen, have done their part well. The series of Engravings furnish a gallery of Portraits that, besides their usefulness in stamping on the mind of the reader a more permanent impression of each individual character thus illustrated, furnish an interesting study to the curious in costume and the adept in taste. Then, the Selections afford an opportunity of judging the merits of feminine literature; the choicest gems of thought, fancy, and feeling are here treasured, sought out from works in different languages, and brought together in the uniform design of a perfect Cyclopædia of reference and comparison as regards woman and her productions. No work extant is similar to mine; for this reason, I am sure it will be welcomed. The world wants it. “There are so many women of richly cultivated minds," says a British critic, “ who have distinguished themselves in letters or in society, and made it highly feminine to be intelligent, as well as good, and to have elevated as well as amiable feelings, that by-and-by the whole sex must adopt a new standard of education."* Now, my work is prepared to be both an aid and incentive to such progress. In order for this, three things are indispensable: to understand what God intended woman should do; what she has done; and what farther advantages are needed to fit her to perform well her part. “The General Preface” is designed to answer the first query; also the “ Remarks” at the beginning of each Era, and hints scattered through the book, will, I trust, be of service in the elucidation. To show what she has done, I have gathered from the records of the world the names and histories of all distinguished women, so that an exact estimate of the capabilities of the sex might be formed by noting what individuals have accomplished through obstacles and discouragements of every kind. The third proposition, growing naturally out of the two preceding, is answered by considering their import. If God designed woman as the preserver of infancy, the teacher of childhood, the inspirer or helper of man's moral nature in its efforts to reach after spiritual things; if examples of women are to be found in every age and nation, who, without any special preparation, have won their way to eminence in all pursuits tending to advance moral goodness and religious faith, then the policy, as well as justice of providing liberally for feminine education, must be apparent to Christian men. “ The excellent woman is she who, if her husband dies, can be a father to their children,” says Goëthe. If read aright, this would give the woman every required advantage. Like all moral and social changes, the one now going on in the public mind concerning woman has its absurdities and its errors. When mists are rising, they often take fantastic shapes and reveal ugly features in the landscape ; but truth. like the sun, will at last make all clear and beautiful of its kind. It has been my earnest endeavour to throw this true light over the important themes discussed. The Bible is the only guarantee of woman's rights, and the only expositor of her duties. Under its teachings, men learn to honour her. Wherever its doctrines are * Sem orticle on Mrs. Hemans, in Blackwood's Magazine, 1849. |
0 Opiniones Las opiniones no están verificadas, pero Google revisa que no haya contenido falso y lo quita si lo identifica Escribir un comentario |