MODES OF THE MOMENT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 250, 18 July 1931, Page 16

MODES OF THE MOMENT

Passing Notes by Jane

Wellington, July 17-

Dear Isohel, — /' , , . , ■ I’m immenselv intrigued by your scathing indictment of what is known M the stronger sex. You’ve brought it into the wrong camp, though. Im one of those old-fashioned creatures who look upon the male of the species with awe and respect; as almost above criticism. A matter of up-bringing, probably, followed by the great good luck to have had no reason to alter the outlook. , , But I see your point, and am forced to realise that there must be some foundation for the resentment iand impatience expressed by so many of the new generation of women, who have had to take a new grip on a changed world and, without the help or approval of their hereditary protectors, hack and dig out avenues for their own development. In this world we see, very generally, what we look for. Perhaps woman has begun to expect selfishness and lack of respect from man? Nothing in the universe stands still, and a revolt of women was due, historians say. It has happened before. The Bologna sausage marks just such an epoch. The women of Bologna, having become emancipated, with little time for the care of their homes because of meetings, public duties, br (weU ao, perhaps not bridge) and so on, invented this mixture containing what they considered adequate food value for ordinary occasions. They cooked it once a week, left It in an accessible position, and the members of their families helped themselves "when so dispoged.” Every reform begins inventively, experimentally, constructively—which wenns at first badly. The mistakes In the present revolt of woman are so * XPe allowing a great deal of rope to woman. He is far too polite to has attempt tt uTurp h s hereditary prerogatives, and made the most practical arrangements for his own comfort in the meantime. Man at the moment Is exactly what woman has made him. If woman has grabbed his job, having been given the opportunity while he was out of the country on business connected very closely with womans welfare, hJ may be annoyed at the inconvenience but he shrugs his shoulders, stens back, and cocks an enquiring eye on the Government . . . P As a matter of fact, if man had been firm from the beginning, had beaten ns and locked us up when we showed the first signs of getting a bit abov ourselves" a fot of subsequent and future trouble would have been avoided But in Ms kindly, tolerant way he said, with an. indulgent smile, PerhapS we’ve been hard on her. Let her have her way.”. And we ve got it. But believe me, the hand that rocked the cradle ruled the world far more effectively than that which cuts out thd appendix or signs the audit. I cant agree witt you that man is inevitably and universally selfish. Ive known a lot of different sorts of people in my life, and the greater percentage of selfi. ones were not of the male sex by any means. There are selfish men and selfish women; fot real downright selfishness give me the latter. Ave y good Woman is often extraordinarily selfish, because she is a creature of one idea, to which everything and everyone with whom she comes in contact must be s “ bs n ”^ le^ t- ier( | lly more tolerant, more logical, and is more often saved from petty'mistakes by the grace of humour. If the modern woman could only see the present- situation clearly enough for laughtei, all might yet be Wel And you can’t tell me men are looking different nowadays. There were always some men who looked effeminate, and some women who looked masculine. Just take a look at our All Blacks, and our cricket team in England! And there are heaps more like them. • Having said all this, I’m not at all sure you didn t write with just that purpose in view? Did you mean to make me bite? If so, I’m glad I have not disappointed you. With love, Yours— JAiNiS.