"WOMEN DON'T THINK."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 185, 23 June 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

"WOMEN DON'T THINK."

A. DOMESTIC LECTURE. "What do you women think of all this?'* "Women don't think," 1 protested, "they wear petticoats!" "But," he exclaimed, "surely to Heaven skirts don't hamper your thinking powers!" Years ago he would breakfast in silence and answer in monosyllables tor hours as a signal of his disgust of my natural interest in any women's movement. "You must think something at a time like this," lie continued. "You must have some workings of the mind apropos of the apathy of our politicians and their inactivity in meeting the question of Air Defence!"

".My dear boy," I reminded him, "women are here to do —not to think. We leave you men to cogitate and gossip. You are running the wax and can sit idling with your heads on your hands, and furnish us with wonderful speeches woven with beautiful, eloquent language, resplendent with choice verbal embroideries, which, if we have time, wc shall read —usually we are too busy acting to read or think. You see we have plenty to do —we're only women—with the sick and wounded, to nurse them back to health and strength, and other work to be undertaken to relieve the fighting men. Munitions must ho made.,the soldiers' children and homes mutt be tended." "And so you're content to let the men do what tlie.v think fit —eh?" "Why should we criticise your abilities to run the war? Public affairs are surely safe in your capable hands, otherwise wo should not be, as we are to-day _ dumb and voiceless in political matters, excluded from the sacred precincts of the Westminster Debating Society!"

"We know that our aeroplanes go up—and conio down again. We know the Zeppelins come over here—and go back again! But why should we speculate? You are looking after things, and we realise how well you always do run the country. No chaos, no crises, all smoothly running. We watch the enemy aircraft securely sailing, with impunity, over our peaceful towns and villages, bringing in their wake death and disaster. Our mothers and babies are murdered before our eyes, our sisters slaughtered, our homes wrecked, but we read that 'Daily conferences are being held between the Admiralty and the heads of the Home Defence Force regarding the air defences of the country,' and wo are content in the knowledge that one day. most likely after the war, our aerial fleet will he adequate to deal with the present P'lbkm of guarding our land from the enemy invaders.

"Why should our faith in your powers waver? Haven't we still in our memories the fairy fancies Colonel Sccly used to create for us three years ago?" "They were beautiful phantom stories of the supremacy of our aerial fleet. We recall with security his assurance that Zeppelins were not required by the British Army, and realise from that statement that Zeppelins ;:re not practical in warfare. This proud confidence that 'England has evolved a type of aeroplane which is far superior to that in possession of any uatidon in the world' finds a heart-felt response. Doubtless these iiiachines are in existence, only it is net deemed advisable to let them out this cold weather." "You're talking utter nonsense!'' "Xo." I murmured. "I'm just knitting socks for soldiers!"

"You really think " "Heaven forbid." I protested, "that I should be guilty of such an act. ''Surely." I iiiplored, "our long years of married lire mid your careful tuition have not proved so utterly fruitloss in educating Die to the duties of a wife. I have endeavoured so faithfully to follow your ideas that a woman's vocation is to look after her hou.se and husband, be pleasant at all times, and acquiesce gracefully to bis arguments on all occasions. She; must dress and look sufficiently .ntfraciive to inspire pride in his own breast and envy in the hearts of his fellow men. She must entertain his guests, he brilliantly conversational when expedient, silent when required, but above all she must not think. For man Is the contemplative organ of humanity, woman hu! the active, instrument " "You mean to insinuate "

"Put what eonstruition you please on what 1 merely remark, but do remember i am no; denouncing the apparent inertia of you men in control. Oh, no. not a hit! Times are sedative. < ireumslances are congenial to silken repose of the Powers that Be. 1 would not disturb the riehlful rest of those Twenty-three weary British gentlemen hibernating peacefully in the arms of Morpheus. Perchance some day they will wake up to great achievements; meanwhile Ave rest content to watch and wait—wait and hope to see —Zeppelins!" "Are you going to talk for ever?" lie groaned.

Wo." I said. "I'iii not. I've too much to do. I'm going now to take lour wounded soldi.'!'? for a drive in your motor-car. The afternoon I shall si'pnd al a cro'lie lending babies, and to-night I'm ou munition work' What ate you going to do?" "Read the paper." ho answered, •and then i shall- -'' "Think about it," was my parting shot. fi.r.s.