COMFORT IN COMPARISON

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 138, 5 March 1908, Page 3

COMFORT IN COMPARISON

: An/ Italian journal. has been .comparing the .-.luxury,'of tho past with that-'of-'the pre-, sent .time,:, and it does not think very highly of ;what;We are- always'being-assured) isithq beginning; of tho end.- , Modern extravagance aiid modern , luxury are the- stock ' phrases of . all- who deplore the deoadcrico-.aiid generacy of the age.' . But our 'Italian coritemporary,. it- is gratifying : to ; find, thinks wo, make a very poor show as compared with our predecessors. Wo spend a great, deal, ■iVe;rush:about',' wo.make a'fuss; wo drossi Extravagantly, as we-think;--but when, all ,is said and done, our gowns and moiprs l and week-end . "cottages, - - our and restaurant' suppers,- are as water urito wine when i judged beside;' the -great' feasts]-'.the .rich : apparel, 'tho' costly palaces, iahd'; /the equipages,-, of "the''-"smart- 1 sets"-. ;of -.1 other' periods. ' 1 Everything is really a matter of . comparison. ; If- we could only grasp this frict'.it would save us much anxiety arid heartburning. We, for some timo past, have been comjilaining of-the' discourtesy of our men, yet : it' is because they have seen-that the Englishman is polite to, women that Frenchmen: are now trying to form- a' league to respect women in order that they .may'.not be behind; us'. / .Certainly some of - our. 'Gallic neighbours', stand sorely 1 in; need of 'amendment of manners, but one must say that it is' surprising that .'tliey should havo- been impressed by tho gallantry of tho'Briton:

protrudes inches of steel—in nil eight to ten —on either side of the feminine headgear no man can fathom; he can merely marvel at the recklessness with which women go about armed in this manner. For there is no evidence that' the slightest appreciation exists of the danger of .tho situation, especially in these days, when all public vehicles are overcrowded, and tho successive jerks' of motor .'locomotion impart an impaling movement to hats spiked and unspiked. The alarm : has boon sounded, but women carry their heads as fearlessly,as ever,-and gradually we. settle down to shut our eyes to the risks of tho hat-pin, just: as we becamo callous to the presence of tho explosive button, and scientists cease ■to ! wail , over the '.'trailing skirt." In every direction aliko tho "dangers" of fashions are simply regarded as masculine scarers at which women do not even trouble to laugh. Much less does tho question of personal bravery enter into their consideration. Woman will wear what fashion commands without a singlo thought that thereby she may be entitling herself to a decoration for valour. And' thero is really no moro a spirit of. martyrdom in her actions than there is in "those of a man who plays golf in a delugo because he wants to beat his man.