Elisabeth Fry. By Georgina King Lewis. (Headley Brothers. 3s. 6d.
and is. 6d.)—It was an excellent idea to give the Life of a woman so remarkable as was Elizabeth Fry in an accessible shape. The popular conception of what her religious and philanthropic activities really were is probably somewhat vague. And we can never be reminded too often of the conditions under which she worked. The England of the early nineteenth century which she did so much to amend was a very different place from the England of to-day ; and she had no little share in bringing about the change. Not the least interesting subject in the book is the development of the woman herself. We hear of her "scouring the country with her sisters in scarlet riding habits," and taking a plunge into London life. She did not like the play ; but she was not above putting on a little paint, and owned that she loved grand company. Then came a sudden revulsion. She turned to a life so severely plain that it disturbed her family. In the midst of this austerity occurred a proposal of marriage. At first she would not hear of it; but the suitor did not despair. There is something curiously barbaric about the form which his wooing finally took. He put a handsome watch and chain on a garden seat and waited in hiding to see whether she would take it !
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