THE SCHEME OF THINGS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 15

THE SCHEME OF THINGS

(By M.H.C.)

An interesting meeting held by the [Women 's Guild of Empire at Kirkcaldy, with a number of well-known (speakers, brought forward a number of "(facts that might well be remembered. [Viscount Novar pointed out that wopien are being invited (or permitted) jto enter into responsible positions in tegard to politics just at a time when jthe post-war dfficulties are being thoroughly realised, and those which have ♦ 'come to stay" are more than ever evijdent. The war has impoverished the (country and disorganised industries, jwhile the smaller nations, created by jthe war, have raised new tariff walls, (and added to the hindrances and barriers which hamper international trade. (While the population has grown, with Sts flood of new workers available for (employment, production has not grown |«vith it, and though more people are iemployed, yet.there are still more out jof work, and suffering accordingly. A (good constructive programme is needled. New light on old problems is needled; some has come already from women jwho have thought deeply and studied jthe national circumstances with practijcal sympathy. Better housing is keenly urged from almost every direction. !A rise in the standard of national health, unemployment insurance, sickness benefits, old-age and widows' pensions, and other sensible and possible means o£ meeting the present difficult situation are likewise advocated. [Viscount Novar contrasted these ideas with those presented by another section which proposed to cut adrift from all customsand ideas of the past, sweep iaway present social organisations, and Bet sail on uncharted seas. The proposed gigantic gamble in which the prosperity of the country, the welfare of the Empire, and the happiness of the people would be at stake, would not appeal to many women, for, with the [burden of family life upon them, as it, jnainly was, they would be little likely to agree to face national risks, or to •adventure into any new paths which they could not vision, at all events, fairly clearly. A "divine discontent' Which seeks always to upbuild, and not to tear down, except in the case ot well' assured wrong, is the right thing, •[but the constructive policy is always >the safe One. There are many who are of opinion that tho world needs the combined wisdom of both sexes to pull it through its present difficulties, and •the most hopeful thing in this direction as the steady, determined antagonism of the world's women to war. It should be an immense and forceful assistance to the men who are in authority at the head of things, and who Know they will have the solid backing of women when they refuse to entertain the idea of war as a means of pettlement of international troubles. •#* . • Bather'a new tone is pervading the twritings about morality. The old idea that "a nation rises or falls by its women" is being largely modified, and a. truer justice i$ taking its place. . It, as being pointed' out that the burden of responsibility should rest largely on the men of the nation, one good and sufficient reason being that women have extremely little "say" in tho making of the laws, or the amending of them. They are not consulted, nor are their recommendations carried out for many years, or till they have, by weary reiteration, forced the position at times. Then, ij is a fact, that women are not usually encouraged to bo at their best ty- the other sex. The dressy, frivolous, light-minded woman is usually the most successful with tho opposite sex, and as Nature has provided that it is natural to wish to attract, a great deal of inarm is done. -The old saying should be modified, according to modern thought, and true morality should !be practised and encouraged alike by (both sexes. When that is done a great improvement may be looked for which SvHl never eventuate while all responsibility is placed on tho one sex which Bs powerless to remedy the evils it i«ees so plainly. «♦■ • • ' A quaint controversy is going on in ifcome magazines about the suggestion that knee-breeches should take the place of the trousers as universal wear lor men. Men are accused of being "glaves to conservatism," and the uncomfortable "bagging at the knee" of trousers is made much of, as well as the general inartistic appearance of What was termed amusingly in the play «<Niobe," "these strange and ugly tubes," which poor Peter Amos was wearing. However this may be, men are to be commended most heartily for keeping to a fashion which is convenient, comfortable (in the main), and mostly becoming. In this they are unlike women, who. seem to be always ttching for change in their clothing, and who, after they have succeeded in establishing a comfortable and hygienic fashion, largely becoming to all, then allow the fashion arbiters to sweep them back into utter discomfort—just to be different, just to have "le dernier cri" of fashion, or to merit that horrible word "exclusive." It is all no small and ridiculous, and it is to be Sloped that the present movement 'towards longer skirts, which is being Advertised everywhere in order to beue'fit trade, will be tabooed by tho large mass of women. Probably those who Siave gone to the extreme of the one •fashion, and have not been contented with showing their knees, but several inches higher, will be those who will Sash into the long skirt by way of ehowing how up-to-date they are. Let us hope that it will stop with them till they tire of it and come to common cense. ••* * : , It is stated in a London paperthat a, definite society has been established "which has as its aim the health of the mothers of the nation. The members •will not be content with lowering the 'death rate of infants and young children, but. will definitely be "out for" lowering the death rate of the mothers. Much investigation of the causes of maternal mortality is apparently being made, and none 'will be overlooked or "smoothed over." Selfishness is being probed, and the attention of men in the cities is being drawn to the fact that women cannot go on bearing children every year for an indefinite period without destroying their health and that of the unfortunate little offspring. The loss of women in childbirth, it is pointed out, means that they are taken Rway in the prime of life, and the nation can ill-afford to lose so many of these women, who are among its most precious assets. There are many who will Wish this society a great success.