The Scheme of Things

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 38, 14 February 1931, Page 19

The Scheme of Things

By M.H.C,

Somo interesting points are made in regard to "Careers for AYomen" by Leonora Eyles, in her recently published book. She takes a wide and human .view, and brings forward points that are not generally recognised. "It is, and always will be, women who look after the young, the sick, and the aged," she says, and points out that women do these things at the cost of a good deal of self-sacrifice. It is a thing to remember when urging that women should be barred out of thisior that employment, that it will increase trouble-among the classes mentioned very perceptibly, for there are few women who have not their "pensioners" to receive help in many ways which mean both sacrifice and true thoughtfulness. These things have grown considerably since women have had "a little more to do with," and if they ai-c to bo economically restricted in all directions to help to meet tho contingencies of a world they have had no opportunity of regulating, it will press hardly on more people^ than themselves and their families. Airs. Eyles touches upon the question of women's work and pay in relation to men's, and whether married 170111011 should follow a separate job; but again, justly, tho writer is of opinion that, perhaps more than in any other direction, individuals should be considered, as each case has its own merits or demerits. It is difficult in such a caso to be logical, as Nature's logic is not that of tho .world; there are diversities of gifts, and each individual should be left to consider to what extent she can justify her own existence.

Housewifery and domestic service are placed in the list of careers, and the writer'points out that this service should rank high, for there is no work of greater importance than the successful running of a home. So many good qualities are needed for it; in fact, it is not possible to leave out one of the leading- virtues. But this always comes back to the vexed question of suitability in the individual," of the- proper standard of generosity in employers, and industry in the employed. Where both arc present there js extremely little room for complaint. Mrs. Eyles also makes use of an argument which was advanced by a speaker at a meeting here quite recently, and ,says that no class of women should be specially penalised on account of unemployment —or of men for that matter. If people have enough money to-.live iipon and yet come out into the arena of work for wage or salary, they should be considered as a whole and not as a class, nor, according to her idea, should a moiety of the people be penalised for the sake of others. However, the question is such a wide one that, in the'present condition of the world, it is bound to come under larger consideration.

Writing of ."A Nation Insured," some interesting comment is mad© by "Time and Tide." It. appears from the report of the British Friendly Societies that there arc about ten million workers insured against illness or disablement through these societies, frith segregate reserves of about a hundred millions. Their number shows the pessimists' who protested that the growth of trade-union benefit Avould kill incentive to individual thrift, to be quite in the wrong. But there 'is a very disconcerting feature about the report. For the past, ten years (as formerly) the greatest sickness is shown among married women, and it

is even stated that "so heavy is the increase that many authorities now regard the sickness of married women as an uninsurable "proposition.'.' It appears that the medical attention given to people employed in factories has had some good effect, but the great bulk of the married women work in their homes, where hours and conditions of labour are unregulated, and ■where "rationalisation" is an unknown word. "-Motherhood and housekeeping,"' says'the writer, "are still the most dangerous trades." This is all wrong, of course, specially as there is quite a considerable portion of the world which wishes 'to force women, by dint of the law, to undertake only" these avocations, unrelieved by any efforts of their own to -make extra money to improve their .- conditions in tho way of extra food, or more comfort. It will bo interesting to note if the extremists in this direction will want to prevent "charing" for fear women help the husband's earnings— but that is such unpopular work that no man, and few young women, would wish to dispute it with any of the married ones! It is an illogical' world after all.

Regarding contributions of clothing, or anything else, for charitable efforts,' or in cases of disaster, such as occurred recently, it is a strange mentality that cannot realise that the best of everything jthat can possibly be spared is the only offering to be made for those in distress. Experience, however, shows that a great many people seem to look around their establishments for the worn-out, the shabby, and in some cases the absolutely offensive things, to pack .up and send away to the receiving centres. (Juite a number of garments are in urgent need of washing before they could be given away, and piles of things are simply put "in heaps for the rubbish-cart'as soon as it can bo obtained. The same strange ideas are shown in collections of books and papers. People will send in very old daily newspapers, torn magazines, and ancient school-books, all of which have to be rejected by impatient packers, and troublo taken to dispose of them by fire, or the everuseful rubbish cart. It is too bad of people to cause so much trouble by want of commonsense and thought for others.

"Is Life "Worth Living After Thirty?" is stated seriously to have been "the title of a debate held by women students at an English university. The motion was brought forward by-a girl in her "teens," who found four others to support her in the nega tivc .argument. Apparently the youthful supporter of the negative view was under the idea that the spirit of adventure alone, was what made life worth while, and that was to leave people after they had attained the great age of 30 years! ' There were quite a number of "veterans" of 31 who pointed out that when they had attained the "3V they felt exactly the same with regard to adventure, though perhaps they might inquire a little more closely if it were likely to be cither amusing or profitable. Tn "the" end, after discussing oil kinds oi joys and interests of life, the- decision 'was that people might find life worth having at least up to the ago of sixty, then indeed the "worth-while" dements would have vanished. "Well, well," is the only comment that occurs as possible.

SERVING- SANDWICHES. Sweet sandwiches, other than jam, make a variety. Hashed bananas, apple puree, pounded nuts, and sliced glace cherries or raisins make unexpected and delicious fillings. i)on't forget the mustard in ham or beet' sandwiches, salt in salad fillings, such as cress, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, etc., and salt and pepper with grated egg. A very little mayonnaise to mix is nice with egg sandwiches, and so is chopped parsley. Garnish the plates of meat, paste, egg, and salad sandwiches with writercress, cress or parsley.