WOMAN'S WORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 114, 3 November 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD.

— (Conducted by "Eileen.") NOTES FROM LONDON. LATE MRS. RAMSAY MACDOXALD. (Dunedin Star's correspondent). London, September 15. Few women—from a. public as well as from a private point of view—could more ill have been spared than Mrs. Ramsay Maedonald. wife of the Leader of the Labor Party in the House of Commons, rind herself a deservedly distinguished figure in polities and public life, who died this week at the early age of 41 years. New Zealanders will no doubt remember that she accompanied her husband on his tour of the Dominion some years ago. So unique and extensive has been the work originated and carried out by her that nothing more than a summary of it is possible. In disposition she was singularly lovable, and no woman (in this age of agitation concerning the feminist movement) has shone more brilliantly as a guiding light pointing In what women can do. and excdientl.v if they will, than she, in filling at once many highly important positions, and that most old-fashioned and admirable one of all—the role of wife and mother of a large family. Mrs. Macdonald was a daughter of Professor J. IT. Gladstone by his second wife, who was ] a niece of the late Lord Kelvin. deceased lady was married to Mr. .T.: Ramsay Maedonald, M.P., in 1800. Her first work was in connection with the Charity Organisation Society, as a re- j suit of which she became a Socialist and, a member of the Independent Labor ] Party. She joined the National Union of Women Workers in 1807. and in the same vear was made a n\ember of the executive, convener of the Industrial Sectional Committee, and lion, secretary of the Legislation Sectional Committee. The two former positions she continued to hold, but the last she resigned in 1010. She also served on the special committee of the union dealing with the work of [ barmaids. The last meeting attended by her in connection with the National Union of Women Workers was that summoned to form a special committee for safeguarding women's interests under the National Insurance Bill. Mrs. Maedonald joined the Women's Industrial Council 'at a very early date in its history. and became chairman of one committee and secretary of another, and a member of the Executive and Investigation Committees. She took an active part in the first enquiry ever held into the conditions of work among sweated home workers. She was a member of the committee which organised the Exhibition of Sweated Industries at Queen's Hall in li) 00, and the report then issued contained several papers from her pen. In 1008 Mrs. Maedonald gave evidenee_ before the Departmental Committee which was then enquiring into the conditions of sweated industries, and the findings of this committee led eventually to the establishment of wages boards. Mrs. Maedonald was for some years a member of the management of the Shoreditch Technical Institute, representing the London County Council, and she was largely instrumental in establishing the first trade schools for women which have since become so important a factor of education in London. She was on the council of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. She was, however, opposed to militant, methods. Mrs. Maedonald was a life member of the British Association, and in 1006 read at the York meeting a paper before the education section on ''Education of Wageearners of School Age." Previously, at Bradford, in 1000, she read a paper on industrial legislation for women, which led to the appointment of a committee of the Association, which sat to consider the subject, and of which she was a member. She was also on the executive of the British Association for Labor Legislation (international) and of the Council of British Women Socialists. In 100(1 Mrs. Maedonald founded the Women's Labor League, as an adjunct to the Labor Party. She was oil the Executive Committee from the beginning, and became joint secretary in 1!M0 and hon. secretary this year. She took an active part in the production of the ''League Pamphlet." and wrote a part of the pamphlet published by the League entitled '"Wage-earning Mothers." She took part, as representative of the I League, oil a joint deputation to the | Chancellor on the Insurance Bill on June I lii of this vear.

WOMEN" IN OFFICES IN" FRANCE. An experiment of keen interest to women is to take place shortly in Pari-;, where a lady has declared her intention of applying for permission to take part in a competitive examination for six clerkships at the Ministry of Public Instruction. Tiie question is now raised as to whether women are eligible for positions in Ministers' offices. That men have hitherto been regarded as eligible i- conc'uiMvelv demonstrated by the fact that every candidate is called upon to prove that he has gone through his period of service with the colors. But it seems that the matter is open to disciis>ion. and if the Minister decides in the young ladv's favor a precedent will be established which may be expected to ic.Milt in the policy of the "open door" for women who may be eager for employment in fiovernnient offices generally.

