_The Young Wife's Book; A Manual of Moral, Religious, and Domestic
Duties. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea, and Blanchard._
We can conscientiously recommend this little book, not only to that
particular class of our fair friends for whom it is most obviously
intended, but, in general, to all lovers of good reading. We had
expected to find in it a series of mere homilies on the Duties of a
Wife, but were agreeably disappointed. Such things are, no doubt,
excellent in their way, but unhappily are rarely of much service, for
the simple reason that they are rarely read. Unless strikingly novel,
and well written, they are too apt to be disregarded. The present
volume is made up of mingled amusement and instruction. Short and
pithy _Lessons on Moral Duties_, on the _Minor Obligations of Married
Life_, on _Manners_, on _Fashion_, on _Dress--Dialogues_, and
_Anecdotes_ connected with subjects of a similar nature--form the
basis of the book.
In one respect we must quarrel with the publication. Neither the title
page, nor the Preface, gives us any information in regard to the
biblical history of the work. It may be taken for granted that every
reader, in perusing a book, feels some solicitude to know, for
example, _who wrote it_; or (if this information be not attainable,)
at least _where it was written_--whether in his native country, or in
a foreign land--whether it be original or a compilation--whether it be
a new publication or a _re_-publication of old matter--whether we are
indebted for it to one author, or to more than one--in short, all
those indispensable details which appertain to a book _considered
merely as a book_. The habit of neglecting these things, is becoming
very prevalent in America. Works are daily _re_-published, from
foreign copies, without any _primâ facie_ evidence by which we may
distinguish them from original publications; and many a reader, of
light literature especially, finds himself in the dilemma of praising
or condemning unjustly as American, what, most assuredly, he has no
good reason for supposing to be English.
In the _Young Wife's Book_ now before us, are _seventy-three_
articles. Of these, _one_ is credited to the thirty-first chapter of
_Proverbs_--_nine_ to _Standford's Lady's Gift_--and _two_ to an _Old
English Divine_. Some _four_ or _five_ belong to the _Spectator_.
Seven or eight we recognize as old acquaintances without being able to
call to mind where we have seen them; and about fifteen or twenty bear
internal evidence of a foreign origin. Of the balance we know nothing
whatever beyond their intrinsic merit, which is, in all instances,
very great. Judgment and fine taste have been employed, undoubtedly,
in the book. As a whole it is excellent--but, for all we know to the
contrary, it may have been originally written, translated, or
compiled, in Philadelphia, in London, or in Timbuctoo.