THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1888.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9184, 13 October 1888, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1888.

The suddenness with which the rumours of impending wars in Europe have .subsided is quite phenomenal. A little while ago a break in cable communiuation such as has just occurred, would have thrown the colonies into a condition of mental suspense, and of anxious anticipation as to what ominous sound would reach our ears on the first moment of the restoration of cable communication. Now we have no ftwinj of startling political events or stratotfic movements occurring in the interlude, and the business of the military corsespondents. like Othello's occupation, ia gone, and not the mobilization of a single battalion, or the movement of a frigate, gives a break in. the almost painful monotony of these halcyon days of peace, No one can regret the change, but the war correspondents and tho tire-eating warriors who seem to be for ever smelling gunpowder in the air ; but the change iias been so sudden and so startling that one is at a loss to account for it. Wβ I'ecollect that tho first cessation of the real or alleged marchings and counter-marchings oi' troops, and of the point and parry of suspicions and hostile diplomacy took place when domestic trouble fell on the imperial House of Germany. The death of tho aged Kaiser Wilhelm, it was said, imported such an uncertainty into the future policy of Germany that the Russian Emperor stayed his hand to wait and see the evolutions in political relations winch the change of ruler of the great neighbouring empire might produce. That uncertainty, it was said, was further prolonged by the precarious tenure of the Imperial throne, owing to the fatal malady with which the Empe'ror Frederick was seized. But even when that prince died, and with him the liberal and peaceful policy associated by everyone with his name, so far from the truce between tho nations being broken, the accession of the present Emperor, believe! as he generally was to be full of warlike impulses, almost appears to have confirmed the reign of peace. This surprising change in international feelings and relations seems to have simply come of a better understanding between two great nations which had been viewing one another with suspicion, and arming to the teeth in anticipation of aggression which seemingly neither of them intended. The friendly visit of the young Emperor of Germany to the Czar appears to have swept away a perfect cloud of misunderstandings and suspicions, raid though it was confidently asserted—not improbably on similar grounds to those on which had been based the rumours of wars of warlike correspondents for years before—that these fraternisations and Imperial junketings meant sometiling sinister to the independence of, the Balkan Peninsula, on the one hand, and the position of France on the other, lapse of time appears to have shown that there was really nothing in them of a warlike character at all, but that they have entirely made for peace. A British Minister has recently declared that at no time for many years past have the prospects of pence been so assured as at the present hour ; and for once such a declaration is not merely the language or diplomacy, but appears to bo very truth. That such a remarkable change should have come .so suddenly over tho face of European affairs would lead to the conviction that the causes of dissatisfaction and suspicions had not been so deep - seated as some would have had us believe ; and would encourage tho idea of the possibility of the existing differences of the nations being disposed of without resort to the stern arbitrament of war. It is in human nature to represent to ourselves our enemies, or supposed enemies, as being actuated by the most cunning and malicious motives in relation to ourselves, and it is an article 0! our national creed that Russia, in an especial manner, has but one principal object in life, and that is the humiliation of British power in Asia, and in Europe as a means to this end. Howfar we may have been inciting Russia on to this by our suspicious actions in relation to her, it would bo difficult to say ; because, as we know, we are commonly permitted but to look at our own aspect of the question, and through spectacles coloured by the interested statements of our own military correspondents. But the suddenness with which mutual and confidential conference between the chiefs of tho Russian and German people has develo23ed the most cordial relations swept away all immediate fears of war, and given quietness even in relation to the harassing Bulgarian question, would almost prompt us to the belief that, if we only knew what were Russia's real wants and aspirations, and approached her frankly in ;i similar fashion, we might find that they are not incompatible with British interests, nor of that violently aggressivo and grasping character which we have found perhaps too much pleasure in picturing to ourselves. When we know what little real value attaches to the fruits of warlike aggression and military annexation, and the small advantages to the happiness of the people that could possibly come to any European nation from military advantage? gained over another, it is not unreasonable to suppose that the solemn asseverations of a desire for peace, which Russia as well as other nations makes, nuij , possibly be as sincere as our own. At all events, when we see that a frank understanding between two Powers that have been long watching one another with mortal fear and distrust, has swept away all the rumours of imminent war, and given, as we arc informed, such assured prospects ot peace as have not been experienced for many a long year before, we have dift" culty in denying the possibility that frankness and friendly conference may yet be enabled to solve the international misunderstandings and clitiiculties which we have hitherto regarded as only to be overcome by letting slip tlie dogs of wac- . '

