FAIR PLAY FOR WIDOWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 198, 25 September 1909, Page 4

FAIR PLAY FOR WIDOWS.

WHAT JEALOUSY DOES. It is a peculiar fact that widows arc seldom granted fair play. From time immemorial they have 'been credited with artfulness, a taste for husbandhunting, and the like. Women are often cruel to other women, but they . are especially so to widows 1 . All kinds "of hostile criticism can be continually heard about them. Does a woman wear weeds? Then they are an advertisement. Does she not weari them? She is heartless and wanting in ; proper affection for her husband.

THEY UNDERSTAND MEN BETTER. If a widow makes the be»t of herself, and after a while looks less careworn and younger than before her husband's death, then she is a "relieved" widow rather than a "bereaved" one.

The green-eyed monster, jealousy, % no doubt, at the root of this lack of "harity, for widows often score above other with the opposite sex. One reason for this is, they understand men better. The widow appreciates the friendship of her own sex as much as anyone, but, knowing from experience that she will get scant justice from them, she naturally turns for sympathy to men.

A KEEN HORROR OF RIDTCULE. Because he is under the influence of his own women-folk 60 much a man's clearness of vision Is more or less muddled, and, as he has a Keen horror of ridicu'e, he fails to take up cudgels for the widows.

Only those who have passed through the ordeal fully realise all It means to be a widow.

Not a day passes but she is reminds, of what she has lost, by the sight of nameless little courtesies and tender thoughtfulnesses shown from one sexto the other, especially between husband and wife.

A 9 she has once been married, friendship and intercourse with men have ir enhanced value in her eyes, and. com pared to the same with her own sex. rank as wine does to water.