“IF I WERE QUEEN.”

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9072, 12 February 1908, Page 3

“IF I WERE QUEEN.”

WOMEN TELL HOW THEY WOULD RULE. The Berlin Lokal publishes a series of replies from leading women of the world to its question, “ What will . women do when they rule?” _\ “Oarmen Sylva,” Queen of Rou- ■ •pania, says: “ I think Semiramis, I - -Catherine the Great, Queen Elizai Hh, the Empress Maria Theresa, Ad others have shown that women Jean rule. ” -I Mme. Sarah Bernhardt: “When I women rule they will retain all their »good and bad qualities just as men 1 rulers have done, do, and will do. ” I Lady s Alma - Tadema ; “Women possess all power and always have done so. I cannot, therefore, understand your question or discuss it further.” . Mme. Suzanne Despres, the Parisian tragedienne : “What will women do when they rule? Nonsensical things.” Lady "Henry Somerset: The intentions of women rulers will not differ much from those of the best men rulers. Ido not believe in the superiority of one sex over the other. The world is made for both. They together will sway all destinies, and the struggle for unity must prevail.” _ Mme. Yvette Guilherfc: I hope that women will in the first place abolish war, and afford better protection to the right of motherhood, and that they will also have undisputed power to assist in' my lifework —supplying costumes to needy actresses. You see, lam already a candidate for the Chancellorship of the Exchequer under the new order of things. ’ ’ I Mme. Ellen Hey, the Scandinavian writer on marriage and maternity: “If I acceded to power I would, with a few exceptions, destroy all schools, and allow entire generations of absolutely unfettered children to run around, who would be freed from the traditions ,of modern wretchedness. I would raise a new generation of parents and teacheis, so brought up that they would for their part create a new humanity. Until, the creation of a new humanity, all reforms must he merely on the surface. I would elevate motherhood to the rank of supreme artistic achievement, and the State’s most important function.” Mrs Belva " A. Lockwood, twice candidate for the Presidency of the . United States, for the Equal Right (Party: “Like men, we would restlessly seek office; but we would not spend a fortune in sending warships to the Pacific Ocean for the purpose of terrifying our neighbours. We would demote the money to building roads and canals, thus strengthening industry and employing men in productive labour. We would see the Church become more popular than the theatre ,*and that men went to church. Wa would also enfore total abstinence, and open all schools to women. - ” Mrs Despard, the suffragette, writes: “Society must be sunken and life nnharmouious while society is built on an unjust founda- ; tion. Women’s accession to power wilL cause the reconstruction of society on a firmer basis. Women will demand justice, will fight compcromises and promote unity between the people and rulers of all nations.”