WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 5, 30 June 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted fey "Eileen"). WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT. IVhaps Norway, writes the Courier, is going 'to prove'to the world how harmoniously men and women can work together in Parliament for the good of the realm. One of the members of the present Parliament is a woman, and we read that she was paid marked attention on her first appearance in the House by her male colleagues. This was no doubt due largely to her well-known eloquence and intellectual power, but possibly she is also a lady who, though free, responsible and independent, has yet not lost woman's art of charm and fascination. Mdlle. Miropolsky, who is herself a barrister, expresses a deep-rooted dislike to "militant feminists," and "women with short hair, men's jackets and breeches.'' Surely women who patronise the last named are few, for the wearers of tho harem skirt are obviously not of those to whom reference is made. Mdlle. Miropolsky has the greatest sympathy with the' widespread movement which agitates for the opening to. women of the many closed doors that lead to puulic employment, and would be glad to see women serving on juries, but she begs her Sex to "remain women." Their influence will be greatly lessened if they do not. It has always seemed odd that women who are not agitating in any direction in the interests of their sex should try to look as much like men as possible. Is it not our stronger point tnat we women as we are, and not »» "undeveloped man," are fit for better things tnan we have hitherto had?

ELLEN TERRY.

The London journal Lady writes thus of Ellen Terry:—"She sprang into famc[ at the right moment—the pre-Raphael-ite moment. She herself was a pre-1 Raphaelite, just as she was po3t-Vic-j torian. She was romantic By this we mean that she interpreted everything through a sense of beauty. This original quality, in which she lias never hail a rival, has Deen misconstrued. Those who only find strength in ugliness have been of opinion that Ellen Terry as an actress lacks strength. But the 'honey of romance' is not deficient in body. Truly a remarkable career! She was at her meridian in the 'eighties. She expressed the ideals of the aesthetic movement, but when the movement passed into history, she remained—perhaps its best monument! She never became old-fash-ioned. On those rare occasions when she i appears now in Shakespeare with the ' lads and lasses of a newer theatrical day the modern, eternally fresh way in which she approaches the dramatist is the youngest thing on the stage. She has a way of breaking up plays by modern dramatists. At least, it seemed to be so with Mr. Bernard Shaw's 'Captain Brassbound's Conversion' .and Mr. Barrie's 'Alice Sit-by-the-Fire.' Both seemed little cups whicii could not hold the art of Ellen Terry. She has never been in her right 'milieu' since the decline of her great partner, Henry Irving, and the collapse of the Lyceum Theatre. Even at His Majesty's, where she makes fitful appearances, she does not seem indigenous to the place, but to belong to it as Queen Alexandra belonged to the Alexandra Trust, when she went and indulged in the amiable condescension of eating beef-steak pudding in the cafe for the people. Probably no actress, if we except Mile. Mars in France and Nance Oldfield in England (and Nancy had a disagreeable reputation for economy), has ever commanded so much love from the public as Ellen Terry. She is 'a darling' to them still. Thousands of young people who have never had the chance of seeing her act have been trained in this loving feeling by parents who were Lyceum idolaters. It is not easy to say why or how Ellen Herry has won so much love. Perhaps it is because she has given it. She never yet approached an audience in a supercilious 01 arrogant spirit. An audience is a3 quick as a child to feel that spirit in a player, and to resent it. As a woman, she is attractive and disconcerting—the oddest mingling of Irish and Scots, of wild originality and tamed conventionality. Her heart is big. She baffles you in all sorts of ways, but the big heart bestrides the conflicting qualities like a Colossus. She is an easily recognisable figure anywhere. Time has been kind, within his inexorable laws, and there is still much that is youthful and buoyant and graceful about this woman. Her activity and the swiftness of her movements ma.ke younger companions look heavy and stodgy by her side. A lace veil tied over the hat and under the chin cunningly frames the pale smoofli face where no mean lines have ever found their home. The peculiar eyes, triangular in shape, and as elusive in color as an olive-tree (which somehow they resemble) may or may not be hidden by ) dark-glassed spectacles. They are an I uncertain quantity. Not so the bag, the Ellen Terry bag, for which Mr. Barrio wrote a line all to itself in 'Alice Sit-by-the-Fire.' 'When you know that bag, you'll know vour mother.'"'

THOUGHTS Your world is like a mirror; each day (hat you show it a pleasant face it will show a pleasant fact to you. Only so much do 1 know as I have lived. Accept favors thankfully, gifts graciously, hospitality with the frank enjoyment that is ttie highest tribute to the hostess; and though you have naught elsi' to give in return, true friends will ask no more. The great man loves the conversation or the hook that convicts him. and not that which soothes or flatters him. When you are in error never -be ashamed to acknowledge it. It -gives your opponent no excuse for keeping up the argument. So long as we love we serve. So long as we are loved by others, [ would almost say that we are indispensable; and no man is useless while he has a friend. To be what; we aTe, to become what Wfl are capable of becoming, is the only end o! life, A gentleman makes no noise; a lady is serene. Minds that are filled scientifically, like

well-packed trunks, with everything in order, hold much more than those into which all manner of things are thrown man-fash ion, higgledy-piggledy.

NOVEL HISTORY TEACHING.

English village childen .are now being I taught history in a very delightful way. Under the auspices of the League of Empire, Mis.? Amice Macdonnelf has published a aeries of historical plays for children, jn which the little boys and girls take 1 the parts of Odo, WiMiam Rufus, Matilda, and Queen Elizabeth and other characters only too unfamiliar to the average child . The child possesses a set of costumes tor each play, with the weapons, wigs, armor and other accessories, and these properties are hied out to anyone who is arranging f6r a performance. The idea has become very popular, both with the children and the grown-ups, and there is a constant demand for the costumes. WOULD-BE v BLUEBEARD. An alleged would-be Bluebeard, or one who has only been able to do away with hi» first wife, has been discovered and arrested in a small place near Marseilles, and thereby further mischief will no doubt be prevented. The prisoner has the peculiarity, furthermore, of having been sentenced to death once before by a court-martial for assaulting a superior on board a cruiser when in the service inlß&4. The sentence was commuted, and after some years of imprisonment he was released altogether. He settled near Marseilles, and was accepted as caretaker of a. villa and park. He went to reside in an annexe to the villa, and was accompanied by a young woman, whom he presented as his wife. Some time ago the young woman disappeared, and the man then stated, it is alleged, that she had not been his wife at all, and had left him of her own accord. Soon afterwards he became engaged, i and married the daughter of people living in the neighborhood. He continued to occupy the same rooms adjoining the villa, but as the property was recently sold the new proprietor gave him notice to leave. As repairs were being made in the villa and in the annexe a mason ob. served that the tiles in the kitchen floor had been removed recently, and replaced rather clumsily. He informed the pro-1 prietor, and as there had been suspicious I tales in the neighborhood, it was decided i to investigate the matter in the presence of the police. The tiles were removed, I and it was then seen that the ground* had been dug up freshly, and after tak-) ing up a good deal of soil a corpse was found at considerable depth. It was still in a fair state of preservation, and was easily recognised as that of the young woman who hud disappeared. The recent caretaker was called, and it is alleged tnat he finally admitted that he nad buried the corpse where it was found. There had been a puarrel • between them one night, and the woman had died. He was frightened, and not knowing what to do, he thought it best to dispose of the corpse as he did. The man was arrested and taken to prison for alleged murder. |