WHO IS A "LADY?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 28 September 1907, Page 4

WHO IS A "LADY ?

o ■ Of all the terms we ever use, surely lady is the most abused of them. The majority of people scarce seem to know what it means; they forget that in the original it is a reference to worldly position, masculine lord, feminine lady"; and the remark "she's no lady" has been applied to a coster's wife before this. An obvious truth, of course. Were we to consult a dictionary, however, we should find that another meaning can be given to the word: that a lauy is "a woman of breeding, education, refinement of mind," the correlative of gentleman, and in "genfewomau" we find tue term we want. The real lady, as we refer to her, is one who is gentle in word and deed. Gentle in her movements, has a gentle voice. Does not knock over chairs and other articles when she enters a room. Does noi speak loudly, nor allow her voice to become shrill. Does not thrust herself too much in

evidence in any company. Does not walk heavily, takes gentle steps. A gentle woman could never bluster, of course, so again do we lind our nieaning of the lady; she realises that the sweet low voice is far more womanly and effective than any loud insistent tones. 'Tis a good term this "gentlewoman," and better still 'tis a. good ideal. Were we all to aim at being gentie, the world would be far happier, and it may be remembered that all can be "gentlewomen" though every woman cannot be the wife of a lord.