MAINLY FOR WOMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 September 1927, Page 10

MAINLY FOR WOMEN

NEWS AND NOTES. Eugene Ysayc, the famous Belgian violinist, now 6!) years oi age, has married Jeannette Dincin, 25, his brilliant pupil, who is an American’s daughter. Ysaye in 1886 married a daughter of General de Courtray, who died in 1924, and has three sons and two daughters. . A Hull woman, Mrs Peterson, who appeared for her husband recently ,on a summons for neglecting to send her children to school, pleaded that thev had no boots or food. To the statement that the Education Authority provided free meals for necessitous children, she replied that she did not believe in her children having free meal tickets. The stipendiary magistrate said she did not object to free education. It was cruel to keep children without food when it was waiting for them at school. She was fined half-a-crown.

A young woman, Maria Patronio, wreaked her vengeance on a lover with such far-reaching results that over 50 inhabitants of Pirauo. in Istria, have been disfigured for lite. Maria brought claims against a young carpenter, who refused to marry her. He was sentenced to IS weeks’ imprisonment. Maria had foreseen that the punishment would be less than she desired. She had taken to the court a large bottle of sulphuric acid, and this she hurled at the carpenter. He was blinded and burnt; while showers of acid and broken glass fell over the lawyers, the witnesses, the public and police. The judge and Maria were among the few who escaped injury. He' owed his safety to his high bench.

Criticism of the wholesale extraction of pulpless and infected teeth was expressed by Dr J. V. Consett. of San Francisco, at the Melbourne Dental Congress. “Such cases are reported so often,” he stated, “that patients are becoming sceptical concerning the omniscience of physicians and dentists and, if we are to maintain the confidence of the public, we must study the nroblem with the aid of sense as well’ as the help of the laboratories. Deplorable as have been the results of the many fads that have taken the medical and dental professions by storm, the snaring of tonsils from millions of innocent folk, the reaping of a. harvest of appendices, and the ruthless extraction of pulpless teeth, much good has come of it all; but we should crystallise that good, and not carry these methods too far.”

Newer .even than “gunmetal,” which continues to be popular in smart circles in London, is the “pewter” shade for stockings; its the name implies, it. is a dark silvery-grey. Stockings in general are a little darker in tone than they were and the flesh and pinky tints are not being worn in the street by really smart women. The deeper tones of biege are used, the exact shade depending naturally on the frock worn; but “vellum”—a parchment colour, of course- —is a favourite. For evening, stockings worn with white and very pale colours should still match the arms as nearly as possible, but W’ith black or deeper toned frocks darker shades are being worn; not, of course, with any attempt to match the frock —that would be very unsmart —but to harmonise with it and avoid a sharp contrast.

Some women seem to be wearing the waistcoats which their menfolk have discarded on account of the heat (says a writer in a London paper). At least, that would be the impression save for a difference of material. A number of Smart girls have recently been -wearing waistcoats made from the mannish model over light and sleeveless summer frocks. Distinctly a man’s waistcoat, its fits closely, the pockets being placed in exactly the same positions as those of the wearer’s brother. The back of the waist is held in by the usual strap and buckle. The new waistcoat is carried out usually in plain black satin, fastening with small black buttons at the front. Sometimes variety is provided by a brilliant buckle on the strap at the back. This waistcoat is worn over a perfectly plain frock as an alternative to the stereotyped cardigan and “sleeveless waistcoat.” At first sight it is inclined to give the impression of masculine undress, but actually it is very attractive on a slim, boyish figure.

In describing the conditions that existed during the fifth and fourth centuries, Professor Woodhouse (speaking at a women’s meeting in Sydney) showed that women had practically no legal status. The Athenian girl or woman lived all her life in a constant state of tutelage, always being subservient to the orders of her father, or other male guardians. Particularly was this evident when the question of marriage ' arose. Strict conventions made it practically impossible for a girl to speak to young men outside the circle of her relations, and her parents arranged her marriage at the early age of fourteen or fifteen. The formal betrothal ceremony was regarded as legally in-

dispensable yet neither the girl’s presence nor her consent, were necessary. The ceremony, although only a contract between the suitor and the guardian or father of the girl was recognised as Lite legal basis of marriage, although it did not provide any grounds for breach of promise cases. The gift of a dowry to the daughter about to be married was regarded as a social and moral obligation by the parent of the girl, and, by the suitor, as a criterion of the honour of the marriage. The dowry never became the husband’s property—he only enjoyed’the income from its investment —but it was a factor in guaranteeing the security and independence of the wife.