LADIES' COLUMN.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 50, 26 January 1884, Page 3

LADIES' COLUMN.

THE OLD WASHERWOMAN. Bee yonder busy by the linen That woman with the snow-white hair; She, sturdiest of washejwomen, Is seventy-six, yet foul or fair. Blow high, blow low her bread she wins By humble labour's honest sweat. And does her duty in that state Of life, wherein she has been set. In her young days she loved and married; She hoped and feared and bore her fate: The adverse thrusts of Fortune parried, And drove starvation from the gate. Else had her hapless children perished, She toiled ana laboured, strove and thought, Honour and truth in them she cherished, And industry and order taught. She made and saved a decent penny. Bought flax and span the livelong night, And smiled to see her hanks were many— The thread so even, pure, and white. When she upon the rest day rises, To read with awe the sacred Word; Then, on the shelf she spreads her prizes, And humbly for them thanks the Lord. And I. when evening comes, would only That I had done, in my own sphere, What this poor widow, old and lonely, Accomplishes with faith so clear. I wouldtfhgt I had known as well To Life’s cup, yet find it sweet, Could think with calmness of my knell, With pleasure of my winding-sheet.— Fbom the German. OCCUPATIONS OF WOMEN. At no time since the creation of the world have women played so important a part as now. In America at the present time there are over 531,639 women engaged in various manufactories. An industrious woman in that country can obtain remunerative employment as easily as a man. Eighty-five thousand women follow the profession of tailors, besides the millions who do tailoring at home. We find 25,000 employed in shoe factories, 7,000 corset makers, 4,000 bookbinders, 2,000 confectioners, 22,000 shirtmakers, 16,000 employed in canning fruit and vegetables, 2,000 making elastic, 17,000 manufacturing hose, 10,000 manufacturing tobacco, and 1,000 employed in photography. A large majority of the clerks in telegraph, post, and telephone offices, in America, are females. We find proof-readers, copyists, and piano-tuners. Added to all these occupations, medicine and the law are now freely open to the more intelligent of the sex. Women now take their place regularly in the ranks of several scientific professions. A remarkable instance of intelligence, talent, and industry is given in the case of Mrs. Roebling, the wife of Colonel Roebling, the engineer who constructed the remarkable Brooklyn Suspension Bridge. While engaged upon the work, he suffered from a long and severe illness, to which he ultimately succumbed. His grand undertaking must have been relinquished but for the energy and

talent of his wife, who acquired sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject to see that her husband's design was accomplished, in spite of his failing health. The Brooklyn Suspension Bridge now hangs a monument to her husband’s name, and a lasting record of the affectionate perseverance, energy, and industry of which a woman thus proved herself capable. WOMEN AS DOCTORS.

Women are now admitted to the examinations of three medical bodies—the King’s and Queen’s College of physicians, Ireland! the University of Ireland; and the University of London. It is easier and less expensive for a woman to gain a diploma in Ireland, but a degree in an English University gives her higher privileges. The course of study is extremely severe, and a woman needs health and strength above all else to enable her to go through with it. For her medical studies she must allow herself five years, having previously received a good general education, and passed examinations in arts. The fees she must pay for lectures and hospital practice amount to £lBO. The whole sum required for a medical education amounts to £5OO or £6OO. Great encouragement is now being given in England to ladies qualifying themselves either as doctors, nursesj or medical mission, aries. Latelv a Mrs. Scharlieb who has qualified in the University of London and set out to practice in India, as a doctor, was re* ceived hy the Queen and congratulated upon her success by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

There is a great demand from India, recently for medical women, and a fund has been devoted to their education in the Bombay University. Eight or nine women are now practising in London as legally-qualified medical practitioners. Several ladies have lately distinguished themselves in chemistry at the South London College, and have passed the examination of the Pharmaceutical Society. They are to commence as druggists.

Our next Ladies’ Column will contain an article on the causes which have led to women entering upon the various professions, and taking so large a share, in recent years, in the business of the world they inhabit.

THE ART OF CONVERSING. To dwell on topics with which you may be familiar at the expense of others is neither polite nor kind. While you may be well read yourself and acquainted with the current news of the day, all persons with whom you come in contact may not be so well informed, In society one must talk about something and a little nonsense often answers a good purpose. However t duty and politeness do not require such complete self-sacrifice as to demand that you should entirely devote yourself to the uninformed and ignorant; A passing recognition, and a few words adapted to their range of culture and thought are all that a well-bred person is required to give to such. For those who read newspapeere, magizines and new books, there is never any lack of conversation. Personal gossip, of an innocent nature which does not involve scandal, or wounded feelings is, equally with the current events of the day, a legitimate subject of conversation. ANECDOTE OF LADY SCOTT. One day in spring Sir Walter Scott strolled forth with Lady Scott to enjoy a walk. They passed through a field where a number of lambs were frisking round their mothers. “Ah,” exclaimed Sir Walter, “it is no wonder that the poets, from earliest ages, have made the lamb the emblem of peace and innocence I” “They are indeed delightful animals,” replied her ladyship,” especially with mint sauce.”

