The Woman's World, 1889. Edited by Oscar Wilde. (Cassell and
Co.)—A very handsome volume is this, well printed, well illustrated, and with a varied abundance of reading. Fashions of dress, past and present, naturally occupy a considerable space, for the " world " is an actual, not an ideal one ; but there are not wanting discussions of more serious topics. Mrs. Fawcett argues in favour of female suffrage, and Miss Lucy Garnett marshals the arguments against it ; while Lady Sandhurst must be taken as agreeing with Mrs. Fawcett, in her " Woman's Work in Politics." A writer who treats of " Political Women from the M.P.'s Point of View," whatever may be his views as to the advantage or disadvantage of the change, has no doubt that female suffrage will soon come. Some of the most interesting papers are the biographical,—Mrs. Marshall's sketch, for instance, of Mrs. Opie ; and Miss F. Mabel Robinson's of Madame Tallien. Miss Caroline A. Biggs's contention, in " The Need for More Women-Guardians of the Poor," is one which few will oppose. Unfortunately, there is a great practical difficulty here. The number of qualified women is very small, by " qualified " being meant, of course, possessing the legal qualification of occupying a tenement of a certain value. In many country parishes there is absolutely no qualified woman at all. In London, of course, there is a large choice.
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