WOMAN'S NOVEL TOUR. The Times of yesterday told of a novel tour undertaken by Mrs. Simpson, of Kuflii'innlit. who was expected to compile afternoon a journey of UtltU miles, whi-'i .-lie had been taking with a pony and tub to land's End and back. The drive was begun in June 1(5. and has been continued daily in a leisurely fashion, the distance covered each day being seldom more than ~2."> miles. The vehicle is a two-wheeled tub. with rubber i \ r<--. The trip was undertaken for plea-.ure. Mrs. Sinip.-on. who has done .1 good ileal of long-distance cycling, 'Having had to give up that form of exercise owing to ill-health. The itinerary included i.ichlie'd. Worcester, Tewkesbury, ! Until. < Ikehampt on, I'enzance, and the return by wav of Coventry, Warwick, Leicester. Nottingham and Newark.

r.Airi'KUIXC A WIFE. Aii extraordinary ease of wife-selling ] lias come tii the knowledge of the authorities in St. I'ctersbun;. According to a ii'prill from there on Wednesday. in mic part- of (In- (Var's wide dominions turn liavi l no hesitation ill ili-posiil!,' of their wives fur a consideration, but the i-a-o ju>t dealt with by the authorities »?• remarkable in that the sale had the <> 1 ]it';:ll .-auction of the chief ollicial of where it took place. A man found himself in nerd of money, and as lie was lired of bis wife be olVored her to a friend for -IS rouble ( C-t His). The bargain was si nick, and the money paid. The man now conceived the idea of taking another wife, probably with the intention of selling her also. But his first wife, who did not like her new husband, look -.lops in secure a separation. T was lo this action on ber pari that. I lie story of the sale leaked out. The contract of sale was discovered. The document was stamped, and bore the ollicial seal, and also the names of two witnesses. As soon as the circumstances came to the knowledge of tbe authorities! tbey immediately relieved the official ' who bad sanctioned it of his duties.

PLUCKY AVIATRICE. Mile. Ilelene Dutrieu made another at- j tempt this week to win the Femina Cup i in a small biplane. She started at 4.57,' and circled the 10-kilometre aviation course of the Chalons aerodrome 23 times, landing at 7.12, having flown 230 kilometres in 2 hours 45min. By this performance Mile. Dutrieu wins the cup. She flew at an average speed of 34 kilometres an hour at a height varying from 70 metres to 100 metres. FEMININE FRILLS. The single rever often accompanies the big sailor collar that is short in front. ■ Plain round collars dipping down at the back almost to the waist come on striped coats. Blouses of green mousseline de soie are embroidered with dull ! gold.

Cherry and white striped revers light up costumes of white serge. Many of the latest jabots are gathered upon a pleated ribbon in some bright color.

Smart summer coats for little children are made of dotted muslin over a thin colored silk.

Pulled sleeves of chiffon can often be seen under the kimona sleeves of coats.

Transparent wraps of chiffon silk or voile are worn by smart women of all ages. BALL TO ROYAL TENANTS QUEEN MARY DAXCES IN A HIGHLAND REEL. Edinburgh, September 0. The King and Queen gave a supper and ball at. Balmoral Castle last night to the khillies, stalkers and tenantry ot the Royal estates. There were about 300 present, and the handsome and bril-liantly-lighted ballroom, with its numerous trophies of the chase adorning the walls, presented a fine appearance. The Balmoral Highlanders lined the passage leading from the dining-room to the ballroom as a guard of honor when the King and Queen came to grace the proceedings after supper. Their Majesties were accompanied by the Princess Royal, the Duke of Fife, and Princesses Alexandra and Maud, Lord Kitchener. Mr. Birrell, Lord Rosebery, Sir Reginald Wingate, and others of their Majesties' guests.

The Highlanders closed ranks immediately the Royal party passed, and marched behind his 'Majesty, afterwards taking up their position to go through the first dance, a Highland reel, to music supplied by the King's pipers. During the evening the Queen danced in one of the Highland reels.