Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1890. The Women of England.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 27 December 1890, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1890. The Women of England.

«. Owing to the wonderful services rendered to mankind by the late Mrs Booth, people are asking when the equal recognition of both sexes will become general. We love not the plain outspoken lady of mature age who attends political meetings to demand women's rights, but we are in favour of those who do so much to keep home and family together, having a voice in the formation of laws so closely affecting their well being. The one great stride that, the lfttft

wife of the " General " of the Salvation Army made, in showing the justice of \Vonien being accorded a h iff her place in the Council's of the nation, was when she liot only showed. her great capabilities ii\ Reaching to the nUiltfhtde, but also in her proving", by the selection of other women, the power the sex generally possessed. We believe that the Army has lieeii tho first Ghmr.lv body that has had the gcioii sense to break through old prejudices and create a force of intelligent, active teachers from the female sex. Women, all through our history, have been noted for their self'saoriflcing Mtas, tlttd" their willinpesa to assist hi times of trouble, when man has had to acknowledge his incapacity. Without going outside of our own country i*;e could rptffi]]. Mime" after name of wdiueh whose deeds have spread a halo of light around the name of woman, sanctified for many lowly deeds of disinterestedness and kindness previously.. In tate tinies Florence ■ Nightingale", "the" soldier's iriend," -though, borll hi Wealth, displayed from' her earliest childhood an active sympathy with tlie'sitffe'rhig, the desolate" , iliict the distressed a-mcM g the poor around her home. At the age when young ladies " come out," she^sited London, and studied at the hospitals, schools, and reformatory institutions, .and thus secured a thorough training for the work she took up in Rie OriMeay though but little expected then. A writer sums up the character of "Florence Nightingale in words that slioW her power. i«Withtheh6ffi l t of'n true woman, and the manners '6f a ladyi ftdconiplished and l'dfiiled beyond most of iier «ex, she combined a surprising calmness of judgment with promptitude and decision of character." In considering th& wisdom 'displayed by the Army in selecting wohien to aid it in it's good CMse, we have only to refer to the life of the earnest philanthropist, Elizabeth Fry, who did so much good work amongst the prisons of England. The governor of the gaol Avhich she first visited prayed her not to trust herself a lone amongst such desperate persons, but she adhered to her purpose and was admitted. The crowd was seething and raging, but on her entrance, silence reigned for an instant, but then recovering their audacity she was surrounded and with wild shrieks and cries money was demanded from her. The words she meant to have spoken left her, and she had barely sufficient presence of mind to open the Testament and read some passages from it. It is written that "her accents, so clear and thrilling — for she was remarkable for the exquisite beauty of her voice— fell on their ears like oil on troubled, waters; the uproar subsided, and they listened in Avonder. Some wept, and all were attentiA'e. " Hush ! " cried 0113 forlorn creature, p.?- som: slight inte'.Tuption occurred, "hush"! the ang.?ls 'have lent her t-heir voices." If women can do these things, and bear as rh?y do' tli? Avorry and trouble of their daily llve^j as we see them around us, do they not stand ont as being the possessors of far nobler qualities than the a verage man •? Yet men would hold that they should be treated as thatt :'" if though will learn anything, lot' them ask their.husbands at home ; for. it is a shame- for woman to speak in ihe Church." It is full time that man gave to woman equfil rights in all questions affecting their general AA'elfare, and Aye trust this Avill be recognised before many more years are past and gone. .