Everyday Topics.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 19, 17 October 1907, Page 3

Everyday Topics.

TWO GREAT SINGERS,

Tho fact thai 11 i the timo of Mada'mo Clara Butt's visit to Melbourne the' greatest Australian singer was staying there with her friends, has given Melbourne people tho pleasure of watching tho ■ progress of a friendship between the two famous artists. Madamo Molba mado a point of attending the concerts of tho great contralto, and the public h'avo always boon quick, to recognise and applaud her presonco m tho audienco, whilo she herself never, failed to go round and congratulate tho star of tho evening. Not only so, but bouquets, supper parties, and private visits accentuated Madame Molba's sentiment of hearty goodwill towards tho visitor, which, it is hardly, necessary, to say, were cordially appreciated/' SERVANTS IN SYDNEY. Tho difficulties of keeping house in Sydney are increasing every weok, and soon we shall all bo obliged to betake ourselves to boarding houses and such like (writes Marcia in tho "Australasian"). Though wo do not expect to bo happy there, at liny rate wo shall not be harassed out of our lives. It is impossiblo to get servants for lovo or money. Tho registry offices are empty, and likely to remain so till after Christmas. Why Australian servants "jib" at tho approach of Christmas is one' of those probloms which have never been solved, nor are likely to be. Maids will not tako a situation in October bccause "Christmas is coming," and one supposes that thoy live in poverty and idleness with their parents meanwhile. . JAPANESE WOMEN. Japanese women aro tho equals of Japanoso men in intellectual fertility and patriotism, according to Miss Julia E. Hand, an American missionary from Yokohama. Already they have had a long and honourable history. There have been nino women Emperors; it was women who introduced education into Japan, who introduced rest houses, who introduced public charity, public dispensaries for tli9 poor, and public baths for tho poor. It was a woman who introduced, the '•"liirjan. , In literature Japanese ivomon hay? had a remarkable career beforo Danto ana Ufiaucer, producing a literaturo that is even- now regarded with respect and wlmiration. Tho compulsory education laws af Japan cover girls as well as boys. When tho Japaneso Government, in 1871, sont a jroup of studonts to America to be educated, it included soveral girls in the party, and ihose young women aro now occupyiug positions of authority in different parts of the country. A woman, not yot 30, lias recently been appointod superintendent of all the kinlorgartens in Japan. Tliore aro now a great nany Japaneso women toachers, and a great many Japanese womon fianciers. Tho success j ftho, Japaneso Red Cross was in a great noasure duo to Japaneso womon. One of the vondcrful patent foods used on Japanese jattlofiolds was inventod by a woman. The Emperor consults tho Empress •on the most mportant afftirs of State. > |