Our Uncle and Aunt, by Amanda Martin (Putnams), is worthy
of more notice than it is entitled to, on account of its purely literary merits, because it throws a little light on various social questions which agitate certain sections of American society. In the form of a novel, or, strictly speaking, of a narrative, it really pre- sents the views of a well-intentioned lady, who is, however, in a chronic state of virtuous indignation about a variety of things, including education, the suffrage, and the "infamous" marriage
law which places a woman and her property at the mercy of a bad husband. There is, however, nothing more original in the book than this In the near future, Oppression shall unclasp her bony fingers from the lives of the mothers of this nation, and then shall Peace fold her soft wings upon our hearts and make her home within. Then, and not till then, can woman look on the Stars and Stripes of her country with tearless eyes, or realise the meaning of Freedom—Liberty." The best character in Mrs. Martin's story is a certain Uncle Sam, who seeks relief from the babel of women's tongues in the contents of a black bottle, and in ejacu- lating, "May Satan roast me !"
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