When I helped my mum move from her home to a retirement village 23 years ago ( wow, it doesn't seem that long ago) I inherited some old books. They are not in good condition but they are fun to read in that they are so out of date with ideas.
This one is called," A Girl's Difficulties" and it belonged to my paternal grandmother.
Inside it reads, "Edith Fernley, Alma Road S. School, 11th March 1898"
It is a type of "what every young girl should know" book. Here is a sample of the advice: ......how great is the need for temperance in food and in drink, and in personal self government! ......Except in poorer classes, over-eating is the cause of which never should happen. No one should drink even water between meals except in greatest need.
Another of my inherited books is my father's copy of
"Aristotle's Works with Illustrations 5s." That is funny having the price in the title on the cover. Inside it says,
"The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher". I cannot find a date on it anywhere, I vaguely remember being told that my dad found it in a second hand shop. Both books are very small, I've tried to scale them by using today's books as a guide.
Here is an excerpt from the book: "The Reason why Children are like their Parents,.........." In the case of similitude, nothing is more powerful than the imagination of the mother: for if she fix her eyes upon any object, it will impress her mind, that it often happens that the child has a representation there-of on some part of its body. And if, in the act of copulation, the woman earnestly look upon the man, and fix her mind upon him, the child will resemble his father. (
So if she wants it to look like her, how does she earnestly look upon herself in the act of copulation???)
LOL !
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should be grateful that in years to come no one shall be likely to stumble across my more questionable beliefs about the world.
Some of these older publications make fascinating reading :)
Old books like this can provide some delightful reading (and fascinating blog posts!). I won't pretend to attempt an answer to your question.
ReplyDeleteoh, good lord! :)
ReplyDeleteHmm, Diane, your comment on the Aristotle bit could finally explain why some people have mirrors above their beds.
ReplyDelete...And will from now on make us wonder about women whose daughters are the spitting image of them.
Hi Diane, What a great group of old books... I know that some of the info is out-of-date ---but I wish that families would get back to the way it was back then.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about Australia, but in our country, many kids today are rude, disrespectful, and are not being disciplined by their parents. In fact, we have a breakdown of the entire family here. Kinda Scary...
Enjoy your books!!!! BET they are worth something --to book collectors.
Hugs,
Betsy
What great fun having these old books! and what fascinating reading they make! I have one of my grandmothers from the 1800's that has such amazing thoughts. One has to wonder in another 100 years if our books will seem so outdated. Something to think about isn't it. I am sure in their day, their advice seemed to them, just as sound as ours does now to us. HMMMMM
ReplyDeleteOh Diane,
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to read these books.
That is how is was in those days, so history of course :)
Oh how lucky you are to have them I love old books they are so special
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous post, Diane. I read what Jeanne said about people reading our self-help books in 100 years (or longer, in the case of Aristotle) and I don't care what the people of the future think of us, as long as there is a world for them to live in, and books of some sort for them to read.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, you have some treasures indeed.
K
How wonderful that you have books that belonged to your parents. I enjoy reading old ones like these because it's like looking back to in time.
ReplyDeleteYou said it, TexWizGirl :)
ReplyDeleteAll good fun. I inherited my mother's books on etiquette which always provide much food for amusement.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice presentation plate. Why don't we do book plates any more?
ReplyDeleteThese old books are so interesting especially when it comes to advices for married women. I had read one where the woman had to serve her husband, always be well dressed and appealing in case he .... etc. I must have fixed my mind at Mr. G because our son looks like him, lol !
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful family treasures they are, and the advice is precious isn't it lol.
ReplyDeleteSome opinions have changed luckily. To look up at your husband and get a child that looks like him...
ReplyDeletei like the looks of them and these to funny quotes from each book makes me wonder what our great grandchildren will read in the current day books... and how much more the world will change....
ReplyDeleteI love old books. Especially children's books.
ReplyDeleteHow completely has the advice of not drinking even water between meals been superseded.
ReplyDeleteGreat collection of old books. I have some very similar ones which I treasure.
ReplyDeleteVery amusing, but what tortured prose. In answer to your question, mirrors on the ceiling.
ReplyDeleteDiane, they are great old books. Even if they are out of date with their ideas. Lovely old treasures!
ReplyDeleteWhat treasures, I have a few of my mums old books but not as interesting as those. Have a good week. Diane
ReplyDeleteFun reading!
ReplyDeleteI look like my dad and my sister is the spittin' image of my mom. Now I have all new thoughts on that subject!
ReplyDeleteNo one has mentioned the smell of old books. I absolutely love it!
Some funny stuff! I doubt Weight Watchers would approve of NOT drinking water between meals.
ReplyDeleteI guess a woman wanting a child to look like her could use a mirror on the ceiling.
What fascinating books. Mirror, mirror on the wall.........
ReplyDeletesuch treasures; it is sad about the drinking water between meals thing. It was considered that we'd fill up on water and not want to eat at mealtime! What a turn-a-round!!
ReplyDeleteI love old books and I'm slowly building up my poetry anthologies via second-hand websites. These are beauties and should be treasured for their novelty value and, ahem, quaint advice!
ReplyDeleteSome great advice there... haha.
ReplyDeleteGreat books! And remember that other piece of advice: if you want a boy, hang your pants on the left bedpost...for a girl, hang 'em on the right. Go figure!
ReplyDelete