FEMININE MATTERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 530, 4 January 1913, Page 2

FEMININE MATTERS.

,-r- —♦ MARRIAGE IN SERVIAN

■ Sefvia holds the record for marriage, not only in Europe, but in the world, for tradition, combined with actual custom, has made marriage in Servia wtT.-r.igh compulsory. Some indulgence'in this respect, has lalely been extended tc males, but female:; still labour under the old disabilities. Though the race is decimated by. freouent wars, women tor.- still numerically inferior, and the expression in the vernacular "took ji wife" is admirablv descriptive of matrimonial me-' thods in Scrvia. Formerly, the girls submissively did as they were told, wailing to be "taken'' in turn. Of late they ha\;e shown more initiative in choice: Trained from •infancy to believe marriage _ her only possible destiny, she will naturally pair off with the first of lit seven (statistical) suitors. On fie very dav of her birth ;•. '■■vr.t is set aside for tkc dowry of her future husband. It is not by any means the property of the. girl herself, and retrains in the possession oh her nearest male relative until the day of its consignment to the ■originallydestined owner—her husband." An unmarried Servian girl is enliileJ to nothing beyond "adequate support" from, her family. a:iu should she elect to live with any other relative than her father or brother she has no claim to a pecuniary form of assistance. Servia's legislative code makes no provision for the unwed girl. Marry she must. THE GERMAN "CHARACTER" SYSTEM. Among the many domestic problems that Germany has solved to its own satisfaction is that of the giving or refusing of a "character" to a sen-ant. The following description of the system in vogue in Germany shows how completely it answers its purpose. Every man or woman seeking to enter the service of another, whether as labourer, clerk, or domestic servant, is under obligation to produce a service-book which after purchase must be officially stair.ped by the. police authorities. The authorities enter in the book a description of the holder, having rereference to age, personal appearance, and religion. When a situation is applied for the prospective employer can see at a glance whether the applicant has been in service before, and. if so, what kind of work has been done. If the applicant secures, the situation the employer writes in the book, "Entered the service of. Mr. So-and-so, of such a street and town," adding the date, a description of the work required, and the wages given. The employer retains the book as long as Ihe .'cr.gageme.it lasts, and, on handing it back, makes another entry—"l.ell my ...-rviec on such a date." with a few lines as to character and the servant's reasons for leaving. • Thus the character book goes round, and the servant has never the uncomfortable necessity of asking her mistress for a recommendation. Forged characters are practically impossible, as lh tt whoic system is under pottce'sup—vi^on.

HINTS TO GIRLS

Every girl, if she bo not thoroughly selfish, is anxious to lift seme of the burden of the *h;>us<.h<>M management from her mother's shoulders on to her own; but, unfortunately, many "iris wait to be asked to do things instead of being constantly on the look out for Utile duties which they arc capable of doing. If you would be of any real use in the home you must be quick to notice what is waited - the room that needs dusting, the flowers which require arranging, the curtain which has lost a ring and «s therefore drooping. And then' you must not only be willing to do what is needed; but willing to do it pleasantly, without irnking people feel that you arc b.ing martyred. It is almost useless to take up any household duties unless you do them regularly. If you do a thing one day and not the next, you can ncver.be depended on, and if someone else -has to be constantly reminding you of and supervising your work, it probably gives that person more trouble than doing it herself would cause. Have a definite d.iv and a definite time lor all you do —the Turner vases will need attention every other day. There should be one day kept for 'mending and putting away the household, linen. Hegi:i too, directly ■after breakfast, and keep on steadilv till your wc r'-i is d >ru\

If you begin by sitting ''own "just for a minute" with :i bco'c, or think you will ',' just arrange the trimming" on your new hat, the morning, .will be half f i;o:ie' be."ore you know where y hi are. - A girl who has- h ret hers may spare"her mother Jill lhb>c tiresome -.little jobs-Which boys are always *e§uesting to have c'.oiv.; for thorn, >it'she"'.vifiilSpniy do tbcm kindly. >? a l3oy will not fomc anil Ksk« ?Hife"sfeter':tbV repair frayed out but T{ hc s! 1 aiUl sa >' s I,fe !is^?aj^^s ; . ' , # • :||-;^"i^: ; npfeeu!iy::w^;l>^. but.