A WOMAN GAOLER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 48, 20 November 1907, Page 3

A WOMAN GAOLER.

The only official woman gaoler in the world is lime. Jeanne Porcliet, of Switzerland. She is 53 years of ago, and is the governor and chief wardor of tho prison of Aigle, in the Rhone Valley. Thirty years age Mme. Po'rchet married \the chief warder of the prison, and on his death thirteen years later, the town authorities requested her to carry on her husband's work. Mme. Porchet/who is a strongly-built woman, is a strict disciplinarian, but with a kindly heart. By her force of character she soon converted the Aigle prison into a model of its kind. All tho year round tho prison contains from twelve to twenty male prisoners, sentenced to terms of imprisonment varying from three months to three years, and although the woman gaoler, has no man to aid her, sho never had any trouble with the prisoners— except on one occasion many years ago, when a burly ruffian attacked her. Mmo. Porcliet gavo him such a lesson in good behaviour that he was confined in hospital for several weeks. Sho has nine children, seven of whom are out in tho world, whilst two of her youngest daughters aid her in cooking the prisoners' food. Mme. Porchet opens the cells every day, sets each prisoner his task, superintends their exercise, serves them their meals, and in tho evening locks them up in their cells. She also takes a great and kindly interest in her "guests," as she calls them, and has set many a prisoner by her advice and kindliness, 'on the straight path again. , °

Marie Corelli has discovered that : ',i r-rtat majority of the men of tho present day want women to keep thorn." tfeep them froir what? Clubs? Saloons? Theatres? Cninc , .,? Corelli novels? —"Brooklyn Eagle. : ' The creeho for the children of ladies visiting the Melbourne Exhibition of Women's Work is said to bo meeting with excellent results. A numbered strap is fastened to the little one's arm or dress. Thcso precautions obviate any risk of confusion, and no mother has so far complained at having been given tho wrong infant. Seventy-eight children havo been received in a recent week, and motron and all three assistants stoutly maintained that of them all "only four have been cross." ,It was a wonderful testimonial for the Australian baby. Some of them were very tiny mites. One was but five weeks old. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe once wrot; to an eminent "U.S. Senator 'on behalf of a man who was suffering great injustice. He replied : "I am so much taken up with the plans for the benefit of the race i ■ at J luve no time for individuals." Mrs. Howj pasted this into, her album with this comment: "When last heard from, our Maker had not reached this altitude."

A Paris correspondent of the "Brooklyn Eagle" writes: "Great progress is taking place in the opinion which Frenchmen have of women. The fact that Madame Borthelot was buried at the Pantheon with her husband proves it. That would never have been permitted oicn twenty years ago. The scientist followed the example of General Grant in refusing to bo buried where his wife could not b,e by his sido." That tho salo of tho aigrette plume is unJawful in Lonsiana, and that women who wear it are also responsible to the law, has been decided in the case of a merchant who has been sentenced in Now Orleans to a fine of £10 or sixty days' imprisonment for having sold the plumes. Tho opinion holds both .sellers and wearers responsible,