WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 241, 17 February 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen")

THE QUEEN AND THE CORONATION,

The part that Queen Mary is to take iu the Coronation next .June is a very impressive one, hut one that is not generally understood. Her crowning follows directly after that of the King, and follows tile same ceremonial rather closely, save that she is not handed tiic Orb—the emblem of sovereignty—nor is the Sword of State exposed before her. The ceremonial opens with the Queen takiw* up a kneeling position on a footstool "between the Coronation.Chair (in which the King is by this time installed) and the altar. She is first of all annointed with saered oil from the Ampulla or Golden Eagle. This is done on the hands and head only, whereas the King is annointed on the arms and breast as well. Then comes the placing of the ring on her finger. This ring is of pure gold, with a large flat ruby in the centre, surrounded by sixteen smaller rubies. This, | by the way, is the oldest form of conferring dignity upon a Sovereign or his Consort that is known to historians. The crowning proper next takes place, and here there is an important difference between the coronation of the King and the Queen Consort. The former has placed upon his brow the crown of King Edward, and subsequently assumes his State Crown. This latter is his personal property and is not kept among the Regalia. The Queen-Consort has no crown, save her own coronet or State crown, and this is now being manufactured for Queen Mary. At the moment that she assumes this, every peeress present places her coronet on her head.

At the same moment, her Sceptre and I her Virge are handed to the Queen, the I Tbrmer being placed in her right hand by the Archbishop of York, who has the privilege of crowning the Queen ju3t as the Archbishop of Canterbury places the I crown on the King's head. The differ-] enee between the Sceptre and the Virge is that the former has a cross upon its head and the latter the white dove of purity. Thus attired, the Queen now mounts her throne, which is a trifle lower than that assigned to the King. From her throne her Majesty proceeds to the alter and is there relieved of her crown, and hands to the assembled Bishops a gift of gold to be applied for the succor of the poor. She then returns to her throne for the final prayers, and subsequently takes her place by the King in the procession from the Abbey. Queen Mary is taking the greatest interest in the preparations for the Coronation ceremony, and is already thoroughly conversant with the very important part she will be called upon to play. Her Majesty proposes to follow the excellent example set by Queen Alexandra at her own coronation, and to have the whole of her rich robes and vestments made in Great Britain, and of British material. These are of an extremely handsome nature, and will be of Royal purple, lined with white satin and fringed with ermine.

The ceremony is a most tiring one, but it is to be shortened as much as pos-l sible, and the procedure adopted at the ] crowning of King Edward will be followcd rather closely. The chief innovation] here was that the ecremony of each peer and peeress present kissing the hands of the Sovereign and his Consort after their coronation was shortened, only the senior peers of each degree being' given this privilege. The whole of the Crown Regalia in the Jewel House at the Tower of London is now being overhauled and burnished up for the occasion, while, as hau been mentioned, a new State crown is being prepared for Queen Mary. This will be very similar to that worn bj Queen Alexandra at the previous core-j mony. Queen Alexandra will, by the way, wear this crown again, and will sit on the left hand of the King during the whole ceremony. It is many Years since the mother of a British Sovereign last assisted at a coronation. It is the privilege of the Sovereign to select his own Bishop to preach the Coronation sermon, and it is understood that, by the desire of Queen Marv, this [ duty will be undertaken by the Bishop j of London, who likewise officiated at the

coronation of the late King, his address on that occasion having been most eloquent.

