"THE MERRY WIDOW."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 466, 26 March 1909, Page 3

"THE MERRY WIDOW."

No wedding is complete nowadays without its "Merry Widow" hat (writes "Marcia" in the "Australasian"), and only those who have to read many wedding reports know how true her words are. .The bridesmaids follow the bride in hats boldly proclaimed to be of the "Merry Widoiv" order; tho. bride's mother wears a hat, which she, hopes is tho true "Merry Widow" stylo when she receives her guests; tho guests sport "Merry Widow" hats, too; and, last of all, tho bride goes away with her new husband in a "Merry Widow" hat.' It is suggestive, and it isn't kind. According to all accounts there is no state, of life more to be desired by womankind than the widowed. Widows aro free to go where they like, and do what- they like, when and how they like; they'are interesting when said, and naturally much more entertaining when merry. "I want to be a widoiy," aro Fanny Dango's first gleeful, ingenious words as Anita, in the new play, "Havana," in Sydney, and most women in the audience feel a responsive thrill as she says them. But it isn't quite nice of bridesmaids and brides' mothers, and especially of brides, to proclaim to a man on his wedding day that this idea of a sweet widowhood and a merry ono should be paramount. Most men say they are out of it at weddings, but they a,ro not so out of it evidently as the women want them to be. In order to prevent misunderstandings, I do think that, at weddings, if only to spare the poor bridegroom's feelings (and some men are acutely sensitive), it would be better not to flaunt in his face, and on all sides of it, the "Merry Widow" hat. '