ON WOMAN'S SPHERE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 220, 10 June 1908, Page 11

ON WOMAN'S SPHERE.

(For tho Dominion.) Tho dawn of tho twentieth century has brought many' changes, but the greatest of nil is the position that woman holds. She no longer labours under the many disadvantages that hampered her sisters when tho nineteenth century was in its infaucy. Her social position has been acknowledged and wise and just laws created for tho protection of herself, and children. A husband can no longer claim' her property, as tho-law has recognised her right as equal to man's; in a hundred ways sho has powers and privilege's unknown in 180 S. Franchise in these distant colonies has given her/a voice in the affairs of tho Stato. Women hold office as councillors, on boards of all descriptions, even 1 on ono occasion as mayor of a borough, and yet in spito of all theso advantages sho wants more; sho is hot satisfied with being man's equal, she has become his rival.

Now it is here we would point out .her mistake. Once, sho attempts .rivalry/sho loses her charm and power. Yes, by . all means let her be mail's equal, helper, comforter, and guide—but not his rival. Can sho not realise that the power behind tho throne i's much greater than on the throne,for those seated, there in many cases are but tho puppets of a stronger will. How weak a man becomes in (the Tiands of a woman ho loves. Will ho not go to extravagant lengths to minister to her many wants? Is-not the world's history full of the story of men's weakness and woman's power? Why can she not take a lesson from the past and learn from -ft her possibilities? Why should sho usurp man's place in tho world when she has such powor herself?. A power she doe's not realise or use as she ought to do. It,is so vast and far-reaching that with understanding her hand can and does in a measure rulo the world. But she is not content, she wants all, and when she tries to play fthe part of man'and woman she is a failure. Man was created for a certain definite purpose; woman also, and when each i's willing to go hand in hand, each striving his or her utmost to do tho best that is in them, to fulfil the duties God designed them for, £hen win tho world feel that the wheels are oiled and no longer jar on sensitive nerves; but when woman usurps man's place she robs herself of her sceptre, loses her charm, and falls from her high estate. ;

Does not every physician and physicologist deploro tho growing demand for narcotics,. cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol that tho modern woman flics to to aid her ,jaded nerves. Her system is not fitted for the strain she demands of it. Whether it be society, business, or public life, it is too much for her, so she flies to various stimulants (to assist her. How many women do wo. hear exclaim : "Oh! I cannot do without my cup of tea first thing iu the morning; my head would acho all day without it." Sure proof of tired, worn-out nerves. Look at the percen-, tage of faces you 0110 tho street, and more or less they all show tho same strenuous'life. Look' at tho girls employed in shops and offices, the same drawn, unnatural strain. In ono of tho large shops of this city attention was drawn, to one poor (tired litfclo face, lips down at l tho corners . weariness expressed in every lino (when the face is in' roposo), but thero she sits week in week out, ready to do • her duty unconsciously Her womanhood- protests, though' probably sho is not aware of the strain, the more fact of living means to her, yet tho weary little face under tho elaborately dressed hair, proclaims the story. Let any skilled physicologist walk through our shops, offices, and factories, study the faces, and 90 per cent, of tho women employed tell-tho same tale, graven deop ori; what should bo sunny, faces and smiling dips. * Modern need or fancied Necessities have driven her from her sphere.' Ever-changing: fashion drains her purse, for the modern woman is not satisfied to appear in last yearns garments, lest she should bo thought out, of date. It is this very desire to bo up to date that causes so, much effort. They chaiige tho shape'of the figure to suit tho.fashion, and so deform tho most sublimo work of tho Creator, till sho becomes a mere travesty of the human form divine, destroying her vitality, crushing her delicate organism, and rendering herself unfit when the timo comes to obey tho demands nature requires of her.

' If we would improve our race (for tlio situation is grave, more gravo than tho world realisee, it demands our, closest attention, as it -affects the whole social system and humanity at large), we must awake to the fact that sho is the mother of creation, and if wo would 'have noblo sons and daughters we must see that our women are fitted for tho duties they wore created for. Woman is not man's inferior,• sho is his • equal,- but when she forgets that, and tries to climb too high, she falls, in that sho loses man's respect. If only woman would realise how much she has to ' do. in the world, how much deponds on her efforts, how sho can both improve and uplift ' humanity, surely,sho would 1 bo content. Her's is the greatest, noblest, and grandest work, and when , once she • grasps that fact sho will leave the shrieking sisterhood to wear themselves out. .Let our girls realiso chat, to do the work i that is nearest, they can become as very angels of morcy and love .• in their homes, that when age creeps on , . . them humanity will arise and call them ' blessed. AH this and so much more can woman do when she awakes to the glory of her kingdom, for she is a very queen, did sho but know it, and every woman should be tho qyeen of her home, its guardian angel and comforter. Happiness and love is her birthright ] physical excellence her divine heritage.—L.N.

• Lord Aberdeen and his wife (says an Australian paper), dining'at a house remarkable even among Canadian homes, wore waited on by so trim ' a parlourmaid that he could not resist complimenting the hostess on her training. "Oh!" she said, "I am so glad you think Jane did so well; I should liko you to tell her so presently"; and when that presently came, Jane, arrayed in eveninc dress, proved to be the daughter of the hostess, who, in consequence of the unexpected departure of the servant, had cooked the meal with the assistance of her mother. In this case the servant problem had presented itself in a very awkward form, but it brought the solution with it.