WOMEN'S WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 284, 29 November 1924, Page 22

WOMEN'S WORLD.

WORDS OF WISDOM.

"THE BLUFF ETERNAL." A HEPLY.

(By ROSALIXE RIODEX.)

I.*neler the above heading a writer, •presumably a man, accused women, "tlie gentler sex," of having all through the ages "perpetuated the one primeval and colossal bluff—the meek creature with the yoke of the world round her neck." "Women," this writer affirms, "can accomplish anything—(we how here) — first by cunning, by wheedling; failing those lethal weapons, she turns to 'hysterics, violence, or resignation." Ahem! This writer's powers of observation appear to be highly developed indeed, perchance, if he directed them towards his own sex, he would find that even man is pretty much the same. Strike out "hysterics'' and substitute "drink," and he has really described man's methods of obtaining his desire, as well as woman's—the methods of human nature, in fact, lie asks if there is anything more exhausting than a resigned woman? Yes, we reply, there is, and that is a resigned man. What is termed "resignation" in woman we recognise as "sulks" in man. But there is a large percentage of sulks iv the resignation of both sexes. Equal rights! She has, he says, come out into the open in the last halfcentury, demanding what she terms "equal rights." The scales having fallen from his eyes, this writer, "Wynn Revell," asserts that equal rights is the last thing the modern woman wants; what she wants is more privilege. What does he mean by that? Oh, he says she hits below the belt in nn argument— that when a man meets her on her own ground, and retaliates in kind, she quickly Tetorts by saying: "You beast, you forget you're speaking to a woman," or, in the case of the milder type, attempts to disarm him by remarking: "Yes, but I'm only a woman." Another protest: "Listen to the woman talk of the daily round of domestic duties. Has the man who holds the home together with his earnings no weary grind of sameness, of petty office or labour irritation?" Of course, he

has, poor fellow, and no chance to take an hour off for a game of billiards, or a "few minutes for a 'spot' with a .friend." Yes, the man has his weary grind, too, but his weary grind holds variety—hers does not. By variety we- 'mean getting away from the house, seeing different people every day, feeling the excitement of- engineering a euccessful deal, and, above all, knowing that he will he paid for his, weary grind. The woman's weary grind "is monotonous as the treadmill; it holds no fat cheque at the end of the month. "Men may come, and men may go, but she goes on forever." The wife's weary grind consists of housework, washing, cooking, managing cross children all day and every day in the house, and all she lias to look forward to is the arrival home of the other weary grinder, generally in a. morose and fault-finding mood. Now we come to bargain sales. "Do men," Wyn Revell asks, "rush bargain sales, to fight with each other over a few catch-lines or suits at 'less than half cost' ?" No, they don't, but why? Because they calmly go to a good tailor, pay whatever he asks, and as calmly wear their well-cut and expensive clothes? ' Why, then, do women rush bargain sales? Because they have but a limited amount to spend on clothesThey have to clothe themselves and the children upon a certain fixed sum doled out grudgingly by tlie husband. It is women's economy that makes them rush bargain sales. If they did not, neither they nor the children could be decently clad. Tlie husband pays from twelve ! to fourteen guineas for his suit, a sum | that a woman can spend at a bargain | sale, and so clothe herself and the j children decently for a whole season. Has tbe writer of "The. Bluff Eternal" never heard a man say to his wife: "Ten guineas for a costume! You'll i bring mc to ruin. Why, I saw a cos- j tume to-day in a shop window for twenty-five shillings!" Yes, but would! he wear a slop-made suit, or would he take his wife out if she bought ami wore that 25 costume? Echo answers no! "How," remarks Wyn Bcvell, "the sex of this country—(ho means the female)-boasts of its invasion of what was formerly men's sphere, vet we do not find women demand equal though they tell Us they do equal work —aye, better. In no single branch of j our vast commercial Bvstem, with one

or two exceptions, can this fundamental proof of their equality be found. If wage parity existed I doubt very much if there would be the same resentment shown at the growing invasion. Bluntly, woman is systematically blacklegging. Granted that men, a, the employers, are the primary offenders, how comes it that modern woman condones it. It does not coincide with the 'equal right' yell. If I may dare say it, there is in the existing scheme of things, in many cases, tlis savour of a modern harem system." Now, what in the name of decency does he mean by that? Harem system? Plurality of wives? Does he moan that the portly, the eminently respectable male managers of firms that employ women pay them for their labour in soft smiles and sweet nothings, instead of hard cash? Oh, fie! "Granted," says he, "man as the employers are the primary offenders, how comes it that modern woman condones it?" No, Wyn, not "condones," but "endures," until such time as she can demand equal wages from the primary offenders, with some chance of success- How would Wyn Revell suggest that woman should cure this gross unfairness of paying her less for what she does as well as man? Women have wearied of living upon the doled-out charity of some man; they find that they can do men's work, and so be independent, and earn an honourable living for themselves. But if men, the employers, will not pay them wages commensurate with their ability, they are forced to take a lower wage, or else fnll back on the charity of tbeir menfolk. Blacklegging, he calls it. Would he then prefer parasites? If it is blacklegging, it is a forced blaeklegsing, and forced by men, the "primary offenders." Let Wyn Revell wait a few years, until woman has tried the strength of her new-found wings of freedom, and see if she condones or endures less wages for equal work then. Here is another statement: "To date women have displayed no sense of their franchise responsibilities, neither have they done much with the power which has been at their hands now for nearly twenty years here in New Zealand," and again, "Woman's influence in the political and civic world has not yet shown any indication of uplift. Graft still exists. .. ." Slav we ask this writer to reflect upon this truth? Ever since

politics began, man has had all the political and civic rights in his own hands until twenty years ago. He has soiled the waters of politics with his bombast, his graft, his self-seeking and his shortsightedness. When a lake has, for all its existence, been befouled byits owners, it takes time to purify it, but the process is going on steadily. "Let the jazz age v,oman come out into the open and toe the equality line then we easy-going males will know exactly where we stand and behave .accordingly. This double shuffle stunt is, to say the least of it, exasperating. It's time their bluff was called." All, he regards life as a game of poker. Then in poker he who calls the bluff must pay to see it. Is man able and willing to pay? But, seriously, is not this quarrelling and bickering spirit between the sexes a.i undignified one? Man should remember that woman is what he has made her. Through all the ages he has shown admiration for her cunning, her subterfuge, her diplomacy, her hate, and her love. Man has always called these qualities "womanly.'.' A woman has found that all or any of these womanly qualities, prettily garbed, will feather her nest. Then is she-to show her want of logic by going with her nest unfeathered? Cannot man see that if he makes a true ideal of woman she will live up to the responsibility of being j truly idealised? "Treat each girl a-i m decent tart, she'll do her best to act the>| part." —( Burtlett Adamson). Again,! if women are all that Wyn Revell says they are, why in the name of reason do I men love us so deeply? Why do they make the claims of ambition, wealth, business and friendship subservient to that of what they call "love" for on. particular woman? Why are they so keen to secure one of these cunning, deceitful, extravagant, unreasonable and altogether criminal creatures as Wife? Is that a proof of man's logic, his concentration, his consistency and his coherency? s After all both male and female are i placed here upon earth as separate parts |of one whoie. What purpose ca.i be | served by this continual bickering and strife? We are all seething in the process of evolution. Mutual help should be our watchword, not mutual Btrife. Let the sexes unite and h4\e for tbeir slogan not "I leo.i, yo_ follow," nor "Predacity and privilege," but "Onward together." -- . . _