A WOMEN'S PAGEANT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 221, 6 June 1918, Page 3

A WOMEN'S PAGEANT

MEMORABLE SCENE IN SYDNEY

A COVENANT

'We, tho women of New' South Wales here assembled, do solemnly and sincerely affirm our belief that the safety and paace of Australia are now bciug divided on the fields of Europe. ''Holding it the plitin duty of every eligible Australian to lake his placo with his brothers in their efforts to stem the tide of slavery and oppression threatening to overflow the world, we covenant with each other to work unceasingly until every man shall see his duty." _ This was the solemn covenant, in the Sydney Domain on Umpire Day, May 24, of SOCK) or 10,0(10 women, speaking as 'witu one voice with .sin impressive earnestness, says tho "Daily Telegraph." They were the mothers,, tho wives, the sisters, the sweethearts—aye, the venerable, greyhaired grandmothers, too—of our men at tho front—anil of those who have fallen —women, old and young, feeble and active, from ail parts of Hie S.tate, and knit together, as by one strong patriotic impulse, to demonstrate tlieir unity in tho Empire's cause, their unswerving loyalty and that of their menfolk nt the front to'that cause,'and'their determination to work untiringly for reinforcements.

This wns the closing scene in tlie women's )3mpire march through the city. The pageant fj past. Theso ivouion —some of them too okl and feeble to iralk unaided—have gone back to their homes. Thej have gone buck to work onco more for their men out on the stricken fields of Europe, unci to pray for them. But that striking , pageant has not fnded from, the memory, nor will it easily fade. They were the women, in all walks and stations of life, fr«m tho Battalion Comforts' Fund, the Women's Service the Centres for Soldiers' Wives nnd Mothers, the V.A.D.'a, and • kindred organisations. Thousands of people looked on the long procession with silent admiration—hero and there proml cheers rent tho air—as it moved out from Hyde Park, adjacent to Park Street. At its-head were mounted police, Light Horsemen, the Police Band, and about r>o lady riders, witli Mm. Tplleniache Edwards, of Darling Point, in charge, and Colonel Cox-Tay-lor, D.5.0., in general charge of the whole parade. Mrs. Edwards it is who , has initiated the newly-established Equestrienne Club, which, it is hoped, will be able to do something to stimulate recruiting. Some of the ladies rode their ; own horses, but others wero mounted on '■■ military horses lent for the occasion by ! the military authorities. These Indies' habiliment was picturesquely diverse. Some there were with the regulation ; riding habits; others were attired in ! khaki, and , others in modest filcirt and • blouse. And they wore nil manner of '■ hats, too—regulation bhick hats, slouch ■ hate, helmets, becoming ever.y-day hats, i and other hats. Few of the.women probj ablv knew one another, but they rode j witfl splendid organisation. Then came the women on foot, with their banners bearing striking devices and miniature flags, the Manly Band, LivernooV Military Band, and tho Boy Sco'uts' Band, still mow women, motor-cars, and another detachment of lady riders. A motor-car that attracted epeciaPattention for its rich dressing of flags and colour, and for its portraits of Qneen Victoria, was that in charge of Mrs. Graham, of the Crcmorne Bed Cross. In hold letters that all could read were messages on the banners to eligibles still at home. "Don't let married men and school boys beat you at the greatest game of all," ran one message. Here was the Auburn women's message* "Eight hundred and fifty Aubwrn men liave gone to the front; they nil need help." The Raudwick V.A.D. carried this exhortation boldly ahead of them: "We implore all eligible men to enlist and reinforce bur men at the front." There was the appeal,' ton, in interrogative form, "Australians," it asked, "don't you think Australia nnd our freedom are worth fighting for?" "Have you forgotten Nurso Cavell and the Lusitania?" ran another short, crisp appeal. "Will yon go to help my boy?" This was the mother's fervent appeal spread out in big' letters on another banner. . There was not a banner—and there were scores of them held aloft by this almost endless 6treara of purposeful women—without its stfong appeal to the eligibles. There was the appeal to the eligibles. There was the appeal to women also. "Mothers,' ' don't shlrn from pointing out the path of duty to your son" ran one message. The procession reached the Domain, via Park Street, George Street, Mnrtin Platr, Moore Street, and Castbjeagh Street, and Hunter Street.] Alon;; all these thoroughfares were crowds of people. Thousands of \vomcn swelled (he crwd already there as they swung into the DoinaiD. It took these enthusiastic womqn to show that the soap-box orators and other visionary propagandists liiwe not yet secured a monopoly of the Domain. The vast crowd formed a square. This at once stage was broken up Tike a house of cards, and the women streamed forth to the centre table, but the square was re-established with some difficulty. Tho service included prayers led by Canon Boyce, the hymn?, "0 God, Our Help in Ages Past," and "God Save Our Splendid Men," Hie covenant, to which all enthusiastically subscribed, and the National Anthem and the Benediction, with which the service closed, ringing cheers being given for the Empire, the men at tho front, Chaplain Wilson, who addressed the gathering, Canon Bnyce, nnd Dr. Mary Booth, one of the pillars of the day's pageanl;. Tho accompanying music was rendered by the Liverpool Military Band.