THE WORLD TO-DAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 8314, 1 March 1912, Page 6

THE WORLD TO-DAY.

"Guardian" Office, March 1, 1912. February's twenty-ninth day, whicii has just gone the way of all yesterdays, 13' a reminder that this is Leap Year and that ladies possess a valuable •privilege throughout the whole of the year. The privilege of "popping the question" to the man of her choice is the right of every unmarried woman, according to long-established custom, but this right m Scotland rests upon an ancient Act of Parliament passad some six centuries ago, the operative clause of -which ran as follows:—" It is Btatut and ordaint that during the rein of- hir maist blissit Megeste, for ilk year© knowne as lepe year, ilk maydea ladye of bothe high and lowe esta»t 6hall ha© liberte to bespeke ye, man sfoo likes." Unfortunately, no statistics are available to show 1 the extent to. Which women take advantage of their privilege or how far thoy are successfUi ;cti getting the " bespoke " goo&s duly delivered. One. significant fact pops up m our local statistics/ however, Last year there wore six , marriages performed m Ashburton m the month of February, whereas this year the same month showed seven couples made happy. If the same ratio of increase throughout the year, the result.will speak volumes for the enterprise of Ashburton girls.