FEMININE MATTERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 549, 12 March 1913, Page 7

FEMININE MATTERS.

MARRIAGE IN SERWiI.

Servia holds the record for marriage, not only in Europe, but in the world, for tradition, combined with actual custom, has made marriage in Servia well-nigh compulsory. Some indulgence in this respect has lately been extended to males, but females still labour under the old disabilities. Though the race is decimated by frequent wars, women are still numerically inferior, and the expression in the vernacular "took a wife" is admirably descriptive of matrimonial method's in Servia. Formerly, the girls submissively did as they were told, waiting to be "taken" in turn. Of late they have shown more initiative in choice. Trained from infancy to believe marriage her only possible destiny, she will naturally pair off with the first of her seven (statistical) suitors. On the very day of her birth a sum is set aside for the dowry of her future husband. It is not by any means the property of the girl herself, and remains in the possession of her nearest male relative until the day of its consignment to the originallydestined owner—her husband. An unmarried Servian girl is entitled to nothing beyond "adequate support" from her family, ant? 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 servant. 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 stamped by the police authorities. The authorities enter in the book a description of the hofHer, 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 the engagement lasts, and, on handing it back, makes another entry —"Left my service 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 the,whole system is under police supervision.

HINTS TO GIRLS.

Every girl, if she be not thoroughly selfish, is anxious to lift some of the burden of the household management from' her motHer's shoulders on to her own; but, unfortunately, many girls wait to be asked to do things instead of being constantly on the look out for little duties which they are capable of doing. If you would be of ,any real use in the home you must be quick to notice, what is wanted — the room that needs dusting, flowers /which require arranging, the curtain which has lost a ring and is therefore drooping. And then you must not only be willing to do what is needed, but willing to do it pleasant}}-, without making people feel that you are being 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 never 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 day and a definite time for all yoji do —the flower vases will need attention every other day. There should be one day kept for mending and putting away the household linen. Begin too, directly after breakfast, and keep on steadily till your work is done. If you begin by sitting down "just'for a minute" with a book, or think you will "just arrange the trimming" on your new hat, the morning will be half gone before you know where are. A girl who has brothers may spare her mother all those tiresome little jobs which boys are always requesting to have done for them, if she will only do tfiem kindly. But a boy will not come and ask his sister to repair frayed-out but-ton-holes if she snaps and says he Is "always bothering." ' < It is not easy work, but it is quite possible for the daughter at home to make up a good deal of its. sunshine, and it is only when she has learned this that is fit to go away and be the sunshine of a home of her own, a 4