WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 196, 8 January 1913, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Coiuluctod by "£110011"). WOMEN IN THE BALKANS 'i do not wish I lice beauty, but courage. Heroism alouo gains tlie love of man." So says a Montenegrin mother when a baby is born to her. and throughout the upbringing of the child, courage and her twin sister, energy, are in-1 stilled into her. An incident that happened during the M.u- of 1S7!) revt-al-: the indomitable courage of these women, with whose picturesque gala costume, with its rich embroideries and jewelled chains, we are all more or less acquainted. It occurred ill a frontier village, the men had left to join the main body of their forces. X 0 sooner bad they departed than the Turks entered the place, and the women were obliged to take refuge in an ancient tower, where they defended themselves with old, discarded guns. Then, as a last resource, aided by their <hildren, they heaped the powder barrels together, and when the Turks subsequently entered the tower, a light was applied to the powder. In the explosion which followed, women, children and Turks perished. In some parts of Servia the attitude towards women still savors of the East. For instance, a Servian woman may never cross the road when a man is passing. and whenever men entered a house their hands are kissed by all the women —young and old. Moreover, womenfolk in Servia work from early morn till late at night, doing not only all the household duties 'but a large portion of the men's work as well.

Market day is an all-important, one in Bulgaria. Then peasants may be seen 'coming in from the country with their heavily-laden waggons, drawn by buffaloes or oxen. Men and women tramp along together, the women ahtays walking behind the men, and carrying the household burdens, while their lords and masters walk unhampered. During the summer months the women make ail the earthenware crockery used for the house, which contains but a kitchen and slceping'room. Only the head ■of,'the house sleeps on a bed. The sous and (laughters sleep oil mats, stretched on the lloor, which is of hardened mud. There is Very little home-life in 'Greece, though the "houses are exquisitely clean ft lid contain beautifully em-ibroiderp-d. bed'linen scented with rosejmary; but ithet'e not much comfort there as uv Iseldom dine at home—they much prefer jto eat in ,|s noise 'and move'meht." v ' '

! Sunday is usually frlic dav chosen for . marriage, and the day of all davs is the Sunday, ,tlie, ChristmasVFast. The ceremony invariably takes place m the house of , the bride's parents. the most important part of it is the Quaint custom of crowning both bride and 'bridegroom \vith ; orange bloss'om. Hence' a Greek wedding is popularly called "the crowning."' To a Greek jnaid a dowry i., essential, Yuid if her parents are dead lier brothers work to provide her with one. consequently they 4re often obiiea<V:tp,;n»m;ii)r.single themselves for ihit'hi'" years! '"' Among the jjoorer classes men sometimes emigrate solely for the purpose of making "suflicjient money.; to provide their, sisters with dowries, and occasionally, a dowrv'goes to al Greek gir) frpn}, :: A,us.t;-alia. ' °y..r,'- ' Many fjjietnre a Turkish woman either as .An amply-gowned and veiled fbrm,; ravealing , only tup large dark 7' 05 (: 0r i ) » {Lheaijtjful, languorous.creature. clad in silk and gauze, ; a.nd re<i dining on goi'£Pou:s__cii.shinii.s whiW* she P tibbl a " a '; S ". n v o , d '. c ' i ß are M e or . '')»- these women jOf the Ottoman Em'p re have pf' : l , jite' i ad()pt|'d liianv" West'chi Ideas arid' customs. Some of us.- ' ptoßabl.v. re'memW'' reading about,: three years 'ago how certain aristocratic young' Indies - attended the' .Court functions, in connection with the_.MahoDimpdan.Jsas>' teiy'which' privilege' ]jitlierto,jbe©B reserved .solely for inpii. When; tljesii. progressive ladies 'were received, by the up-to-date "''ConVrnander of The Faithful," tlf e .V bad removed their glo.a.ks and veils, and ijtetwiHJ' - wore. Parisian dresses* 'or tlje latest style and cut. _ jln spite of the-rnstrletions surroundinjg the women .of. tljej harem, thev have for a long time' had rights' and privileges which we haye.'not: For example, detain their cKvrv names when "they injury; and ; aisp ' liieir own .fortuup. W'hkdv'they exactly as.,tlicy Likp;', Andi for tile past twelve centuries Turfois(i women have been able to obtain 'a divorce whenever tlfpy .had. a real .grievance against 'their 'husbands, while our laws on judicial, separation (yid divorce and the j+hfnt'iiig of alimonies are com-' pajratively. new. , .... ' i , PRETTIEST GIRLS , ,

' : ARTIST'S STt'DY OF ENTiU'sil i ' ; TV/'KM. jriic•'claim adiMnml, by Mr. Dawsoij, °fl tjie'-Boyal National 'Literary Society of, Ireland, that Dublin jrirls -are the priettiest has aroused'opposition in otherparts of the Kingdom. A portrait-painter who has made a special study of types of English beauty was consulted recently and said: "O'fcourse. Irish girl); .avo.prctty-rsonw qf, them, I may. add-that there uro othov.s,. ll?e pTetty 'ofies have 'lrish eyes';, tfiat is often their one beauty.. Their fea* | t'jrrs are apt. to be irregular. Eor-.ro-gijlarity of feature commend me to Scot-: ■ iish lassies. In Argyllshire, or, in. the Lowlands, one sees many faces perfect in form.

' 'l'or the best complexion* we ■ must, g» to Devon. The soft air and .the damp give cheeks a delicious roundness and freshness. The Lancashire climate is good for the skin. too. Welsh girls (ire often handsome. The western winds laden witli moisture blow upon them and mountains almost always produce a good-looking race. ' ~

'"But. after all. you see as many pretty girls in London as you can find anywhere. I always say when T come back from abroad that T have returned to the land of charming women. The special charm of Loudon girls is their vivacily. They have not the 'chic' in costume of the French or Americans. Yet they are more attractive than either. They look softer than the Americans and daintier than the French.

"They are not easy to paint. Their charm is elusive. it, lies in their expression and in quick changes of feature. It is the. statuesijueiy beautiful women whom one can paint with least difficulty. Tit this country they are rare. But we have cverv kind of beauty except. that,"