MAINLY FOR WOMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 November 1925, Page 8

MAINLY FOR WOMEN

NEWS AND NOTES.

New York women who were present in large numbers, showed that, besides t’h : eir tongues, they could use their hands and feet, not to mention finger nails, to express disapproval. The meeting had been called for the purpose of amicable discussion among landlords and tenants regarding proposals for modification of the rent Qaw. Housewives became incensed a,t the obstinate stand taken by property-owners, and howled them down when they attempted to speak. I Words led to blows, and the women had weight of numbers on t'heir wide. Many landlords left City Hall bleeding from the wounds inflicted by vindictive finger-nails. Others of tne unwelcome weekly visitors had black eyes, and bleeding noses were numerous.

Mi&s Sophie Loeb, president of the Child Welfare Committee of America, attended the first International Child Welfare Congress at Geneva. Miss Loeb has the distinction of having been responsible for the making of more laws than' any other woman in the world. Possibly there are few men in the history of the nations who can equal her record. One of 'her most notable achievements was wie passing in America of a Widows’ Pensions. Bill. “I consider,” she said, ‘‘that widows’ pensions are the firststep toward the elimination of poverty from the State. AVe have found that the overhead charges and the maintenance of institutions are conisiderabiy reduced under t'he operation of a pension scheme for widows.

A bronze tablet to commemorate the work of the women war-worker i was unveiled by the Lady Mayoress (Miss Cecilia Walsh) in the vestibule of the Town Hall, Sydney, on the morning of Armistice Bay, November 11. It is given by the returned sailors and soldiers of New Sout'h Wales as a token of gratitude to the womVn >,var-workers m t’he Great war 1914-1919 states the “Australasi‘a>^.,, Mr Leo Eliott (State Irosident of the R.S. and 5.1. L.),. in asking the Lady Mayoress to unveil the simple memorial, said that the returned men had erected it at their own expense as a slight recognition of the great war work done by the women, whic’h was , worthy of the great nation td which they belonged. The Lady Mayoress made a graceful little speech of appreciation on behalf of the women honoured, and unveiled the tablet.

With the death of “Vrinda Devi,” the British wife of Pandit Shyam Shanker,. at the Calcutta- Medical College Hospital, ends a unique life that began at Sloane Square, London, in the person of Miss Vanda Constance Morrell (states an English exchange). In 1913, Miss Morrell who was 30, met Pandit Shyam Shanker at a London “at home,” where he .sang. She fell in love with the songs and the singer. S'he, being a splendid pianist, accompanied the Pandit wherever he sang. At the end of 1915 they parted, the Pandit having left England (after -being called to the Bar) to take up his post as Minister in Jhallawar State. Not a' year passed before Miss Morrell left England, too, and came to Jhalawar. For about three years in Jhalawar, s'he fought against the attacks of convention. She was converted into a Hindu by orthodox Rajputs and Brahams, and hifc Highness himself gave her away (as his daughter) in marriage to Pandit, every orthodox Hindu rite and custom being strictly observed.

In an interview on her return from America, Miss Rennie, instructress of domestic -science at the Wellington Technical College, said: ’ "inere is no question of the fact that women hold a high status in America. They are considered and recognised in every sphere of life, and what they say, counts. And another thing! It is considered no longer that three score years and ten is the ordinary span o'f life. Instead, the Americans are looking upon 100 years as the allotted span, and it is wonderful now full of vim and intellectual strength they are at seventy or more I years. Mrs Gatlin Spencer, a noted' writer and lecturer, is over 70 years, and still lectures at Toronto University, and Miss Barrow, who is on the staff of the Food Department at Columbia University, is also over 70, and still lectures.” Another point that J impressed Miss Rennie was the interest which women in America took in the life outside their homes. “For one thing,” she said, “they can do this because they are not household drudges. Their homes are fitted with such wonderful mechanical lab-our-saving applicances that, housework is reduced to a minimum. In that way they have the time to give to outside matters.”

The Anglo-Swedish colony in London is gossiping about. Prince Ulai s rumoureu engagement to Princess Astrid, the Crown Prince of Sweden's pretty 19-year-old niece, says an English exdiianje. Princess Astrid paid a visit to Oslo a short time ago, just before Prince Olaf came back to Oxford, and slie has -since been through a cookery course. Not that she needed much instruction in any domestic matters, for all Princess Ingleborg’is daughters are capable housewives. A great deal of their time has been spent at Fridhem, Prince Karl’s model farm at Braaviken, where they learn to milk and make butter and look after the stock. All the three Scandinavian countries are lucky in their Royal families, the members of whidh are not only pleasant and companionable folk, but well able to hold their own in the stress of daily life. There is not a single one among them who could not earn a good living in business or in the arts if they all had to set about it to-morrow. Prince Olaf would do pretty well as a sports master in a public school. Prince Eugene of Sweden, the King’s brother could earn a small fortune as a landscape painter, and Prince Willem would probably get a partnership in a leading firm of publishers in 'Stockholm.