Woman's World.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 130, 26 October 1914, Page 6

Woman's World.

AMERICAN WOMAN'S TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE .«,

Cuuglit by the Mar, she loses three of her little- children, and wanders into the midst of a battle.

A well-known Californian woman, Mrs Curtis Gibbs, who, spent the night behind the trenches'with her three children during a battle on the Ru-isian-'jer-nian frontier and wlio, with her own hands, buried two of bcr children who died from exposure, returned on the (,'unard liner Campania to New York with her one remaining child.

Here is a summary of CMra Cibb,'a thrilling story as to what might happen to a neutral woman in war:

"I was in Wirbeilen, in Russia, near the German frontier, visiting nij brothcr-in-law, when the war broke out. My three children were with run, Curtis, seven; Orleans Anna, four; and Martha, three. Li lIV. Martha is the only one wlio came through. On August i there was a battle ju-.t outside WirbdUn between the Germans and Russians. We could hear the roar and see the smoku. Sounds kept coming near and people bagan to llee from the town. Finally th.! bring got so close that I decided to take my children and llee.

"I started on foot with no higg.ige. I was so frightened tluit I did not know which way 1 wont, but I walked right into the centre of battle, right between the firing. "Several Knssian soldiers jumped out of the trendies and dragged my children and myself down in the trenches with them. Then there was nothing to do but stay there. There was a hail of allot falling all round us. We sat cramped up in the trenches all night, wiiti the soldiers filing on each tide of us. ".My little hoy had been ill. He had fever, lie died at dawn, August 3." Mrs Gibbs then decided that to save the lives of her two little girls she niu-t get them out of the (lamp trenches, Tiior had. nothing to eat. With the two girls clinging to her skirts, she carried : iier dead boy in her arms and made her way buck into the town during a lull in the tiring. The town was deserted. "I went to my brother-in-law's honi> and found no one about,'' Mrs (Jibhs continued. "I wanted niy boy to have a decent burial, so I carried him to tho undertaker's. There, as everywhere else, no one was about, but tho shop was open. 1 wmi, in am! picked out a little coll'iu. Then 1 laid the boy in it." Mrs. Gibbs got -the coflln to her brother-in-law's .home. She scooped out a little hole in the yard, set tile coilin in

'' seine dirt over it. Thers

two little girls and startfoot to lice, d towards the west, and the stars, without food. She .'ibia on August 7, and there Orleans u.al from exposure. The people were kind to me," she ,<l. "Two men 'helped me to bury the , dild." J'rom Vilna Mrs Gibbs lYont to L«ndY/arawo ami then to Orborg, in Finland. She walked and rode sonic part of the way. "At Orborg, she chanced to meet Mrs Bruce, of Iloboken, who on hearing her story 'helped and accompanied her right to Xe\r York.

"I have nothing but praise, for llie Russiam. They wore just as kind to me ar, tili-y could be. Ho'dicrs in licne'i.--.. risked their lives to protcit me. ilii-.l everywhere. people helped me.'' When Mrs. tiilib.s came up the gangplank at \ew York, a tall, grey- haired man, her cousin. vruVomrd her. lie ki.->;-ed litt'e Martha and then asked: "Where are the lvst of them?"

"Tliey are in heaven," .Mrs. C\W\-. said, and .then she broke-down. News of Mrs Gibbs' arrival in \'e\r York was conveyed to the husband '<» California the same night by a newspaper reporter. He had been vainly striving through the Anieriean Consul at Tetrofj-rad to trace Jus wife and children, and had directed that no expense should be spared to lind them, but owing to the .strange way they came no cable reached them. While rejoiced at the safety of his wife, he was deeply moTcd at the loss of his childrn and tie sufferings she and they had gone through. '

GERMANY'S WOMENFOLK 'J'UJj MEDIAEVAL AT'I'ITCUK. The attention Oermany has fociisscl upon -herself no\T brings into notice, among other things, the fact that however up-to-date the Germans may lie in some ways, in their attitude towards their women folk they are still almcrt mediaeval.

of Englishmen, and it is difficult for an Englishwoman to bo iu Germany for long without feeling that in some way or Another she has suddonly lost caste. The average male German thinks that woman is made for man, and that if she has board, lodging and clothes, according to the means of her menfolk, she has all she can reasonably ask of life. If aier menfolk are pi asants she must work in the field.-;; it they belong to the middle or upper classes her place is in the kitchen or the nursery. In short, the Herman ideal of life for woman is one of service and sclf-sacriliee. She is, apparently, considered to, be in the world to serve her parents, her brother-., and later on her husband ain't children. LIVING FOR OTHERS.

