WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 246, 17 April 1912, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen"). NOTES FROM LONDON. A 'LADY'S MOTOR TOOT.

There set out on a long and adventu- i rous journey by motor cycle last Saturday, Miss E. It. C. Watson, L.L.A., a well- | known Scotch journalist, who for about ' ten years was a resident of Australia, where she earned her living as a University coach and 'also as one of the mistresses in a well-known Melbourne college. Miss Watson enjoys the distinction of being the first woman to ride an ordinary pedal bicycle in Australia and she will probably be 'the first to ride a motor bicycle 'through the vast spaces of South Africa. She intends to ride about 2500 miles, from Capetown to Kimoerley, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Ladysmith, I Pietermaritzburg, and round to Durban. 1 Although she will 'be alone the whole I way, and the veldt is by no means a suitable place for a mechanical break-down, Miss Watson expects to enjoy her journey immensely. She confesses that the 2'/ 2 -li.p. engine of the machine is still ft mystery to her, and she has a woman's instinctive dislike of spanners and implements of any kind, but she lias had a good deal of experience on English roads, and 'the possibility of being stranded on the Drakonsburg mountains, or CO miles from a town on the veldt, does not a fern tier in the least—though, in appearance, she is anything ibut a robust looking explorer, being slim and somewhat delicate iu physique. Miss Watson will carry on her machine a small suit-case, two tins of petrol, a spare tyre, an overcoat, some duplicate parts of the engine, a re- ! volver, first-aid case, a compass, food, ] etc. As her machine is a man's type she will wear divided skirts. The roads Miss Watson will follow are mainly the old tracks across the veldt, and though iu places they are ifairly good, in others they are so bad that any speed over ten miles an hour is dangerous. Mountains will have to be crossed, and on the Drak- ; ensburg range especially the little machine will have to work hard to carry its rider to the tops of the almost Alpine slopes. There is every likelihood that the courageous motorist may fail to strike a town 1y nightfall and have to spend the hours of darkness under her coat in as comfortable a spot as she can find. The likelihood of encountering such 'beasties as snakes, etc., she does not allow to worry her, beforehand. A WOMAN J'.P.

The woman of the hour in Brockton (UjS.A.) is Miss Mabelle Walker, who is the first woman to act as a justice of the peace in that city. A remarkable individual in all that concerns her post—and that covers a wide field—she is. by her tact, kindliness and resource, an immense favorite also. Her official position is that of assistant city clefk, and, com'bining her two offices, she is able to swear in poundkeepers, constables, aldermen and mayors as often as they are elected. In knowledge, according to her admirers, Bliss Walker is a giantess, even mayors of neighboring boroughs not being above asking her advice on civic matters. In his absence the city clerk entrusts "his important duties to her; the police chief calls on her when he wants a law interpreted; the Board of Health and overseers of 'the poor always leave it to her when .they are in a dispute as to which department should settle the bill, and every couple to .be married must come into her cheery, presence-first!

A GIRLS' HOSTEL. The Girls' Friendly Society, which already has done such wonderful work all over the world in befriending girls, is still extending its schemes and fas now formed a company for the purpose of establishing a girls' hostel convenient to Victoria station, a place where such an institution has long been needed. Later it is hoped to carry the idea still further forward, and to provide ample sittmgrooms and bedrooms, cubicles, and other accommodation for about 100 "iris Here there would be a restaurant, whio.ii will be open to the general public and members of the G.F.S. and their friends. One of the most important uses to which the (building will be put will be to provide <i rest room for girls comino up to town Iby early trains, and 'who have to stay m railway waiting rooms or elsewhere between the period intervening upon their arrival and the commencement ot their day's work.

COMPULSORY SWIMMING The enterprising body known as the National Women's Life .Saving League recently formed in America, sets out "not only to encourage swimming and lifesaving among women but to make botfi these subjects comimlsory in schools. BRILLIANT WOMAN SCHOLAR.

ihe cost of a distinguished father, mother and son was drawn attention to this week, when there passed awav, after <t more than usually busy ]jf P . Mrs , f ' garet Byers, L.L.D., prinei , of y tpria College, Belfast, widow of 'the Rev John Byers, a missionary to China, and mother of Professor Sir John William flyers, a prominent Irish doctor. Mrs Brers m 1850 W -« s flic founder an dp rin-' o pal of the now famous an,l important ™cr S y and enthusiasm twenty vears a or hat the Royal Uuiversity of r,olan. first allowed women to Vnter as students and obtain degrees. \r rs Bvors was a member of the ffrst Kenate'of U e Queen's University of Belfast, and was the hrst woman in Ulster to' have the honorary degree of 1,1,1). eonferred up, her -by Trinity College. Dublin. ' WOMAN CANDIDATE FOR PARLTA. MENT.

■Arrs. Platt-Decker. of Denver, is a canSenaL 10 '' " SMt '" th ° Unitwl Sl '*'» PAYMFAT FOR BEATTY. A novel beauty competition, for which only London girl* will he eligible is if.o»>g arranged il,y j.\ressrs I'athe Frercs the well-known kinema linn, who are of-' tonus a first prize of £sll, a second of 4.2(1 and six others of Cii each To •''iter for tin's, pretty oirls must send in •■ | ' ( ' i ' l " i;l'"tograpl,s M f themselves, ami wli.n selected the subjects -will be kinematograplmd, each sitting j„ ;l swive] chair, which will slowly turn right round and complete a full circle before the enm-•■i-a, >n thai the whole „f the head may he Afterwards a group will be lakui, and the tilm will be sent to the majority of the picture palaces in London. CHIXKSE SUFFRAGETTES. According to news sent to Le Matin Chinese school -iris recently wrote to' the leader of the Republican forces offering their aid as soldiicrs. ''Heaven lias given women the same rights as men " the epistle goes. -,80011 the Manclms will be eha-ed out of China, but not till a regiment ol women has been formed. We wish to take our share with the men of China .in crushing our enemies The needle does not suffice for us. We ask for arms." The services of the warlike damsels have not up to date, however been accepted. ' "Till: SEA I! A'XD YELLOW LEAIR". | Two ladies in X.,rth Wales have lately provided a "Field of Rest" for aged horses at Penmaenmawr, and a board bearing the following inscription marks thP mtr.m«.r~>Thfa ftiM fa ~«~»~* fa.

mals, to enable them to spend the remaining years of their lives in peace and \ happiness, as a return in some degree for I a life spent in toil endured in the ser- \ vi«u of mankind."