ROMANTIC SPAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 126, 29 May 1937, Page 20

ROMANTIC SPAIN.

EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN.

"Spain is the country in which romance has lingered longest," said Miss Amy Holland in a talk given yesterday afternoon to the Overseas League on "Spain and Its Women." "It is through the women," continued Miss Holland, "that the romance has been kept. Six years ago the women of Seville and Malaga were still wearing their mantillas and high combs, while the life of the ordinary woman before the time of the revolution was little better than that of a slave in an Eastern harem. "It was a mistake, however," said Miss Holland, "to hold the Republican Government responsible for the evolution of women in Spain. Long before that time Spain had shown an interest in women and had been sympathetic to tlio>e who showed any ability to manage their own freedom. With the revolution the emancipation of the middle and lower class women was completed and new educational facilities provided for them." .Miss Holland described the beauties of Seville, where she was lucky enough to lie during Holy Week. Here the costumes of the penitents created a scene of colour and pageant that she would never forget. Other memories of Spain included for her the first days of the revolution spent in Malaga, when the surging crowds marched through the streets and burnt a large picture of their king. the amazing part about this revolution,' Mrid Miss Holland, "was that although the crowd were seething with angei they made no show of their amotion by shouting, but merely clapped their hands monotonously.'' Miss Holland concluded' her talk with some remarks about the industry of the Spanish women. "They are extraordinarily fond of knitting," she said, "and my knowledge of several new handwork patterns acted as a passport into manv women s homes, for the women of Spain, unlike English-speaking people, do not entertain in their own homes." Mrs. French presided at the meeting and thanked the speaker for her interesting address. The hostesses for the afternoon were Miss E. M. Buller and Miss R. File.