CURRENT LITERAT URE.
A Woman's Work for Women. By Edwin A. Pratt. (George Newnes.)—This little book contains a record of good work carried out through the persevering labours of an able woman, Miss Louisa Hubbard. It is a providential arrangement that the different kinds of needs and sufferings in the world appeal severally to different minds, so that each class of sufferers may find its own helper. Miss Hubbard's sympathies have been specially called forth by the trials of the poor gentlewoman, whose good angel she has been and to whom she has devoted her time, her money, and her health. The last has indeed been sacrificed to her poor sisters, so that she has been obliged to give up her career of activity. The sorrows of the humbler classes appeal to thousands. Those of the poor lady, which are often more distressing from the very fact that she is a lady, were for a long time overlooked. Preju- dice and convention on her own part as well as on the world's had closed all openings for remuneration to her except one, that of the governess ; and there is no need to enlarge on the restrictions of that career. Miss Hubbard succeeded in showing how obstacles could be removed and the field of remunerative labour enlarged in a score of directions. In her own words, she" brought together the work which needs women, and the women who above all things need work ;" and who need it, not only to support exist- ence but to bring health and happiness. A mere glance down the list of names of Mr. Pratt's clearly-written chapters will show what were the institutions which Miss Hubbard started herself, or enabled others to begin and carry on, through her own hard work, or through her advice and ever-ready sympathy. But these only represent part of her labours. In her Woman's Gazette, afterwards changed into a magazine called Work and Leisure, the most useful organ of her activities, she either wrote or got others to write on every conceivable remunerative employment for poor ladies. Gardening, massage, typewriting, school-teaching, art work of various kinds, "the renovating of pictures, artificial flower - making, wood - engraving, dressmaking, medi- cine, literature, shorthand, the drama, teaching of cookery, laundry - management, bee - keeping, poultry - farming,"—all these were discussed in her pages. The general method of her work was first to ventilate in her magazine the subject of some special need, asking for suggestions or offering some of her own, as to the best way of meeting it. This drew out comments and answers from those interested in the matter. Having thus collected information, she next brought the different writers on the subject together for discussion ; first informally, at one of the "tea and talk" meetings at her office, and afterwards at a larger and more formal one. It often became necessary to go beyond a mere private association of charitable persons for carrying out her plans, and start a company, such as the "Ladies' Dwellings Company," and others. Miss Hubbard had happily been blessed with just the qualities of mind and character that would further her schemes. With a breadth of view and grasp of general principles, she showed a capacity for entering into details. She possessed too the keen eye of a good general for choosing her officers, a businesslike mind, and a fertility in resource. But above all, the moral qualifications were hers ; liberality in giving her own money, courage in facing risks, candour in admitting failures, and magnanimity in giving up her own schemes if those of others seemed to promise greater success. She was ready to utilise existing agencies, grafting her own projects on to them, or enlarging their scope; till, for example, such associations as local unions of workers grew into the National Union of Women Workers, and afterwards became part of an International Federation. The point reached in the different philanthropic efforts for women, was laid clearly before the public in her annual review in her "Englishwoman's Year Book." That she should meet with occasional failures was to be expected, and Mr. Pratt makes no secret of them. But out of some of these will probably spring success in other hands, at a future day ; and Miss Hubbard would be the first to rejoice that others should reap where she tried to sow. Mr. Pratt's little book will, we trust, contribute to this happy result by interesting and inspiring fresh workers.
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