Woman's World.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 266, 26 December 1903, Page 4

Woman's World.

SLAVES TO FASHION. ■"Rita," writing to "OJtic," says that to anyone possessing artistic feeding the prevailing uniformity m women's idreas is ain offence as well as an albsundity. Nature (she says) gives woman varying styles of beaMty, colouring, ajnJJ figure. To clothe eaoh style in a becoming maimer, to give grace, lile, and expression to one's peraonality, is really a duty as well as a pleaeure to any intellectual woman, j Yet the duty is too often subservient to the intelligence, aaid 'desecrated by the abominations of a style hideous in itself and o|nJy adopted because it is the fashion In tihe good old days (continues "Rita"), when class dressed as class, tihe public streets were Moth picturesque and 'distinctive. Now, they 'display a uniformity oC hiiieo,usness that it would be haitd to beat, because the moment a fashion is "in," it is imitated and exaggerated by every class.

A SPLENDID FEAT. The example of Mrs Yates, formerly Mayoress of Onehunga, has been sftuajaßsed in the case of a Mexican girl, who assumed control of the municipal affairs of the yellow-fever stricken toum of Li'raares, Mexico, after all the officials bind either 'died or becomo incapacitated. Mass Manuela Floras Gomez, t|»e eighteen-year-old dwugihter of the mayor of the city, actcid as mayoress for several weeks. Surrounded by dyiing victims of the terrible disease, airad wil/H her father, the mayor,, lying ■at her home stricken with the malady, she capably the affairs of the city. When death entered her home she remained at 'her post of 4,uty. She saw the pMpjutatiioji of the city reduced from 12,000 people to less than 300 as a result of death and the panic due to the epidemic. When her associates were fleeing to the mountains to escape the scourge, Miss Manuela was directing and carrying out plains for improving the Gfciaritiary condition of the city, ajnd using her utmost efforts to prevent the spread of the disease. All t;hc city officials were stricken witfo fever and died. As tihey dropped off, ouie toy one. Miss Manuela took up their respective official duties. President Biae and the Mexican Congress have taken note of the young woman's bnaivery, aaid some howour will be conferred upota her.