A CHARACTER. You may recognise him in trains and ’busses, loaded with parcels, which he goodnaturedly carries with perfect unconcern of what others think—a new bonnet, music, books, a cloak for his wife. From another parcel the wheels of a cart, a jack-in-the-box, a doll, or a skipping-rope, protrude through the paper. He is generally cheerful. He prefers to live out of town for the sake of the children. He is seldom late at business, rises early, gardens a little, and goes to his daily labor with a light heart and a clear conscience. RECIPES. SUMMER DRINKS. Lemonade.—Upon the thin rind and juice of four large lemons put sugar to taste and three pints of boiling water. Make twentyfour hours before using. Leave the peel in one day. Strain. Raspberry Syrup.—Stand the mashed fruit in a warm place for two or three days, until fermentation commences. Filter the mash through a flannel bag, and add sugar to the juice. Boil two or three minutes, cool, skim, and bottle. Allow two pounds of sugar to one pint of juice. A pleasant beverage can be made in the same way with strawberries, currants, cherries, or gooseberries. Lemonade Powder.—Take 1 lb. of loaf sugar, well crushed; 1 oz. tartaric or oitric acid; and 20 drops essence of lemon. Mix well; keep very dry. When a drink is wanted, stir two or three teaspoonfuls into a tumbler of water. It will be good lemonade. If preferred effervescent, add 1 oz. of carbonate of soda to the above recipe. Rabpbxrxy Vinegar. — Steep fruit three days in vinegar, allowing three quarts of fruit to one ox vinegar. Strain ana simmer gently, with lib. of loaf sugar to every pint of juice and vinegar. When cold, bottle and cork securely. ANECDOTES. Clergyman to newly-married pair : " The married state imposes various duties. The husband must protect the wife, and the wife must follow the husband whithersoever he goes." Bride: “Lor, sir, can’t that be altered in our case. My hueband ie going to be a country postman I" Mabbxagx.—Madame X has a happy way of defining things. “What is marriage?" she was asked the other evening. " A woman more and a man less." was her prompt and significant reply. Awkward.—" I say," said a guest at a party to a gentleman whom he didn’t know, “ this is awfully dull. Let's go out and get something exhiliarating," “I should much like to do so," was the reply, " but I can’t leave." “ Why not ?" " Wouldn’t do; I’m the man that’s giving the party." FRIVOLITIES. The newest fashionable colon are Jamaica Rum, Ox Blood, Trunk of Tree, Beech Leaf, Ac.

Fancy vests of every description are much worn bath for day and evening. For the former they are simple and quiet; for the latter some are very elaborate, in white and delicate-tinted satin, sometimes stiff with gold and silver embroidery—sometimes mixed with pearls. Trains are again in fashion for home or evening wear. Walking-dresses are short, but most evening-dresses have trains, sometimes three-quarters of a yard long. A novelty of the season for trimmings is of feathers dyed to match any color. It is made into shoulder-capes, and bands for the dress and tunic; also, fancy muffs. It is very expensive, and not likely to become common. Cork bonnets are a novelty. The crown is of cork and the brim is seal. Muffs to match, in the form of a tiny barrel, are also of seal. In the play Autour du Manage, acted at the Gymnase Paris, the principal actress, Mdlle. Yeane Harding, rides a live horse up and down the stage. She is attired in a riding habit consisting of a scarlet jacket and dark skirt. A new instance of the case of “ Enoch Arden” occurred recently at Ringsbridge. A sailor named Lucraft left his wife at home and went to sea. Years past and nothing was heard of him. He was reported to be drowned. In the course of time Mrs. Lucraft married again, becoming Mrs. Burnes. There was no reasonable doubt entertained of the death of Lucraft. The other day a stranger arrived in Ringsbridge and announced himself as the sailor Lucraft A friendly interview took place between the two husbands and the affair ended by Lucraft quietly leaving the town and resigning all claim to his wife. It is slated that the Princess Beatrice is the only one of her children who is treated as a confidential friend by the Queen. She exercises a good deal of quiet influence, and in domestic matters does very much as she likes, the Queen delegating much authority to her.