THE PRETTY DIVORCE CASE INTERESTING SEQUEL. London, January G. Mrs. Pretty, whose case in the Divorce Court last term caused Mr. Justice liargrave Deanc to exercise his discretion despite a jury's verdict and the intervention of the King's Proctor, lias been married to Mr. Arthur Ralph Stephens. a barrister, who became her friend and interested himself in her case. The marriage was celebrated at the Chapel Royal. Savoy, by the Rev. James Stephens, the bridegroom's father, assisted by the Rev. H. B. Chapman, one of the King's chaplains. The bride, who is only twenty-one, was described as Gwendolyn Joyce, youngest daughter of Francis Evanee Savory, of Bourne, Earnham. It was stated in the court proceedings that Mrs. Pretty married her father's groom in unhappy circumstances. Socking to flee to Xew Zealand, she travelled in a ship in which was a man named Halfpenny, with regard to whom the King's Proctor intervened after she had obtained a decree nisi. Tn making the decree absolute Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane, who was informed of the intended marriage with Mr Stephens, decided that "her future husband will lift her from the slough of misery and despair." WOMEN'S INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS IN SYDNEY. Wages and working conditions of women; factory girls, domestic servants governesses; the Labor Conference resolved at Sydney last week that they ought to be enquired into by a Royal Commission this year. Adult women earning only 7s or 8s a week in factories; wages brought up 40 per cent., and still not living wages'; servant girls' sleeping in rooms "not fit for a do""; these were some of the cases allegedly the women delegates who spoke. Mrs. K

Dwyer (Women's Central Organising Committee) moved: "That the State Government be asked to appoint a Eoyal Commission early this year to enquire into the wages and working conditions of women." A joint committee of the Labor Council of the Women's Organis ing Committee, said Mrs. Dwyer, liac been enquiring into the matter. They found that in every avenue of employment in which women were engaged they were sweated. Wages Boards had made a difference; in some cases au award had increased wages by 30 or 40 per cent., but even that did not always bring the wage up to a living one. "I have had girls come to me," said Mrs. Flanagan, "and say that if the conditions of the domestic worker were improved there would be plenty of room everywhere. It is the duty of the conference to see that a girl gets her proper position, and isn't recognised as 'Mary Ann' or 'the slavey'! I hope that when the commission is appointed some of these girls will be given the chance of speaking on this question." Then Mrs. Flanagan came to governesses. "A governess," she said, "came to me the other day and asked me to tell you how they are treated in this country. They are sent away, often under misrepresentation, perhaps to some backblocks static.n, ill less wages than the girl who din < the menial work. (Voices: "Shame!") And they may be educated and cultured women." That's the reward their parents get for training their girls. When she reaches her station the governess often finds bad sleeping accommodation. One girl was 'let in'—l can find no other expression—for something like £4 out of her wages, because she gave notice to leave before her agreement was up. The commission, when it is appointed, should provide some means whereby these girls may be able to get their grievances righted without delay.

TO IOOK SMARTLY DRESSEB, Every woman likes to look smartly dressed", so here are a few suggestions which, if followed, will give her what she desires—a smart appearance: Dress becomingly. Be individual in your style. Do not dress beyond your means. Learn the right time and season for wearing your clothes. Make a study, not of your good points, but of your weak ones, before buying your frocks and hats. ; Learn materials and their wearing qualities; especially if your clothes must do duty another season. Study color effect and know what combines well, as well as what is suitable to your type. Learn the lines that suit you, and stick to them. Only modify them enough not to be hopelessly out of date. Don't trust to what your dressmaker or milliner tells you. Use your common sense. Do not buy a frock or hat because it takes your eyes; only to remember when you get home that you cannot afford it and have no suitable occasions for wearing it. HOW SOME WIVES ARE CHOSEN.

Most women who are married may think they know exactly how men choose their wives, but it is most likely they do not. "Oh!" says a wife, "a man just chooses a pretty girl and weds her." There is a little vanity in this explanation, hut then alt the wives are not pretty. I suppose every man has at some time or other fallen in love with a pretty face, but as there are not enough pretty faces to go round, when a man finds the owner of the pretty face prefers someone else he has to fall back on the plain, homely girls. That is when some of us get our chance. If a man cannot get a pretty girl he next tries to get a rich one, and will make love to one however ugly she may be. There will be competition for her also, and as he most likely will not win her, he next looks for an educated woman. Failing her, he will seek the hand of a good cook—an economical girl. Finally," he will address himself to a homely, industrious houseworker.