WOMAN'S WORLD.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13289, 5 December 1908, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD.

AN ENGLISH LADY MAYORESS.

Under an Act passed last year, writes our London correspondent, it became possible for ladies to be elected councillors, aldermen, and mayors. High Wycombe promptly elected Mies Dove to bo a councillor, and the councillors and aldermen have chosen her to be Mayor. Miss Dove, who is the daughter of a Lincolnshire clergyman -and eister of the Rev. J. L. Dove, the new headmaster of the Wanganui Collegiate school, is 'principal and foundress of the Wycombe Abbey school, nnd is a woman of great initiative and ability, and with a delightful sense of humour. She was one of the first "Girton Girls," having taken the natural science tripos in 1874, and obtained the recognition of her early distinction by being also one of the first to avail themselves of the enlightened action of the powers in" Trinity College, Dublin, which granted its degrees to these ladies who were denied similar privileges by Oxford and Cambridge.

It was under considerable domestic difficulties that Miss Dove prepared for the entrance examination necessary to take advantage of Miss Emily Davies's scheme for the women's college at Cambridge, and eho was eventually one of three ladies who were the first to be allowed to attend a university lecture with the undergraduates at Cambridge. Having finished her college course, she brcamo Science Mistress a£ Cheltenham Collogo under Miss Beale, and in 1877 joined Miss Lumsden's staff on the opening of the great St. Leonard's school, at St. Andrews, being finally appointed headmistress there in 1882. It occurred to her thnt a similar ecWme minht be made very successful in England. Consequently, some twelve years' ago she resigned her newt at St. Andrews and came to High Wycombe, whero she started the Abbey schools. These have grown to considerable proportions, numbering eight "houses," with n. larf?e staff, a resident medical superintendent, and 240 pupils. She .headed tho poll at the last municipal election.

"I think it is quit© right that women ' should take their share in public lif<?,'' said Miss Dove to an interviewer. "There is housekeeping to be done in every phase of local government, and the woman's point of view is just as necessary ac the man's to the well-being of the borough. Xo, I have no intention of making any drastic changes during my mayoralty. There, are many things in High Wyeomb© that want improving, but such improvements must gradually made. My duty as chairman will be to direct discussions and not to initiate them. After all, I am but a new member of the Council, and I have yet to understand the work. We have twenty-four councillors here and eight aldermen, and I am the newest member, having been elected last November councillor for the East Central Ward, in which my school is situated. "Is my election popular?" Miss Dove looked amused. "Well, the first eympxom of popular feeling I had was on my return from the Guildhall on Tue?>dav night, when I found tho local constable testing the Abbey windows to see that they were shut. Ho was very anxious to hear who had Ix-en cho«?n as Mayor, and when I told him I had been, he said. 'I'm very glad, Miss; r'm a bit of a Suffragette myself.' Since then I have had innumerable congratulations, perhaps not as vividly worded, but quite as sincere. The people seem pleased, and I am very proud of the honour that has been done '•Will there be any Mayoress?"

"Oh, yes. there will. lam appointing Miss Wall is. my oldest house-mis-tress."' was tho reply. '"Sr> the town will not lose any of the dignity that a lady mayor would seem to rob it of. 1 am not quite certain as to how often I β-hnll have to wenr niy roljos and chain of office, but tho Town Clerk will tvtVc all that. I have no intention of f=liirking any of tho duties of my office. T feel yon- strongly on tho and I intend to be as useful as I can." Miss Wallis is a sifcter of the Bishop of Wellington. She was out in New Zealand oil a visit not long ago.

THE PERFECT HOME

A model of the "perfect home - ' attrncttvl much attention at nn electrical exhibition recently held at Manchester, ■fitviland. The brilding itself was a picturesque- red-tiled bungalow, with rui old-fashioned porch, and on one of the gnbles was a French inscription, which said it was "The Little Hou.-o with Good Servants'' Tho latter designatiori was shown to apply to the in■genious electrical* appliances, which were designed to do away with as much domestic worry as possible. At tho front door was an electric mat, whu'h, when trodden on, opened the fro:it d~or, and closed it again when tho vieitor had passed through. Electric hoters and novel electric lights were found in every room. Adjoining the diningroom was a kitchen, where re as ting, stowing, meat-chopping, pudding-mix-ing, and all sorts of tiring kitchen work were done by electricity. inthoscuMery bcot-s and knives were cleaned satisfactorily, and in the laundry the same invisible force was employed with splendid results. All over tho house were found conveniences, each of which was controlled by electricity. The exhibition demonstrated that these "grod servants" could bo called into service. tm> matter where tho locality. For country residents a compact little' oil engine and dynamo, easy to work nnd economical in cost, could be installed, ■whilst town people could get all the necessary force from the nearest "powerhouse "

WQMEN DOCTORS' TRIUMPH. There is much joy in the ranks of Tromen doctors am! students at tbo decision of the Royal College of Suargeona to open its doors to women. Tho Royal College of Physicians recently came to a eimilaT decision, and before long, when the necessary regulations have been made, it will be open to women to take tho degrees of "M.R.C.S." end "L.R.C.P.," whilo they will also be able to attain the hiaher degree of Fellow. A woman doctor said to a London "Express" representative:—"The satisfaction, with which women doctors, of whom there nre now some hundreds, regard th© action of the two bodies is tempered by the knowledge that those two authoritative councils havo maintained their opposition to tho women's claim for admission until they found themselves in a hopeless and absurdminority. So far as lam aware, every other body in the, British Isles which gives medical degrees has -already admitted women. Although the College of Physicians and the College of Surgeons have Tefusecl xis admission, women have been able to tako their degrees elsewhere, and to practice as surgeons or physicians without troubling about thcee bodies. The examinations in some cases -aTe stiffer than those now tlirown open. But women. felt tTmt it was unjust that they should be held at arm's length by these colleges, as a pood deal of respect is paid to their degrees, and wo are very pleiaeed that tho colleges have at last given, way." _^^^