OF INTEREST TO WOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 48, 25 August 1923, Page 18

OF INTEREST TO WOMEN

TOPICS OF THE DAY

(By, "M.H.0.")

Some interesting facts have been brought out: by' the'nj.S.^Pa^ht-Office in regard to the progress of women as inventors. It is -jointed out that lack of public apprecj^on;, \has often been cited to excuse men. for./.unsatisfactory progress, and- the point made that women Have always been impeded by a popular disbelief in their creative ability. Statistics also show that a good number of inventions by women have been_. patented under men's names -in order to secure them a,better, reception The report lately-issued "shows that a number of issued,to women in the last ten years" show "only 2 per cent, of the total number;, issued j but that these were more than the whole number granted to women for over 100 years previously. Recording to these figures/ women's inventions are increasing in a very marked manner. It is also shown that these do not; by any means, apply only to homes or domestic branches, but extend to all,the most important branches of industry, commerce and science. They include agricultural, mining, engineering, building, shipping, chemical, motoring,, railway, surgical appliances, and others. -Nor are /they confined to minor accessories, but" are often concerned with basic processes and substances. These facts should encourage students in all .parts of the world, for brains.and observation are not confined to .any one .country.. . The great point is to encourage- all these qualities wherever they are found, and not; to discourage or.disoount them because of sex. « •*■...'.■,•;• ,;,:,,.•..', s In.-going out and about in the world of women it is curious to find, among .quite kindly and intelligent women who mix little with the world about them, a rooted-idea ■ that -if • other women take a real "interest in ■ humanity, ' and in' social „work;..that-they ..must needs be neglepters, .of homes ."and husbands. IThese. first-named" women live in comfort, seeing their homes well kept; their children provided-with'all,that ia.nece*-. Bary fop their health "of mind and body; and do a very fine duty in life. But they ate in too small a world to realise JBiat there is a big majority of .others (who are,'through poverty and other circumstances, unable to keep comfortable homes; or to have provided the means to give the young ones all that is necessary. They do not realise that, at times, within a stbne's-thrbw of their nice homes is tragedy, sorrow, and distress' 'unspeakable; - -They- do—not ■•know, 1 also, that as soon as the family is of school age, that with a little pare, management,, and. self-sacrifice, every woman could' spare a little time to go out into the "Masters-Vineyard" of work, andgive. up an'hour or two to assist .those" who need help very sorely... The fact that so many women nowadays; either' those 'wtio have not married,'-or those whose children are grown upV.or; nearly so, come along and take■-.:part 1 -in the worlds work, is a splendid: factor of the day. Some of the most prominent workers have beautiful and successful homes,_ arid they carry <into other homes a portion of the peace and comfort of their own;' and there are many who '.'rise ufi^^.js??_*l™J)lsf!?e4-1^ ■■--'-' ' *,•.-.--, i;-. ■■V-. ■"-.,;;.,".;■."■ ~~" In reviewing the situation for the past hundred,-years;;a-;striking point is• that % before women" rams- out. into: the open as • social workers . conditions" of: -tHe poorwae'far worsVlhaa at present;; arid 'women. ;.need ;nbt "feel discouraged "in...theirefi orts^ tit make things ; known, which -are manifestly wrong, or x to improyeJtne;so- A cial conditions of those who are unableto help themselves; • Reading of early factory conditions,.-'brie is struck by, a clause which provides "'that children un-. der_fiye yearsjpf age mustnot be-flogged ■when doing factory'work!" Fancy doing factory work when under -five: years . of age! Imagine the;-"kindness" of...vis-, ion of those who provided that when ovei? fiv6"the; p'oor,.mites rniglit/be.l''-'flogged" if they -did, not. work.iup .to standard.Small wonder'"that the "Cry .of ' the" Cnildren" wasi-written-by-Mrs:. BarrettBrowning. The- miserable .conditions of: cottages, tnmbledbwri;- insanitary"/ ■ overcibwdad—these' cried aloud for remedy, and though much remains, to^be done, -there'are prospects c'f better "things" coming, and women.-sre largely responsible for. the betterment... In many, cases there was simply "want of thought," which pipverbially has more to answer for than want of heart; and when "these conditions were plainly and diplomatically brought /before Jhe rulers .of.-the.land,-they gave the matters consideration, and, very slowly; things fhav.e been.done; so that, in reviewing" the years-and'work, it may be- said that reformers, both men" and women,' have much to congratulate themselves upon r Still,' it does not. do to sit with folded hands and look only at that, which is do;ie. There is still a big field of work. The. courts, the reformatories, the boavded-out little ones, and others need the kindness of .intelligent, prudent women; for there is a great .field of work for' voluntary -effort; while there are many women, who look askance on the efforts of the few, who could* give splendid,, help if they would only { sen that"the' Master's v;ork"does not begin and end in their own homes, though I those, undoubtedly,-..have the first claim ' on time, strength, and love. But the " ; r.ommand, "Feed My Lambs" was fol- j lowed by the equally great .one, "Feed i My Sheep," ;which maybe taken to be { those _older or- outside one 3 Avho.. are in 1 need of- help.: .--',/ :'r'.:'"'-'"'.-y.. :'•.,". \

The new "hatpins aye second: only to the veil as a decoration for small and large hats. These pins 'no longer; serve to anchor.a. hat to.the hair —the balance of modern millinery, being so weir adjusted that it sits securely on the head without the aid of long ungainly .skewers to.keep it in position The new hatpins show double headß of carved.^ crystal, set^.m riarcasett#,'*j;others of ;6nyx •to'ahow».inserted- crystal'-ibbnds. Rose" quartz^ "sefc.c'Q minute,; : rHin^-stb'nes made a., ddubleiheaded-; hatpin'.'.iisM; ;to; keep'-a. ('jFrft; ha^;(ibmpany. i Blister pearls, amber» >and"onyx/ and jade i6im similar ottiamehtsr' A new use for: the double-headed '" hatpin is to.stab it through the .faehionatle sashi- which by this,. means''ia kept wiourely in place bathe hip. .............

Jhe Rev. B. G-.-Bourchierr vicar of St. Jude's, 1- Hamjstead Garden Suburb^ Lon-' don, tola a cnurctf-meeting Tthaf all' fob' loffg the congregation had withheld from him ; the necessary^ for-the discharge' of his..dnfSes.. ."Our cEufph,- I.' Tie! adtieSj "has been .and is being, maintained;, by the generous few for' tne. benefit, of.sthe. mean iihd'niggardly many,. and that 'position is. intolerable...-^Unless . itis 'altered speedily my successor may be looked . for' next Michaelmas;" The: Bishop. p£., Southwell (Notts), complains; about^he' churchgoer who puis a, penny-! in|,the collection-plate, and on'leaving; t^j*i3ic9iligiit»,Tug-ai;niaßp?nny,-«jgari:

Abroad and At Home