LITERARY NOTICES | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 30, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 18.

LITERARY NOTICES.

“WHAT A WOMAN OF 45 OUGHT TO KNOW.” By Mrs. Emma F. A. Drake, M.D. Cloth, 211 pp., Vir Publishing Co., 113 Real Estate Trust Building, Philadelphia. Price, $1.00, net.

This is the last in one of the best series of books ever published, and the very best on the subject with which the books deal. It is greatly to be regretted that they were not published generations ago. The series is as follows: For men, by Sylvanus Stall, D.D.: “What a Young Boy Ought to Know,” “What a Young Man Ought to Know,” “What a Young Husband Ought to Know,” “What a Man of Forty-five Ought to Know.” For women, by Mrs. Mary Wood-Allen, M.D., and Mrs. Emma F. A. Drake, M.D.: “What a Young Girl Ought to Know,” “What a Young Woman Ought to Know,” “What a Young Wife Ought to Know,” “What a Woman of Forty-five Ought to Know.” The last is by Mrs. Dr. Drake. The book should be read by all women nearing middle life, both married and single. It is written with sweet delicacy and sympathy. May the whole series have a wide circulation.

“HOLY-DAYS AND HOLIDAYS.” A treasury of historical material, sermons in full and in brief, suggestive thoughts, and poetry, relating to holy-days and holidays. Compiled by Edward M. Deems, A.M., Ph.D. Cloth, 768 pp. (double columns), 6½ x 10½ in. Price, $5.00; postage, 38 cents. Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York and London.

This mammoth work will certainly prove a great addition to every good library. The preacher and public speaker, the student of history and the scholar, will find it a valuable work of reference. In this work there is arranged literature applicable, or supposed to be, of thirty-five commemorated days, including the chief religious festivals and holy-days, and the leading secular holidays that are observed in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. The object of the compiler has been “to help busy people, in our busy age, to find and enjoy the very best that has been written on the vital events and great men whose memory society is trying to perpetuate.” Only the more important days of the calendar of the ritualistic churches are noted, and those secular anniversaries that have more than a local or provincial observance. There are sermons bearing on most of the various days, or the event for which the day stands, and outlines and extracts to help those ministers who depend on the encyclopedias. A large and valuable collection of facts, observations, suggestive thoughts, and brief illustrations, has been grouped around each of these anniversaries, drawn from numberless sources. These in each case are supplemented with often choice poetical extracts, that were for the most part called forth by the inspiration of the history through which its significance was gained.

And yet with all of the information which the book gives, it is often defective in tracing the various religious days to their originals. Religious prejudice or sentiment ought not to hinder a historian from giving facts. For instance, why does not the author give the heathen origin of Christmas, and tell us plainly that it was the Saturnalia? Why not a little fuller information regarding the nature-worship origin of Easter and of Lent? Why are we not given a fairer setting forth concerning the Sabbath? Invariably the term is made to turn on Sunday, a day to which the title in no wise belongs. Nothing is said of its observance by God’s people for ages, and by a whole people, the Jews, now, as well as by two denominations of Christians. One would expect to find something of the kind in the topical index, “Sabbath Views 226,” but not one word concerning Sabbath views is given on page 226. The Sabbath question will not be settled by such perversion and suppression in works which ought to stand for fact, nor will pagan counterfeits be sanctified by calling them Christian.

“TRAINING THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE.” Auburn Seminary Lectures on Christian nurture with special reference to the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor as a Training-School of the Church. By Rev. Francis E. Clark, D.D. 12mo., cloth. Price, 75 cents, net; postage, 8 cents. Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York and London.

This book forms a compendium of the Christian Endeavor movement, and we should think that it would be just what every live Endeavorer would want. It will offer excellent suggestions for workers among the young.

“MARRIAGE: ITS DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES.” By Mary Wood-Allen, M.D. Cloth, 422 pp., with good index; price, $1.25. Fleming H. Revell Company, Chicago, New York, and Toronto.

This book is a splendid presentation by an experienced, Christian lady physician of what marriage involves. It is a book for all husbands and wives, and for all about to enter the marriage state. The first part of the book is a “General Discussion of Marriage,” including a serious study of the question, preparation therefor, respective duties of husbands and wives, cost of living, etc., etc. Part Two discusses the “Physiological Knowledge Necessary to a Wise Acceptance of Marriage;” Part Three, “Normal Pregnancy and Its Care;” Part Four, “Disorders of Pregnancy and Their Treatment;” Part Five, “Care of Newborn Child.” It is a book that every husband and wife ought to read.

“THE COURTSHIP OF SWEET ANNE PAGE.” By Ellen V. Talbot. Illustrations by Sewell Collins. Small 12mo., cloth. Price, 40 cents net. Postage, 5 cents. New York and London: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

A story of 1595, filling out some of the gaps in one of Shakespeare’s plays; told in the quaint English of the times.