TEN GREATEST WOMEN

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 306, 10 December 1936, Page 3

TEN GREATEST WOMEN

JEAN BATTEN, LADY MENDL, MADAME CURIE INCLUDED IN ILLUSTRIOUS LIST. ’

Picking the world’s 10 greatest women seems to be the most absorb-

ing pastime in Europe since a list was published recently in a British paper, giving the names of 10 women chosen by that paper.

In a recent concensus or opinion collected by Mrs Elsa Maxwell, prominent New York and Parisian hostess, from a- wide group of cultured political i|nd social opinion, the following 10 interesting names emerge from the "hat.” They are especially interesting in that they contain the name of one New Zealander (Jean Batten), and in that hey give adequate reasons for the choice of the ten mentioned. Six Americans figure in the list of the world’s 10 greatest women for 1936, but the Frenchwoman, Madame Juliet Curie, leads, because she

recently resigned her portfolio in the Cabinet to devote her life to the continuance of her radium research work for the- purpose of bringing radium cure within the reach cf the poorest cancer sufferers. Miss Jean Batten comes second on the list for flying the Tasman Sea alone, a feat never previously attempted by a woman. The Scottishborn Mary Garden comes third on the list for her work on the operatic stage, and more recently in the discovering and moulding of young talent in Hollywood. Then comes Lady Mendl, she of the famous green hair, the Americanborn wife of the British attache to the Paris Embassy, and interior decorator to His Majesty, King Edward. Lady' Mendl was recently entrusted with the redecoration of the King’s personal suite and some of the reception rooms at Buckingham Palace, described in an American paper as “deplushing Bucks Palace,” She is awarded her place in the distinguished list because she remains young by sheer force bf will and because she is the pioneer interior decorator of the world, and the first to introduce beauty into the homes of others. Her interior decorating establishment in New York is the best known of its kind. She is the friend with whom Mrs. Simpson stayed in Paris on her flight from London.

Because she wrote in the guest book of a prominent London hostess, after a boring week-end, “Quoth Hie raven —,” thus denoting strength of character, is given as one of the grounds for the inclusion of Dorothy Parker, United States authoress and wit, in the list. Mrs Dorothy Sherwood, sick mother who killed her baby lest it should starve or fall into the hands of a public institution, is included in the list for heroism, whilst Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone With the Wind,” the hopeless invalid whose book is acclaimed the greatest historical novel of the decade, and dares to explode the legend of old Southern chivalry, is also among the illustrious 10.

The other three are Marion Anderson, because though a negrejss, she became a great singer acclaimed in every country in Europe; Mrs Maloney', magazine editor and pioneer in the liberation of women; and Frances Marion, pioneer scenario writer.