PROPHECIES OF MELBA.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9348, 18 January 1909, Page 6

PROPHECIES OF MELBA.

THE WOMAN OF A CENTURY" HENOB. London, November 7. “It is simply fascinating to me to> picture the woman of a century hence. My mind throbs with questions. What will she say and do?' Above all, what will she wear? It was in discussinggthe woman’s suffrage movement, to which she has confessed herself an adherent, chat Mme. Melba, the famous singer,, drew a picture yesterday afternoon of the woman of the future. She bad just returned from a tiring' rehearsal at the Albert Hall, where to-night she will make her last appearance in London until 1910; “Instinct," she said, “seems to> tell me one thing about the woman of the future. Her freedom, which she will surely win, will noc rob her of her woman’s love of home. Man, after he has battled with and been buffeted by the world, returns with an ever growing longing for the peace and beauty of his home environment. Woman, when the wider book of life opens before her, will surely find the bonds of home lift drawing more tightly around her* Woman will always be woman ; hard, unsympathetic facts of life will , make her home seem even more of a haven.

“ Will woman’s beauty grow? I think it will be more refined in the: future. In 100 years time a type cfi extreme daintiness will, I believe, prevail. The greater use of her' brain will ‘spiritualise’ the future woman. Her face will be alight with intelligence.’’ - ■ With regard to the dress of the woman of the future, Mme. Melba prophesied rich colour blendings, and sweeping, graceful effects. “Freak fashions will die,’’ she said. “There will he harmony in dress, a daintiness of manner and speech, a shunning of hollowness and affection.”