"SOCIETIES"—Shades Of Women No. V.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 106, 7 May 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

"SOCIETIES"— Shades Of Women No. V.

By--- £. D. M. Doust

For The Women

"IT is a strange world," said 1 Victoria, neatly folding the P.-** 8 of the "Heavenly Star." There seem to be so many societies being formed for different purposes. I wonder if they ever do any good." "The guilde served a useful purpose in my reign," Elizabeth Tudor replied. "Howbeit somewhat unruly at times." Cleopatra picked up the paper. "Methinks what is really needed is not so much societies as leaders. As its leaders, so will the nation be." "Even leaders need a following, and 'tie the following who form the societies, dear chuck." "The latest arrivals have strange tales to tell of such gatherings, methinks. How they are formed with great enthusiasm, numbers agree to join, yet when the meetings are held, 10, there are present but the faithful few on whom devolves all the labour, and they mainly, if not entirely, of our own sex." " 'Twae so at the Crucifixion, was it not? The followers forsook their Leader and the few faithful women remained." "Not altogether, Elizabeth. There was John also." "One man amongst so many!" Cleopatra said mockingly. .> "That is the oMy one the Bible mentions. There may have been others," replied Victoria a little severely. " 'Twould seem women were always the more faithful to lost causes. 'Twas the women who helped our Bonny Prince Charlie, was it not?" "One did gain particular mentioi, but she was not alone in giving assistance. He had the gift of attracting members of both sexes," Victoria replied. "Zounds, one wonders how the great leaders in the world to-day would fare had they no romantic attraction for women? 'Tis said of the modern dictators that women behave most foolishly at the sight of them. Gadzooks, 'tis my opinion no man is worth the lose of any female's dignity." The Tudor queen tossed her head defiantly. "A loss of decorum ie never justified under any circumstances, , * Victoria primly interposed. "Of what use the forming of these societies," Elizabeth went on, "if entirely composed of the middle-aged or elderly? 'Tis said to be the day of youth. The future is theirs and theire should be the labour and responsibility.* , "One cannot put young heads on old shoulders. Their associations seem to consist almost entirely of those devoted to sport. Personally, I think the alleged looseness of living of the present generation is due to lack of discipline in the home. How can one expect respect to tradition and to those things we thought sacred if there is no reverence shown to them toy parents themselves?" "And no reverence shown to parents either, eh, Vic? One indeed wonders if there is a l< isening of the ties of affection between parent* and children nowa. days, or is it merely a loosening of a sense of duty, and what used to lie taken for filial love was but hyprocrisy and ha'bit?" "No, Elizabeth. Our children were nearer to us; home life was the most important institution, and families lived in closer communion." j "" Cleopatra chuckled. "Methinks I hatn heard those of your generation poke much ely fun at their parents, dear Vic! Was not this show of affection taught as a duty and lacked spontaneity? There may be more genuine affection in

the modern youth's assertion that his parents are not bad old birds than in the appearance of deference to dear papa and mama of the 19th century." "Come, sweet coz, admit that the burden of conventions, even those of family affection, did bear often as heavily on the parent (the female at any rate) as it did on the child!" "I admit nothing of the sort, Elizabeth. Dear Albert always—" "Methinks that amongst the names of the numerous societies that merit mention in the world's news there is not yet one formed for the purpose of enforcing respect for parents!" "Your levity is misplaced, Cleopatra. These societies are formed with very serious objects in view and therefore entitled to our consideration." "But, according to thy view, the fundamental need of the world ie the disciplining of the present generation into showing a reverence for the persons and opinions of their elders." "Cleopatra, I do wish you would not twist my sayings round in the way you do!" Victoria was decidedly ruffled.

"Nay, dear Vic, she doth but love to tease! Methinks that the societies most widely attended seem to be those whose functions include the eating of food. 'Tis a moot point as to which is the real attraction, the food, the speaker, or the aims of the society" "By Isis, maybe 'tis that the occasion of the meeting, being at the period at which one must needs eat, means less loss of Time, that god which appears to be the main one of to-day. Yet this god of Time they worship is put to but strange and futile uses," hazarded Cleopatra. ■ " 'Tis all a question of fashion, methinks, and an unfashionable cause is a lost cause." "Nay, Beth, thou art a little hard. Surely etill some in the world love martyrdom for its own sake!" "Now 'tis thou art being hard and cynical, Cleo," rebuked the Tudor. "Nay, our modern scientists would put even martyrs under the psychoanalyst's microscope and would consider them exhibitionists and pathological cases." "I do not think that is quite nice," said Victoria stiffly. "Aye. Vic. Sometimes methinks 'tis this mania for analysis of all kinds that leads to these societies. The world ie analysed and dissected by amateurs who wish an audience to hear them

expound their theories. They connect with others of a like type of mind and, 10, the birth of another association! Having exhausted their subject and the patience of their followers, the society dies a natural death." "But that does not apply to benevolent societies, Elizabeth, surely, and those anxious to give material benefit to mankind?" "Nay, dear Vic, but methinks those are run by the faithful few, and so we come bacif to the first point of our discussion," eaid the Egyptian queen lazily. "Zounds, tTien, would you have a law passed disbanding all societies that are not of material benefit to humanity?" demanded the Tudor. "Not so, dear Liz, for modern science hath made it possible for woman to have leisure from her work, and since this time must be occupied, were it not to her advantage that she spend it in mental exertion and noble endeavour rather than over the card table and too heavy consumption of rich food!" Elizabeth chuckled. "Thou are well behind the times, Cleo. Knowest thou not that the whole female world hath gone on various diets?" "Then, by Isie," laughed Cleopatra, "they will be forming numerous , other societies for proclaiming the fact to the world!"