Among the many curious memorials of the progress of society elicited by the celebration of the Jubilee of Her Gracious Majesty, there has been nothing more interesting and striking than the Women's Industrial Exhibition, which has just been opened by Lady Carrin.-: >n at Sydney. The happy inspiration that conceived the iu'ea of such an exhibition was to demonstrate the wonderful change that had come over the position of women in relation to their intervention in the practical aiiairsof life, durng the liny years that have elapsed since Her Majesty came to the throne ; and perhaps there is nothing more remarkable in that reign than the manner in which woman has emerged from a condition of being the mere helpless dependant on the masterful sex, to the condition in which she has become the companion, and in some cases the competitor with man in the spheres of industrial occupation. As was aptly expressed by Lady Darlcy in her Presidential address, "The centenary of Australia following Her Majesty's Jubilee year, necessarily led to a consideration of the vast changes which science and invention have wrought in the two periods, and with a justifiable pride in the knowledge that the great, progress which has been made in the Empire to which we belong, has been accomplished in the reign of .1 woman Sovereign, it seemed that the centenary was a fitting occasion to demonstrate how far the development of women's industries, so marked in other countries, had kept pace with the times, and to ascertain to what occupations the women of Australia chietly directed their attention, whether as a moans of support, of promoting the comforts of home, or in the culture of the line arts :" and the object so contemplated has been admirably realised in the exhibition that is now being held. The tirst and second departments are naturally devoted to needlework, lace, embroidery, and such other ornamental and useful feminine work as is commonly regarded as more particularly pertaining to the duties of the gentler tl .\; and" here, as might be expected, the exhibits attain enormous proportions, showing not only great artistic skill, but the capacity for producing articles of a valuable and remunerative kind. The third department is devoted to domestic industries, and includes an exhibition of laundry work, of butter and cheese, of preserved fruits, jellies, jams, and chutney, of cakes, and puddings, rind pastry, and of everything in domestic economy that can conduce to the comfort of home. The next department is devoted to mechanical industry, and contains exhibits of embossing, cane werk, mats, tlower-making, modelling in wax, ana even the making of cigarettes by lady operators, while bookbinding aud other practical industries to which women have access, are snowii in operation, the sound of the sewing machines blending with the click of the type-writers. The educational department contains not only exhibits of appliances for educational work as commonly understood, but affords an opportunity for exhibiting proncieney in ambulance work, sick - nursing, and other occupations in which women are employed, while as might be expected, tne departments of horticulture, floriculture, and the line arts give triumphant evidence of the skill and taste ot the fair exhibitors. Taken altogether, the Exhibition affords an admirable illustration of the extent to 'which women have entered on the race ot industrial occupation in the colony, and proves that there is no longer reason for women of active and energetic ha'oits occupying a position of abject dependence on tne stronger sex. There are those, of course, who question whether this entry on the sphere of industrial occupation is to the benefit or -otherwise ot the sex; but no one can question that in the evolution of society which has taken place during the last fifty years k has become a necessity, it may be that in the intensity of moc.ern life man has become less chivalrous than he was in other days, and le?j disposed to recognise the duty of providing ior those ot his relations of the weaker sex who might naturally re expected to depend on his industrial earnings and his protection ; or it may oe that the greater education of women has developed larger ideas of independence and self-help. But no one can close his eyes to the fact that woman is craving a larger share in opport unties for self-support than in otner days, and that tht- spirit of the age, is increasingly in favour of giving her iirge access to every sphere of iudust.y ior which she can show her capacity. Indeed, the day seems passed wii .n idleness in either men or women isrecepted as gentility, and the craving .to - active occupation on the part or "women, has invaded even the ranks of tie aristocracy. In such circumstances, vhatever may be our sentimental ideas vitii regard to tne proper sphere of woman, there seems no use in idly kicking against the irrepressible tendency of the age, and when we consider the vicissitudes of fate and fortune which come to individuals and families now in such a manner as did not characterise the days of our fathers, the woman, in whatever sphere, who does not qualify herself in some way by useful industry to win a maintenance for herself is liable at some period or another in her life to find herself placed in embarrassing if not distressing circumstances. In this view the Women's Industrial Exhibition at Sydney is not only entirely in accord with the spirit of the age, and marks in a striking manner one of the most remarkable social changes which have taken place during Her -Majesty's reign, but it is calculated to render a valuable service in exciting a generous emulation among the women of the colonies to prepare themselves against unknown contingencies, fitting themselves for self-support by taking an active and i usetuJ part in the activities of life.