AUSTRALIAN WOMEN.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 25, 16 September 1893, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN.

Miss Julia Nicholson, in the curnent number of the North American Review, criticises Australian women. Though pretty, tall, and well formed, the Australian, she avers, is not graceful. Her feet are seldom small, her hands rarely beautiful. Moreover she does not dress well. Her toilette has none of the chic of the Parisienne’s, little of the sobriety of the Englishwoman’s. Overdressed or dowdy, she produces the impression of not only having little taste, but no artistic sense of the fitness of things. Stylish and elegant women are to be seen more frequently in Melbourne than cdsewhere. Nevertheless, dress is dear to the soul of an Australian, and much is spent on it. Down in the lowest social grades it plays an important part. The Australian hugs the idea of equality, and believing in uniformity of dress as the visible sigm of equality, often sacrifices actual comfort to obtain fashionable clothing. An Australian family makes a brave show on holidays. There may be bare feet and rags in the bouse, but there are cheap feathers and gloves in the street. Here the vanity of the race peeps out and hatred of apparent social distinctions, for vanity is stronger in the Australian woman than ambition, just as indolence is more inherent than energy. She is clever but not intellectual, accomplished oftener than highly educated. To be able to play the piano is re-

garded as a sort of cachet of distinction, not to play it as a lamentable sign of neglected education. Tact is natural to her, also a quick sense of perception. With the ready ease wherewith a troutlet changes its colour into harmony with that of its surroundings she adapts herself to circumstances, catches the cue of her entourage, and continues to produce a favourable impression. With a cheerful disposition and mercurial temperament, the serious side of life scarcely appeals to her. Foreseeing not that to sow the wir,d is to reap the whirlwind, she exacts neither obedience nor due reverence from her children, and withont being specially religious leaves the responsibility, of their future very much to Providence. Thus, some of the finest feelings that band the human race together become destroyed, and a spurious sort of independence loosens family ties in Australian households. Though hardly capable of strong feeling and deep passionate attachment, the Australian is affectionate, and in manner hospitable, friendly, and sometimes sympathetic. Strangers to-day, to-morrow you are; intimately acquainted. In friendship there is no tentative stage, but a plunge in medias res. By her speet b the Australian betrays her origin. “ Bay ” is pronounced “ bai ; ” say, “ sai.” Sometimes there is a nasal sound in the voice Often there is slang on the lips, not the slang of society merely, but of the stockyard, the camp fire, and the stable. It may be heard in the drawing room of society, for polished manners are not found as a matter of course in prominent places. Here men and women are shaken like dice in a box; chance decides the throw. Culture and refinement may dwell in the humblest homes, and the veriest plebeianism amidst luxury, Australia is the land of many grotesque contrasts and some unique social surpluses.