Her whole life is to be one coining and going, lifting and carrying, preparing and acting for others, felio is to forget herself altogether and live for others —that is, fur lor menfolk.

This sounds very pretty, but in practice there is rather too much of it, especial'}- as she gets very, little consideration in return.

But German wives accept the position meekly enough. They have always been devoted to their homes and families, and they are as subservient lo their menfolk as the women oE Japan, They do not actually fall on their knees before their lord*, but they show a regard for masculine judgment and authoriiy that scenic to us exaggerated to a degree.

Quito typical is the story ot the Gcrman woman, of quite mature years, win would not go ior a short holiday in Switzerland until she had obtained permission from ii male friend who waa no relative and 'had absolutely no claim upon her, except Hint he managed her money affairs!

And if a German lorils it over 'his I wife he is hardly more civil to other womenfolk, lie does not regard a woman as a being whose feelings, whose point of view, need be considered in any sort of way. She is a person not worth serious consideration. If sbe is young and pretty she is treated with gallantry; K il she is. neither, sue is simply u negligible riantity.

lie does not rise and open doors for a woman friend; lie does not wait on her at afternoon lea; lie does nol carry her parcels for her in the street.

"OXI A' A WOMAN'/' j He will be polite in his way; he will call her "gracious lady" or "gracious jmiss"; he will perhaps pay her highj llowu compliments, but lie will not go ! out of his way to do little things far : her; he will not disturb himself on her : account; he will not allow her to forget .that she is "only a woman.' 1 The li'.'t ( of the matter is, a woman in Germany has no independent existence. She is taught from childhood to be, subordinate to her menfolk. She cannot go out by berseif with propriety; she is not a complete creature till aho finds a mate. Those who do not marry are not encouraged to make any kinds of career for themselves, either bumble or glorious. The average German strongly objects to women entering any profession that takes her outside her home. He does not like her practising any sort of art. If she writes he considers she. must bo ugly and soured. There are very, very few German women who are allowed to have wills of their own. In his home the man expects to rule everywhere except in the kitchen—and Gretchcn, if she values a quiet life, takes good can; that the kitchen produces only what pleases him!

KCIALLES MEET TO HEAR V7A3 HIiWS. A !a !y writing from London says: - Wluil amazing changes jn (lie course rf oiii! year! Had an;, one announced a year ago that London would In- the fullest and most interesting place in tilv' kingdom this August, how he won:J have been laughed to scorn! Vet ail society, tin; noblest ai well as the gay<-.t in the land, is centred here, indeed, it is a sueial sin not to he in town, and some people who are away fret their leters readdressod from London, so tliey may have that postmark on them.

The King and the Queen, who wei"? never before in their lives here in August, are quite enjoying tr.-.-:r.sc>o* though, of course, they are anxunn. Ambassadors of neutral counlrirs and

smart women are. &\ -rcry turning. Little (|iiict dinners are the order of l!io night. On principle thny do not consist of more than three courses ar.d eollVe, which is, I am told;, the order at Jluckingham Palace, too. Tin: menu announces (isli, a joint or birds, but never both, and a sweet. li.otli their Majesties are very fond of grouse, and this is served three times a. week, li.it midnight suppers are a social rage arranged for the men when they come in from Iho different Government institutions bringing with them all the late-t news.

These are awfully exciting gathering!, and invitations to them are most eagerly sought for. The lAsqnith girls it was, 1 hear, who instituted them. The host is often a hero—a, wellknown .soldier or politician, and everyone hangs on his words. Kveryone of importance has a, tape-machine, in the drawing-room. Theso supper parties are often international affairs, made up of French, Kussian and English friends who are all deep in sympathy, and the national of the different countries are sung.