WOMAN'S WORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 131, 24 November 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD.

NOTES FROM LONDON CHARWOMEN'S UNION. London, October (>. Any woman who knows anything of office life in London knows that however hard one's lot may be, compared wilh that of the average London charwomen it should appear lxjarable. That the poor, sodden-skirted creature who too often in the winter mornings has to wash down endless stairs in cold water should be regarded as a heroine, perhaps seems an absurd thing to expect, but when one learns, from East End experience, of the little homes faithfully kept together by •these, plucky ladies of the bucket, of children dothed and fed, of an out-of-work husband provided for as if he were one of the children, of the too-numerous' babies brought into the world when mother has sometimes scrubbed out oll'ices on the very morning of her confinement, it is a hard-hearted being who will deny the epithet heroic to them. ' Some little time ago, through the sympathetic action of Miss Susan Lawrence, one of the two lady members of the L.C.C., a movement was set going to form the women into a union, and there is already a roll of 300. This only applies to charwomen employed by the L.C.C. schools whose grievance was only a genuine one. The women have, so far, earned 7d a week,but only while the -ehools are open, and are liaoie to be discharged at any moment. The Education Committee of. the County Council had the matter before them some time since, and approved. a .scheme for higher payment and the making of the positions of the charwomen permanent.. The scheme got no further, however, till Miss Lawrence mothered it, owing it is said, to th.cj opposition of the selioolkcepers.

A CURL HEROINE. A wonderful story of a girl's bravery ami utter forgetfulness of her own great danger came to light this week in eon- 1 nection with the terrible dam catastrophe I in Pennsylvania some days ago, when' nearly 300 people were killeil. The girl, Liua Uinekey., a young telephone operator, was telephoned to by her lover, who told her the dam was bursting, and besought her to get to the hills. She at iirst thought he was joking, but, being convinced, she instantly made up her mind to stick to her post as long as possible, and warn others by telephone. In spite of the roar and thunder of the approaehing water —then rushing down the valley—the girl worked the switch plugs, calling up as many people as she could. She also caused the whistles in the town to be blown anil the bells to be rung, thinking that this would bring the people into the streets to see the peril themselves in time to flee. Finally her board failed to work. After her work of mercy was done, Miss Uinekey fled up to the hillside and was saved. QUEEN MARY'S SYMPATHY.

A pretty story of Queen Mary is told this week. Her Majesty is keenly interested in the prevention of consumption, and >hc recently visited a patient who is being treated at a shelter at Crathie. The following letter was afterwards sent to l)r Hendry, of Balmoral:—"The Queen has visited the patient at Crathie for whom you recently erected a shelter. Her Majesty, who was much interested, thoroughly examined the shelter, and was very much pleased with it. The patient gave a most satisfactory account of her experience of it. The Queen wishes ; me to say that when you have decided on i the best method of heating for the colder winter nights, she would be obliged if 'you will supply, at Her Majesty's expense, a similar shelter for the use of the patients connected with the Balmorail estates. The Queen's shelter would replace the one you so kindly supplied, and the latter would be available for a case elsewhere. The Queen wishes in this way to help you in your valuable work in "the country." NEW WOMAN PLAYRIGHT.

.Some interest has been aroused in theatrical circles by the news that Jauik Walton, beloved of anglers the world over, is to appear as a character on the stage in a play called "The oolden Mean" from the pen of the lion. Svbil TwssenAmherst, daughter of the date Lord Amherst, at Norwich, this week. King Charles I and Bonnie Prince Charlie share honors with Uaak Walton, and the scene of the drama, which is founded on actual historical incidents, is the peaceful village home of Nicholas and John Ferrer, who at Little Ceding, in Huntingdonshire, in the year KWS. founded the religious community familiar to readers of "John.Tnglesant." It was a community of ;;o persons, who spent their days praying and preaching moderation. They followed the dill'icult "middle wav'' until the community was dispersed bv the Puritans. The ' mo f iye 0 f t i„, pltl \. is explained in a rhymed prologue, o"f which the following is the kev: They kept that golden nuan—that middle way I hat works a silent miracle each dav -MISS 10LIZ]"I'll P.RADDOX. *

This novelist, who is known in New Zealand as in all parts of the Englishspenhng world, was 74 on Wednesday In private life she is Mrs. John Maxwell, the wife of her publisher, and the mother of three promising sons. „ m , 0 f whom, .Mr. William Maxwell, is also a noted novelist. Miss Praddon reads Herman, Spanish and Italian with eqiw iaciliiv. Jn earlier days slie, was a famous horsewoman. Now her leisure is devoted to her dogs, her gardening, and collecting old silver, eurios and bric-a-hrae. MADAME <rnlK. IV main !':■• ouestinn of the candidal i.iv (.; Aline l in i... the brilliant scientist, for the Academy of Science of France is l,:ing discussed. The wellknown chemist is now away from Paris, and will not make her decision known until the Academy lias oilicially declared thai. » diair is vacant. Her possible nomination is approved by everybody, and this time, if she decides to' make another attempi ■(, ::ain the honored position, it is ,aid there will be no doubt lis to her succ-s. PIT- )!!■:()W LASSES.

At the Miners' Federation Conference, held at Sonthport I his week, the principal subject of discuss;,,,, v , a s the employment of women at the pit bank. Tt may be remembered that some weeks ago Ih're were !ieal"d discus-ion* hi tin' House of Commons on the subject, and a deputation of pit-brow women delegates ran. ,|,,;vn <o London themselves In plead (ha! l!,.ir >ade >!,oiihl not be taken awav fr :• -.W-m. It. w;n decided at the conh renee that the authorities do not aim at I he immediate abolition of female labor, and the clause merely provides (hat. (here should not :>■■ any new ('.male labor. 11, does not interfere with the women and girls already employed.