A BOOK OF THE WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 39, 14 August 1926, Page 21

A BOOK OF THE WORLD

BY A TRAVELLING TEMPERANCE LECTURESS.

"Agnese E. Slack, "being a story oftwo hundred thousand miles' travol for temperance in four continents. By Aelfrida Tillyard. Cambridge: W. Heffei 1 and Sons. , Quite a small book contains a thrilling story of the travels, life, and success of Miss Agnese E. Slack, a very charming lady, from the picture, and account of character and attainments. The story of her early youth is very interestingly told. Her father and mother were parents whose treatment of their children was far ahead of their Victorian time. A friend who was inclined to tease "Aggie" told her that he was sure her father would not give • a sovereign if she asked for it. He would," she said, and he offered a gift she particularly wished for if she asked and obtained the money. No sooner said than done; she walked up to her father and asked him for a sovereign, and at once he produced it out of his pocket. "Here you are, be sure you don't waste it," but he had the perfect confidence in her which made him hand her the money without hesitation.* Another story of her mother is worth .repeating. A minister friend asked the children which they would rather be, a butterfly, or a bee, and loud and clear imo a reply, "A butterfly." "Oh, dear," whispered Mrs. Slack to a neighbour, "I know that's my Aggie!"

Agnese Slack, therefore, was full of life and joy, well educated, and ready to take an important part in life. Her work as a Woman Guardian in Lincoln and other cities was wonderful, and from that she entered into all kinds of kindly work among the poor, and was well able to judge of the conditions of things in England, and tho realities of suffering among the submerged. She went to Ireland, and examined conditions there; thence to Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, and in 1896 she paid her first visit across tho Atlantic. She met Sankoy a the Evangelist, and

many other interesting people, and spoke for Chautauqua and other organisations.

On then to South Africa, where she visited Dutch, English, and native people, and spoke and helped wherever she went tho cause for which she worked so tactfully and energetically. She made herself loved and respected there, and they parted with her with the utmost regret. Of her travels and experiences in India, it can only bo said that they were vast, interesting, oven thrilling, and full of wonderful experience. The book needs to bo road to appreciate what she did and saw. Back again to London, where Miss Slack was in request everywhere to toll the story of her travels and work, and then away again to Canada aud America. Germany, Esthonia, Latvia, and Lithuania came in their turn, later Finland and tho Far North, and later still came war work. After that was over Miss Slack induced the Bishop of London to have a temperance sermon preached from St. Paul's pulpit, and, "more of a triumph still,"'one from Westminster Abbey.

The book throughout is the story of a wonderful personality, intellectual, kindly, persevering, courageous, admirable. It is full of mention of well-known world personalities, and is interesting from the first to the last page. A classic, and one which should bo in tho libraries of all children, both as a historical and geographical education, apart from the insight into social ser- 1 vice.