WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 277, 20 May 1912, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by " Eileen"). WOMEN THE WORLD OVER According to the London Times there is always a large number of women who refuse to wear white, because they have not that complexion of milk and roses they consider essential to those who would wear white and yet win success.

Mrs Asquith is in mortal dread of the militant suffragettes, and it is said that her extraordinary experiences at their hands threaten to undermine her health. Women have actually tried to throw themselves beneath her motor car, and she has received letters threatening to poison her and her children.

A remarkable case, involving the right of a married wamen to sell her husband's property, is being heard in the courts of New York State. Dr Emory Einhout has applied to the Courts to restore to him savings of £20,000 which are possessed by his wife, from whom lie had separated. Dr Einhout states that when they married he and his wife had only a few pounds each, and they agreed that these and- their savings 1 should he put into a common fund, which because of the husband's unthrifty inclinations, should be kept in the wife's name. When the fund had reached its present total of £20,000, of which he had contributed practically the whole, his wife quarrelled with him and separated from him, and he is left practically penniless in old age, while she is rich. The wife's reply is that the accumulation of the money is due to her economical influence on her husband, and that the money is rightfully hers. The Courts first upheld her contention, declaring that the doctor's savings were a gift. { The husband is now appealing against this decision.

At one of the Washington houses ; wher Sir R. Baden-Powell was entertained recently a wee little woman in a black dress (says London Opinion) appeared among the guests, and though everybody saw that she "did not belong there, she was presented to the lion. She shook his hand, told him it was the happiest moment of her life, and then, without accepting any refreshments, took her leave, but not before she had confided to tlie footman at the door that she had come without an invitation. "But," she explained, "my feller was at Mafeking, and I jest had ter see the General. Say, ain't he jest grand, though?"

The decision of Queen Mary not to allow her daughter to ride in Rotton Row, because she did not want the Princess to be stared at, is just one of these wise actions in which Her Majesty shows her keen sense of maternity. The only way in which these children are encouraged to make themselves conspicuous is ont only a social nuisance, but bad for themselves. It is to be hoped that the Queen's good sense in this matter will be emulated in thousands of other households.

The mothers of Vignieu have petitioned the French Senate for a new order to be created in favor of women who have at least eight children. They desire that the decoration—the "Legion of Honor of Maternity"—shall be accompanied by a pension. It is a modest pension they demand—2o francs when they have a family of eight children, and 20 francs additional for each child until the maximum of 100 francs, that is £4, has been reached. The Figaro considers that a pension of £4 to a mother who has given a dozen children to France would be well deserved.

Dr. Charles Mansfield and Miss Laura Georgia, well-known residents in Connecticut. received a severe shock when proof came that they had been married for 13 years and had not known it. In November, 1-899 (the Telegraph explains), Miss Georgia and Dr Mansfield, a widower, went calling through the neighborhood, and among their hosts was a Justice of the Peace. They were not aware of his legal status. Dr. Mansfield says the Justice jokingly proposed that he and Miss Georgia should go through the marriage ceremony "just for fun." The supposed mock marriage was performed, amid the laughter of the young folk. The other day Dr Mansfield wrote to Miss Georgia saying that he had recently learnt that the marriage they thought was a joke wa* really binding. The only way to solve the difficulty is bv divorce, and proceedings having that end in view have been begun.

A divorce case is before the Tribunal of Auxerre in which the wife, aged 87, sues her husband, Francois Poulet aged 93. Thov have lived a happy life for over 37_ years until last summer, when altercations were caused by the jealousy of Mine. Poulet (the Mail relates). At first laughing at his wife's reproaches, the husband became later exasperated, and turned his wife out of doors. "Disregarding the loving care I have always shown him," the old lady said indignantly in court, "he insults me and treats me like a person of no account. Fancy at my age, too." "It was you," he retorted, "who brought accusations against me and made out that I was a ne'er-do-well." The attempt to reconcile the parties prescribed by French law failed, and the couple now await the decree of the Court.

A very interesting mid (Instructive article oil woman's suffrage in Russia appeared in the last issue of tlie AngloRussian. The moral of it is that the Russian suffragettes, like their English sisters, have learnt the folly of trusting to any political party. In 1905 the so-called Liberal party in Russia paid 110 attention to the women's claim until the Union of the Rights of Women forbade its members to join any political party which had not upon its programme the principle of se.v equality. These firm tactics led to a change in the attitude of the Liberals, and yet in the first Duma some of that party suggested throwing over the suffragette question. The Socialists, too, although believing in the principle, did not move a linger for the cause, and from these facts the writer of the article in question points out that women must depend on themselves, although naturally they should bring pressure to bear on the various parties. Four years ago the question was matter for a jest, but today the Conservatives have brought in several new laws i-ery favorable to women, and early last year one of them made a speech which the writer describes as worthy of Mr Philip Snowden, in which he said that the Russian Empire should 'be proud of its women, and ought immediately to concede them equal Tights with the men.

After the destruction on window panes worked by the militant women on March 4 a lingo window poster in London, 'had this amusing announceonent: —"We are sending people to where women have the vote. Avenging angels, please pass over!" And the Evening News declared that the newest suffragette song wa<s "Hammer, and I shall hear."

In sentencing some of tie militant suffragettes, who had been guilty of

window-smashing, one of the London Magistrates had the temerity to say that the defendants were either "criminals or lunatics," which was adding insult to injury. And he followed it up by giving each of them two months hard. A commentary on the vindietiveness of these sentences, Mr Curtis Bennett, the Bow Street Stipendiary, gave Mrs Tukc two months, hut reduced it to 21 days on being told that the damage done was only nine shillings' worth. THE FICKLE LOVER-NEW STYLE ("A 'bachelor's paradise' will be one of the features, according to the promoters, at the forthcoming Simple Life and Healthy Food Conference and Exhibition. 'Man will be taught to live alone' by instruction in clothes mending, domestic cookery, etc., the aim being 'to make young men independent of the help of the other sex.' "—News item). "Some weeks back, Edwin," sighs his troubled love, "You pledged your faith by the gods above; But now your manner—pray excuse my boldnessSeems to betray a certain growing coldness.

"The cause, my Edwin, come, the cause unfold, Why I no more your forsworn fancy hold." "The cause," says Edwin, "is, with your permission, The Simple Life (and so forth) Exhibition.

"Before I went no thought was in my head, Save that we two should speedily l)e wed; I found you cheerful, passably goodlooking, And quite a dab at mending clothes and cooking.

"Hence you appeared to any man of

nous A handy thing to have about the

house; And, as declared, I thought no end about you (Being convinced I could not do without you).

"But then the Exhibition queered your pitch By teaching me to bake and boil and stitch; ■Small reason for my vows to keep ascending When once I'd learnt to cook and do the mending!

"'And so, although it wrings my very heart, I have to say that you and I must part; Another suitor Time will p'raps produce for you, But, as explained, I have no further use for you."

MORALBeware, sweet maid, of those who come to thee And say they seek their souls' affinity, When all they really seek, the base espousers, Is someone to sew buttons on their trousers! —Manchester Guardian.