WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 185, 23 December 1912, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted bj "ffile«n."); WHAT IS MOTHERLINESS? A striking article oh tlie above theme appears in the Atlantic Monthly from the pen of that famous Swedish writer, Ellen Key. She says:— Some years ago I wandered througn the Engadine, the place where the two men who, for our day, have strongly emphasised the importance of motherliness found inspiration—Nietzsche, summer after summer; and Segantini, year after year. Segantini has often painted, not only the human mother, but also the animal mother. And he has done both with the simple greatness and tenderness of the old masters who, in the Madonna and the Child, glorified the wonderful mystery of mother-love. Segantini, who lived and died in the Alpine world, where life is maintained under great difficulties, noted principally the importance of the mother-warmth during the mere physical struggle for existence. RECREATING THE RACE.

Neitzsche, again, the lonely writer I and seer of humanity's future, empha- I sised not only the significance of motherlines9 in a physical sense, but also in a sense hitherto barely eon- ' ceived, i of consciously recreating the I race. He knew that the race instincts ' first of all must be developed in the direction of sexual selection, so as to promote the growth of superior inborn traits. He knew also that women needed to be educated to a perfected motherliness; that they, instead of bungling this work as they are apt to do to-day, may come to practise the profession of motherhood as a great and difficult art. This new' conception is ignored by those -who advocate community upbringing instead of home-rear-ing, because most mothers, among other reasons, are tff-day incapable as edu- ; i cators, and'because parents'to-day often | make homes into' hells f6r children. I What hells institutions can be seems to be' forgotten. Almost, every child is j happier' in ah ordinary average home I than in an admirable institution. "And what a strange superstition, that" the" I teacher's of the future will all be excel-' lent, but—that the parents will remain incorrigible! As yet, have we even tried to educate women and men to bo mothers and fathers? This;'the most important of all social duties, we are still allowed to discharge without'pre ; paration and almost without responsibility. When the words of "Nietzsche; "A time will come-when ■Men will think "of nothing except education," have become a reaKiyy Itlieh we. .< shall" 'understand that no cost is too great when it comes to .preserving.-real -homes for the purpose of this new education. And there is nothing which in '-'a.higher 'de'< gree utilises all the powers of womanhood (not alone those of motherlinesS) than the exercise of them in the true, not yet. tried; education of the new generation. ' v " '/,•

SOCIETY'S INTIMATE'TASKS; " Many are the women'in oiir day who 1 ,no longer believe''that'God bectifne man: More and more are' coming to'embrace, the ; deeper religious thought ■— the , thought that has given wings to man ; created of thought that mem ' ishall one day become, gods! But not through - new social' systems, not I I,through new conquests of'Nature/ndtj /through: new "institution's : of learning.! 3JUc; only-way I 'to 1 reach t.his ''state is'tol become even more human, tlvrough' 'an | ■increasingly wise an.d..'b,e,autifu.l Ipye of ourselves and o'uf by a, .gMrer and" 'more : prfect'care, of the budding • personalities. r ; f Therefore, if we stop t'6 thirife, itis criminal, folly'to'.' put up as the ic|eal' of ''worn'eh's'actiyity'' the : superficial ' instead of the' t iflore % ; tender and'intimate fcisks of s'pciet'y:,' How can we nope-for power of growth'] when the source of warmth has. been' shut off? '■-' : ''.•'' '" • ' 1

CHARACTER-GIVING • I A correspondent, qf .the tpndqn tator makes this -:• It is even moreTmport'airt"to "servants looking for a new situation that they, should have', I ;•trustworthy Z\ information as to the character of prospective mas-' ters and mistresses-than-ilT'is ttrmasters and mistresses that they should have trustworthy info'rmatioiV as 'to line character of servants applying for a vacant situation. A servant risks' more in taking a situation under [an unjust and i unreasonable master,6r mistress than a, master or mistress'risks in engaging'an unsatisfactory servant. This will be admitted by ; all thoughtful persons.. Would 'it notbe wise and fair, and also in their own interest, that house-masters and house'-mistre'sses. should establish the custom of keeping a' book in which servants'leaving tliejn,' whether by dis- ' • missalor of their'own choice, should b,e asked to'.'write answers to the following' qfue'stiQ'ns':— .'' '".'.' (1) Has my situation; which, you are now leaving, proved on .the whbie satisfactory to you? .',..., (2) Are you'leaving at your oivn .request or mine? ''...'' (3) How long have you been in my service? ' , ; , . ~ ''' (4); Have" your"'wages been paid regularly? ; '' ; ; ; ' ,; ; . ..'(5); Have; you always, while in my 'service, been ' treated kindly, considerately and justly?;. If not, please give' instances. '!s)' Is there any, and if so what, rule ,';6f the house to which you object?. .'As an I 'employer of domestic servants, I have decided to start such a "Character Book" myself, and . I expect good results from it. I hope that the answers may assist me in getting good servants when vacancies occur, and that the general adoption of the practice may assist, our friends, the servants, in getting 'good. . places.

NO MORE WHITE NURSERIES The, al! : white nursery is condemned now. . Medical men declare that the continual dead-white surroundings' are a distinct strain on the eyes of children, and tend to make the little ones and fretful. Walls of a sunshiny shade of yellow, and furniture in a harmonising shade of golden brown, they say, is infinitely more restful and bettor for baby's eyes, nerves and temper. The window curtain should be a few shades darker than the walls, and all lights should be shaded with yellow silk shades, finished with a rather deep fringe, to prevent any possibility of a glare.; White linings to the.hoods of "prams," too, are said to be absolute •torture to the sensitive eyes of children, and should be replaced by a subdued shade of green.—Home Chat.