LADIES’ GOSSIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11725, 1 November 1898, Page 6

LADIES’ GOSSIP.

[“ Canterbury Times.”] - For various reasons it is desirable that a few women,' at least, should be enabled to take part in the deliberations ! of - the ■ Charitable Aid Board, and the two ladies who have allowed themselves to be nominated for election upon it deserve the thanks and support of the community for their courage in coming forward. The position of membership on the Board has no emolument of any kind attached to it, but is one that must entail plenty of arduous work,and it at the same time calls for the exercise of a great deal of judgment, as well as tact, in dealing with applicants for relief: N or is the work hy any means of a pleasant nature, and it must be patent to everyone that the highest motive alone, that of the service of others, has actuated these two ladies to come forward. In doing so they represent the principle recognised five years ago by the law of the land, namely, that women should have a voice with men in matters affecting women. . This applies in a special way to Charitable Aid Boards. We ail know that the most deserving subject for charity is usually the most reticent, and that those people who have least self-respect are frequently those who obtain more than their just share of relief. The “ sturdy beggar ” is by no means unknown in our midst, but there are, on the other hand, women of a nature so sensitive that they' would rather' starve than reveal the full extent oi their destitution to a Board composed of men plone. While far from advocating a sentimental attitude towards any applicant for charitable aid, everyone is agreed that a calmly dispassionate examination into the merits and demerits of each case is very necessary. It is a duty, moreover, that is owing, not to the persons only who receive relief, but to the public, who contribute that relief, and this dispassionate examination is precisely what intelligent and sensible women are eminently, fitted to make. They are less liable than men to be-imposed upon / by the specious tales of the brazen'and impudent, and who can detect wastefulness in housekeeping like a, Woman? ; The Board itself recognised these facts when,. someyears ago, it appointed a woman; assistant inspector —-a wise step, and one that-does great credit to our Charitable Aid-Board, But a woman, inspector is not - enough. Women members are needed upon the Board itself, and it is to be hoped that tile, various public bodies will take this view of the matter in the next election. ■ Of the ladies nominated, it is sufficient to say that they are by no means novices in work that requires nice discernment, plenty of tact, firmness and good judment. We are over chaky of saying a word of praise in season, not because we grudge it, but simply because it does not occur to us to speak it. We are too much absorbed by our own affairs, our , likes and our dislikes, to notice the small kindnesses so

kindly meant end often so painfully carried ( out by those about us. We pass them by,j and the tender heart that prompted . thejattention says nothing for wounded love’s! sake. How different it would have been; if a gentle word had been said to show that) the kindness had been felt and, appreciated! | Many people come to regard’these little attentions as their due, and) absorb them without feeling the faintest touch of . grati-i tude. They take as much hs they can get;, | but so far from giving anything in return: are they, that they would be surprised afci the mere suggestion of such a thing. Yet; the little word of thanks, of praise, is such; a joy-bringer to the faithful, loving friend; or companion-such a sweetener of the home.’ atmosphere—did people only, know it. The! peace of many a home has been destroyed i just for want of the little word of appreoiar; tion that keeps alive the flame of affection,, and prevents it from degenerating into a' mere toleration of each person’s presenceJ And when death has robbed us ,of father, j .mother, wife or husbatod,- to realise, all tool late, how great is the amount of the accumu-i la-ted debt which we owe the lost one i a debt that we can never hope to repay, but j of which “a little on account” would 1 havoi meattt lived. And .great, as, was their loss, our! own is infinitely greater, nor is it in the I power of:,any one of us to afford it. Lebj us-then let' pass no opportunity of saying aj kindly word or doing a kindly deed. Our chances are few enough, and life is. short, i

Of all the silly questions asked by London! journals during the silly season, “Should; wives work?” is perhaps the most childish, The “Daily Telegraph” was recently not* above seeking light on this subject, and pro -’ deeded to print column after column of ad-! vice tendered by its readers. Yet it would be j interesting to know.how many people were: ever influenced on such a matter by the opin-i ions of' others. The wonder is that anyi paper should ask so absurd a questiop. Of: course a wife should work, if she is a, Euro-; peah, that is: In Turkey dr in Persia, all a! wife has to .do,is,to, eat sweetmeats and talk! gossip, when she is nob-busy adorning her-' self with finery. 1 “ Shouldwives work outside; the home?” is, of course, what the paper m; question means. To this there can be no! general answer: It may be, perfectly justi-' . liable, for one. wife to do, so,and equally un~! justifiable for another. If the husband is in-' capacitated from work, or if his work does, not bring sufficient grist to the mill, it is in-! cumbent on the wife to aid hfln as best sho : loan.' If there Are no-children, and the wife! has leisure and ability to work, then let her! ’work/ by all means! Tf she has a family, and' can yet spare a portion of her time to the re- : plenishing of the family, purse without neglecting her household,no one can conceive of any reason why she should not do so, pro- ' viding, of course, that her husband’s unaided efforts are in sufficient. Nevertheless, I do not hold with those married women in fairly good circumstances-who persist id-competing! with single women in the labour market.; But, after all, this question, like so many! others of a kindred nature, cannot be settled off hand; it must be decided by each household for itself, by its circumstances and ita needs; for while it may be.perfectly right, and. even necessary, for one. wife to earn money, another married woman may do considerable injury to her husband, her. children, other women, and, of course, to-her-self, by following a business. It is an individual matter, and one that cannot be .generalised upon. ■ : ; ’