AN OLD WOMAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 21 June 1926, Page 8

AN OLD WOMAN

I do not know who it was who fiist used “old woman” as a term of abuse; but Sir William Joynson-llicks is the latest statesman to give the barbarism an ollicial stamp (writes Robert Lyml i„ the Daily Nows), lie is much annoyed by tlm fact that everybody does not. approve, of his recent proposal to clip off tho edges of London parks m order lo make more room for the motor traffic. “Every old woman in London, ho says, “lias "been writing to the papers, criticising him; and, in regard to his further proposals fur solving the motor problems at the expense 01 Die parks,” he declares contemptuously. “Of course all tbe artistic old women would be up in arms at once. Suie y ii. is time that wo censed to use ffid mail” as a term of endearment and old woman” as a term of revilement. A slight attempt to redress the balance 01 the sexes is apparent, no doubt, in he modern use of the words “old lady in a sentimental and affectionate. sense, lint l, for one, think it extremely unfair that people should .address you as n:i old man when l.jiey. like you, and speak of you as an old woman when they want Lit insult you. there is, t maintain, nothing more charming on uarlli than a charming old woman. Nor have L ever heard of old women m general behaving in a fashion that deisevi-.s the censorious attention of a Roma Secretary. Statistics of crime show that old women are on thagwholo a law-abid-ing class, comparing very favourably in this respect with young women, and more favourably still with young mem It is not the old women, nut the young women, who have constantly to be censured by bishops for smoking cigarettes and drinking cocktailsa. All through history we see that half the trouble of the world has been caused by young women, and, that most of the other" half has been caused by young, old and middle-aged men. It is a matter of simple'fact that old women have had scarcely anything to do with it. If it is true that all the old women are now rallying to the defence of the London parks, then I think that, instead of sneering at them for this like the Home Secretary, we should hold a public banquet in their honour. From a Home Secretary’s point of view it may seem less important to save the parks than to solve tlio motor-traffic problem. Rut the majority of people will agree with the old women that tho Homo Secretary must use his,brains to find a solution for the problem that will not diminish the green spaces of central London by so, much as a square inch.