A COLUMN FOR WOMEN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 82, 5 December 1914, Page 2

A COLUMN FOR WOMEN.

MOTHERS OF GREAT MEN

NOTABLE WOMEN

It is interesting at this rime, when so much conspicuous bra very is being shewn by cur men in the fighting line, to note what kind of women were the mothers of great men who have fought and won in epoch-making battles of bygc-ne years. Certain it is that no truly great man ever had a weakling tor a mother and the way in which Englishwomen are meeting the crisis of war proves that they, too, are worthy mothers of brave soldiers.

The history of the mother of Napoleon shows that she possessed in notable degree the courage and fortitude reflected in her greatest of sons. She accompanied her husband on many a danger-fraught expedition in Corsica as a girl bri-Ie of sixteen, and later as a mother gave her devoted love and tender care to her family. " Every lo wsentiment every ungenerous affection," said Napoieon later, was discarded, discouraged; she suffered nothing but what was grand and elevated to take root in our youthful understandings. She abhored falsehood, wag provoked by disobedience. ■ She passed over none of our faults."

s As the widowed mother of five sons and three daughters left without guide or support, she took on herself the management of everything with splendid courage, and piloted them gallantly through poverty and difficulty, having, her son said often, " the head of a man en the shoulders of a woman." And later, as the mother of the conquered Emperor, raised from indigence to affluence with a Government allowance of a million francs, she filled with splendid dignity the position of "Madame la Mere," mother of the great man who never ceased to regard her with the utmost reverenc and affection.

Mother of the " Protector."

So, tco, did the mother of Oliver Cromwell make for aerself a place by the side of her famous son, who from her inherited his -spirit and untiring energy, his religious instincts, his patience and stroiur, calm persistence, his honesty and plainness and domestic tastes, in fact, nearly all the qualities for which his memory is most honoured. Contemporary account?, picture her as a woman of strong and vigorous personality, of sterling goodness and simple, quiet tastes; homely, provident, devout; the sanve voman, whether in their simple heme at. Huntingdon, working hard as wife, and later as a widowed, mother of a family striving to provide with dowries her five daughters, or amidst the stately grandeur of the Palace at Whitehall. A stirring and strange destiny was hers, and she experienced and witnessed many and great changes in her ninety years, but nothing made .her swerve from the simple steadfast loyalty to the things that are pure find honest, true, and of good report. Doubtless the distinction of the Protector's Court as exacting morality and purity from men as much as from women was attributable in large measure upon the son who loved and revevsd her so deep, iy.

Maternal Influence. The influence of mothers upon their sens is no less apparent in the history of men great in the art? of peace than among the mothers oL those who have gained fame by the tword. One of the most notable instances is that of Monica, mother of Augustine, the reckless libertine who finally became one of the Fathers of the early Church, his life entirely reformed and

regenerated by the caseless prayers and never-failing love of his saintly mother.

Among great writers and poets, as well as among men of action and religious leaders, hereditary and personal. Ruskin declared that he owed much of his taste in literature and his power of taking pains to his mother. Browning's mother was a woman of singular beauty of nature and rare serenity of spirit, and her son's loving admiration of her was, we are told, almost a passion. She was of an artistic temperament which found its chief satisfaction in music, and to a less degree in poetry, and it was her playing which first awakened in her son, as a rmall boy, the musicianly, artistic soul. Her sympathy and appreciation were very inspiring to Browning in the early days of writing, and her gift to him of the works of Shelly (who had just died), obtained only with considerable trouble at that time, had a great effect on his poetic genius, which thenceforth blossomed rapidly.

WOMEN OF OTHER LANDS.

DUTIES OF SERVIAN WOMEN

Servian woman (says the Daily Mirror) is regarded as an inferior creature, who has duties, but no rights. Her principal duty consists in work ing hard for the man, whether husband or father, and of being respectful to him. The maxims which she and all her sisters have to learn by heart are: —

Be first to rise and last to go to bed.

Do all the work in .connection with the house and farm.

Prepare goods for market, but hand over all the money to tho man. Never speak to a husband without first obtaining his permission. Never argue against, a man. IT or cross the road when a man is massing. Always rise and kiss the hands of 1 male guests who enter tho house. Always be the first to salute the .ien of tho household, irrespective of "'•rir age. :i Seryia brides are kidnapped. VVheri the lover had made up his mind that the girl is ready to marry him ho and his friends arm themselves

with rifles, go up to the girl's house, ; seize and carry her off to church, and get married on the spot. Otherwise the courtship is almost entirely conducted by the men of the family. The father of the prospective bridegroom and two or three male friends call on the girl's father and bring with them a large cake of wheat and poppy seeds. The men of both families have supper and haggle over terms of marriage. When these terms are arranged the son's father puts some flowers and money on the cake and hands it to the girl's father. This act constitutes the betrothal contract.

"DONT'S" FOR THE'ENGAGED

ROCKS TO STEER CLEAR OF.

It is usually the girl who comes in for the greater portion of advice that is showered on newly-married couples. There are a few points, however, which it would be well for men to consider. For instance, -don't think that your fiancee wants a present every time you see her. She does not. And it is quite unnecessary for you to take her flowers and chocolates at each visit. What she wants is you—not your presents. Chocolates and flowers now and then are essential in a wellregulated courtship. But carpet sweepers and chopping bowls are essential to the comforts of a well-regulat-ed home, and money must be saved in order to obtain home comforts. Don't shut your fiancee out from the part of your mind where you keep worries, cares, ambitions and plans. Talk to her about your work and your interests. She wants to know and will be proud of the confidence which you repose in her. Don't drop all your friends and old interests just because you happen to be engaged. You do not want them at the moment, but the time may come when you will be very glad of them, and then, if you have thrown them all overboard, you will be forcibly reminded of the old saying, " He Mv.t will not when he may. when he ,vill, he shall have nay."

Be n't spoil her by extravagance dur. ins the engagement, or you will have a difficult time with her during the first year of married life. . If you let her think you have a fortune she won't be at all pleased when she discovers that the fortune dwindles down to a small salary.

Don't think that because she is engaged to you that you have complete ownership. Others have a little right to her time, tco.