WOMEN’S HUMOUR

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 155, 27 March 1926, Page 16

WOMEN’S HUMOUR

I once heard a witty man remark that when a woman has a bad case she adds her sex to it and the man has to give in to her, but that when she has a strong case she subtracts her sex from it and is perfectly metcilessi I suppose most women are familiar with such witticisms at the expense of the feminine mind. But to-day there are multitudes of thinking women, who, with clear minds, can enter into the precise difference between the male and the female outlook on life (states a woman writer in an English exchange). They do not dispute the fact that women are usually lacking in that logical sense which is the pride of man ; but they do see that wonien, being primarily emotional and intuitive, have' a tendency to ride rough-shod over rules inspired chiefly bv intellectual values. Here, for instance, is some grievous wrong to be righted, some case of distress to be relieved. Man sees it and is anxious to do his part, but is often restrained by his precedents, his social codes, his logical sense, and what not for most of which the advanced woman has a profound contempt, although she is usually discreet enough to conNot feeling these same restraints, the woman steps in and, moved by her womanhood, will break any number of artificial rules to redress a clear case of injustice or carry help to the affhetI have heard a woman’s lack of logic ascribed to the fact thatxshe is deficient in humour. Well, I think women have a sense of humour that is peculiarly their own. It is rather more subtle thap that of the man. who would perhaps be humiliated if he knew how many a sly laugh he provokes in the women who watch his actions with an uncanny perception of his secret motive*. , , Women can laugh at themselves—and that is a true test of humour. A bright voung married woman the other day was 'talking to some gir! friends of a quarrel with her husband. “'You know,” she said, "I behaved very badly to Edwin, but I have quite forgiven him!” That was a female ioke All the women saw it and laughed merrily But most men would have seen tn the incident another instance of woman s lack of humour and justice. Women see the point of most iokes quite as clearly .as anv man, but, like Mr. Weller senior, they sometimes prefer to enjoy a quiet laugh inside.

The portiere curtain is a great aid to cosiness in the winter, but to be really effective it must allow a good many inches to lie on the floor to exclude the draught that comes under the door. Then arises the trouble of lifting the curtain sufficiently to enable the door to be opened. A very simple device that fulfils this purpose is as follows: Take a length of fine cord a little longer than the depth of the door. Fix one end to a small brass curtain ring and sew the ring to the curtain about 12 inches from the foot and the Sl de nearest the door opening. Carry the cord up through one of the curtain rings on which the curtain is suspended and then over the door and fix it to the framework. When the door is opened the string is extended over the top of the door and the curtain rises automatically.