WOMAN'S OUTLOOK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 79, 28 December 1918, Page 9

WOMAN'S OUTLOOK

. AN INTERESTING ANALYSIS. (By "Vauoc," in tlie "Referee.") In tit , /iv own sphere women's sovereignty i> unchallenged. A second they sliaro witA man, but in tho most important mi vision of the world's work petticoats' are iu the way. No doubt exists fcs t6 the domain where women ' reign siif feme. In regard to the second and thii'ci divisions of the simple classificatioii' iiuggested, a kief alphabetical analysis may. bo used to focus light on the facts. On "armies, abbeys, and, architecture there ie little sign of women's ..influence, except that hitherto armies, are efficient only when fighting men find ; favour in tho eyes of othai- men's: sisters. On annmils . and the growth of sweet flowers women are on an/equality with men, kit the records of art show that tho.greatest pictures and statuary of the world: canto from inalo fingers and imagination without one exception. In tho foundation and conduct of businesses, in tho 'building of. bridges, and ,in the higher administration of "banks men stand alone. Here and (hero a Iks. Hetty Green or a Miss Frances Willard exhibits a directing mind, but such exceptions are few; The htiman boy and his niiuinijement, until he attains the ago of sii;; lives in, woman's territory, but afterwards lie is spoiled 'by tho undiluted soniety .and influence of' mothers and sisteis. The foundation and development of cities aro tho creation of . men— architects, builders, . middlemen, shopkeepers, labourers,' ruihvayirien,. and telegraphists,, Custom is the., result of compromise between the habits of the sexts, but castles are built and defended and churches aro founded and financed mainly by men. The creeds of tho world are niaii-made, except Mrs. Eddy's, and in its lower, branches cookery is admirably performed by women. ■ In 'the higher cuisine'man compares with female cooks us Velasquez compares with •Angelica lvaufmann. Iu euch departments as the drama, docks, engineering, exhibitions, and education, the primacy of man is all but unchallenged, Miss ■Philippa Fuwcett notwithstanding.' In factories' also, and all that concerns them, man is well to the front, although women inspectors make theic mark. On . the subject of men, women, and flowers I should like to wiito for an hour, but cannot delay. The best gardeners in Europe are ladies who give their minda to the subject, while possessing means for the.display of consummate, taste.and .untrammelled imagination, Forts are edifices which women leave to men, but fashions exhibit in their vagaries chiefly tho versatility of woman's mind and the potency of her charm, though men tailors and furriers are preferred by women. Gardens,. girls, and gamee are equally interesting to 'both eexos, but with the possible exception of Mrs. John Richard Green,. I know of no woman historian who ranks', with the beet men, and her Irish history is too one-sided to onduiro. Nine-tonthe of the history of the world 'is a record of what was done, Buffered, achieved, or perpetrated by man.. Hobbies • are indulged in by both •sexes. .For thousands of years the home has wrongly been held to bo created and maintained by what is called the "bread-winner," though tho economic value of a woman who cooks, washes, ■ eews.-.and slaves far a man and six children; one of whom is generally out of health, is at least equal to of a male, who sometimes omits to bring home his wages on Saturday night. • As to inventions, libraries, leagues, money, museums, navies, poetry, painting, ports such:as Port Arthur and Portsmouth, parks and rivers, they chiefly supply careers for men and boys, and the probability is that they ever will. . Although the life of- devotion is commoner among women than men, men are the prophets; tho priests, and the preachers of religion.. No, record of a ■female Buddha, Mahomet, Sakynmouni, Confucius', Augustine, or Wesley is to be : found in religious records. Joan of Arc, Joanna Southcotf, and Mrs. Eddy can 'Scarcely be admitted to tho rank of men who have directed and inspired the faith of tho world. In sports and science, Bcenery and schools, in sculpture, etoamships, statistics, the theatre, travel, nnd yachting,' many meii and foino 'women reach eminence. Thus wo see that, though not unshared by women, men's careers practically cover the rough work of the world. They make ninety-nine per cent, of tho wealth aud control'all of it in the last resort. ' >

It seems as though man, nnd not woman; wero doing the work of the world. .Nothing can l>o further from the fact. Without; feinnlo inspiration no victory was ever gained over enemies, olemcrits, or things. In time of ponce armies aro clothed not with a yiQw'to i-fhciencyin war, but on tho principle of pleasing women. .

I Ou.tsitlc the arena of arms lifo is perpetual war. The frontiersmen who exchange Knglisji homes for lifo in forest and in jungle are. generally driven or attracted into adventurous cavcers by a n'omn'n. : lir shuck or sheltcr-tent is always found, the portrait of i\n English f,irl or a Scotch lh-ssie. We do not as a rule speak of the Hritish maids, but tho blue eyes of the Irish colleen have exorcised, vast influence in this building of Empire. All. the difficult things in lifo are done cliielly by nicn who could not do tliem but for women. When tho race' of womanly women is extinct no incentive for dare-devilry will , remain. When men .abroad thing of England, they think of women. Many a man who has never heard tho sound of a gu,n, and who has never been outside the TJnitrd Kingdom is.toiling and fighting-with us imich I,'iilliintry ns tho heroes of war. Fvr wife and bairns,, or to. marry tho girl of his -choice, Che soldier of labour exerts his strength.' Nothing . 'but' homo interest gets (he last ounce out of. a nation. Home, is the unit.' Sliuh- matorrial duties in the higher ranks, and the natural lenders of the peoplo lose tho power of leader-

ship, because- a nation of homes. can h guided iii peace and war only by thoa who themselves possess happy homes. ■ ' ...--.'i

The trustees of tlio Boston eyitiphonj orchestra have announced that Henri En band, ;ono of tho most eminent of Frencj conductors and composers, had been , en giiged to bo; permanent conductor of th symphony orchestra (in eucccseion'.. •tj licrr Stuck). A cablegram, received fron t!io French Ministry of Fine Arts etatej that Mr. Enbaud nceeptod: tho engage ment and would sail as soon aspossibL for America. Tho Ministry -of Firil 'Arts also expressed its appreciation thj! the Boston symphony orchestra haj chosen tho dUtinguishsd Tronchman-'al its conductor. • ■ .-.•; . H Bti.baud is best known ns a composer Ono of.the principal novoltics at-. th] Metropolitan Opera House last seneoj was his opera, "Marouf." His"Seoon( Symphony" is a standard work in r chestral repertoire. He has writtbr. much for. opera and for orchestra. Aj present he is the principal conductor w tho Grand .Opera in Paris" under Me? snger. This post ho has filled for sever years. Ho is a graduate of tho PafiJ Conservatory, where he studied coniposL tion with Massenet and'in 1891 lib wpi tho Prix do Homo. ' . ,;.'.'.'"! J The train. arrangements, between ■ Wellington and Palmorstoli North for ."'tly New Year holidays are- advertised' in "tin issue. ■ ' j An unusual ceremony was to t'ako place] on , October 1 in tlio Sistihe Oliapel; tho, Popefputtl.ngi.'togßtliorvand sealing i»t() H jj Farco-phagus tho bones, which hadjjcou, dispersed'in seyeral "Sities. of-St.'-'Petrgi nius, tlio guardian saint of Bolpgiftt.""- ■'-. j