A WOMAN AS MAYOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2364, 3 December 1908, Page 2

A WOMAN AS MAYOR.

The election of Dr Elizabeth Gar

.■ett Anderson for Mayoralty of a town in her native country of Suf-

folk, as stated in a London cablegram last week, marks an important step an the direction of the freedom of women to fill public offices, and a groat change in public opinion with regard to their eligibility (says a Sydney .-paper). Dr Garret t Anderson is the first woman in Great Britain to take office as Mayor, in modern days, although, as Mrs Charlotte Carmichael tStopcs has pointed out in her hook, “The British Frcewoman,” such offices were frequently held by women in the Middle Ages. Dr Garrett Anderson’s name lias been famous since she made her celebrated attempt to be admitted to- the examinations of the College of Surgeons and Physicians. As one of the first women to study medicine in England she was subjected to much persecution and opposition. Her degree of M.D. was obtained at. Paris 1870, when she was Miss’ Elizabeth Garrett. In the' following year she married Mr J . G. S.‘ Anderson, managing director of the Orient line of Royal •mail steamers. The important posts Dr Garrett Anderson has held include a seat on the first London (School Board, senior physician to New Hospital for Women, clean of the London. School of Medicine for Women, and president of the East Anglian branch of British Medical Association. Her sister is Mrs Milliccnt Garrett Fawcett, well known as the widow of the Right Hon. Henry Fawcett, P.M.G., and a writer on political and social topics. Mrs Fawcett is taking a prominent part in the suffrage movement, refusing, however, to join the extreme “suffragette” party. Another celebrated woman belongs to this family, so highly gifted on the female side —namely, Miss Phillipa Garrett Fawcett, daughter of Mrs Fawcett, who was placed above the senior wrangler.