THE NEW WOMAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 79, 29 April 1909, Page 4

THE NEW WOMAN.

AMERICANS COMPARED TO AFRICANS. New York, March 10. The scathing denunciation of American society women by Professor Starr, of Chicago University, in which lie compared them with the women of barbaric Africa, has been followed by a similar criticism made by Mr Arthur Collen, formerly an assistant district officer of the East African Protectorate.

Mr Collen, who is a son of General Sir Edwin Collen, has come to America for the purpose of lecturing on "Darkest Africa." lie says : "If American women wore fewer clothes they would be more modest than the African women, who wear but little raiment, and are the most moral women in the world.

"Clothes make the savage woman shy and coquettish. When in" native garb they arc unconscious of their charms, but when they put on blouses and skirts tlicv become vain. Ilirtatious, and conceited.

''Style is responsible for all the trouble between the African kings and their wives. The latter are meek and docile before they are dressed : afterwards they are imbued n-j.tlh' regular new women notions, breaking up homes and trying to outshine their women friends "So far as modesty and morals are concerned, the African woman would regard the American woman as a savage. "A 'purity brigade' with an African woman as Ihe chief missionary would greatly improve Occidental maimers and morality."