OUR WOMEN COMRADES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1160, 25 May 1894, Page 14

OUR WOMEN COMRADES.

The world has rolled on past and beyond Professor Goldwin Smith. At one time he was of the advanced line of thought, but somehow his intellect has swung into the stagnant backwaters of pessimism, from whence he in vain calls halt to the passing current. “ The Impending Revolution ” is the title of his article in the Nineteenth Century for March, and in it he gives play to ai! outpouring of academic invective against the present tendency of events. Mr Goldwin Smith points out that Socialism, Communism and Anarchy are ripe throughout Europe, and considers this may possibly ba owing to the near approach of an universal and inevitable change of the social frame. Amidst the general tumbling and tossing of the torrent of humanity he says that “ the educational machine is increasing the number of candidates for the more intellectual employments beyond the capacity of the market, and in that quarter too there will presently bo a multitude, perhaps a dangerous multitude of unemployed.” Nor does the doleful professor allow the lessonfraught spectacle of New Zealand and her women electors to pass without a few scathing remarks of direful portent. “ The last ingredient in the seething cauldron of change is the Revolt of Women, symbolised by the female forms in masculine attire which career on bicycles through the streets. This revolution extends to the family, and imports the abrogation of its headship. Nor is it to stop there; for there is a movement, it seems, for the emancipation of daughters from the tyranny of their mothers, as well as for the emancipation of wives. Let those who say no harm has come of the experiment in Wyoming or New Zealand wait till they* see women really made political, and party politics fairly introduced into tho household.” In any household whereof the component parts show individuality of character, there must needs follow difference of opinion on many points, but not necessarily the bitterness of strife. Strong family party feeling existed at the time of the Franeo-Prussian and the American slave wars, also in former days as to the

rival merits of Gladstone and Dizzy, High and Low Church without any 4esperate disintegration of households. And we may reassure ourselves with the belief that tile responsibility attached to tho electoral vote will make our women comrades moro rather than less tolerant of differing opinions.

Not long ago a deputation of women waited on the Premier to suggest that the t ime had como for admission of the sex to the floor of the House, and, of course, certain foreign papers aimed their puny shafts of ridicule at the feminine deputation and its demands. Although an advocate of the widening of tho circle of wo nan's interest, Grip can hardly eulogise the method employed in this instance. When tho electors as a body find a woman they think fit and capable of representing their interests in Parliament they will evidence their desire, and there is no need to doubt but that her men and women comrades will roll up to support her, and claim the right of choosing their representative. When the time is ripe, the women will be at hand. A persistent diffusion of a general sense of capability, moderation and cultivated common sense is the best line for any would-be woman politician to take in New Zealand for the next three years. She should “ lio low,” keep her mouth closed, her eyes and ears open and study hard both men and letters. Any woman who accepts public office and comes prominently forward is bound to creato opposition and meet with assailants, and should be prepared beforehand to take tho punishment with coolness and good humour. Let her show irritation, or rnako the slightest mistake, and she will find her action made tho peg upon which the vapid journalist and the meaningless chatterer are glad to hang their rubbish. She, therefore, that would be a pioneer woman in the public service of tho State, whether parliamentary or municipal, must be in all respects the exceptional woman, having strength to break new ground, and staying power to hold the position when won. Let our women comrades hasten slowly, remembering that any recoil of tho spring would injure not only tho Avomen of New Zealand, but women all over tho inhabited world.

One word as to deputations and their utility. Government by deputation is an evolution of democracy that shows a tendency to increase, and that cannot fail to diminish in power as it increases in extent. Its chief value as a growing system of government seems to be that it gives free play to fussy everybodies who otherwise might prove noxious to tho community. The fuss and notoriety of getting up a deputation to a Minister satisfies the vanity of a section of its promoters, advertises others, and its results arc practically nil. Very little progress is made by wasting the timo of Ministers. A friend recently told me her experience of deputationising a Minister (not in New Zealand) upon the question of the women who are run into the cells during the evening for drunkenness being supervised during the night by one of their own sex instead of by police constables. A local incident had roused some feeling; meetings of ladies were held, yards upon yards of signatures were obtained, and a necessity for reform was recognised. Three women were chosen to form the deputation. They were introduced by the local member; the Hon smiled blandly, admitted from personal knowledge the evil of the custom, but was afraid the language used by female inebriates might prove injurious to one of their own sex! He again bowed and smiled dismissal, they left the presence, also the signatures, and the matter dropped into oblivion. Of course these women’s signatures belonged to the voteless, and, therefore, politically unimportant section of the community. As Mr H. R. Grenfell lately said“ On the occasions on which I have shared in these attempts to govern the country by means of deputations, I have always been* struck by the contrast between the immense fuss and labour imposed, upon those getting up tho agitation, and the small amount of means at tho disposal of.- the Minister to satisfy the wishes of those who wait upon him.”

The other day I chanced to hear two ladies discussing, as women are fond of doing, the rival merits of doctors. It is curious when you come to think of it how much time and money idle women can manage to squander (out of their husband's earnings) on dress and * doctors. “ How easily doctors make their money,” quoth Dame No. 1; “if you only stop the carriage at Dr A/s and ask a question, it means a guinea. But he is such a nice man, and such a sweet manner.” “ Yes,” replied Dame No. 2, “ and so very attentive. When dear Flora was so delicate last winter, he visited her nearly every day; her father grumbled dreadfully over the bill. But Dr A is a sweet man, and so different from that horrid Dr B. I took Flora to Dr B, and he turned to me abruptly and 3aid, ‘ Does your daughter earn her living V I was horrified at his tone, and replied ‘Of course not. V ‘ Pity she doesn't/ was his cruel response. ‘Make her do household or dairy work. Better for her than any doctor’s prescription.’ For that I actually had to give the wretch a guinea !” And of such is the Kingdom of Fashion!

Talking of medical matters, I notice that consumption has increased to such an enormous extent in New York, about ofJOO a year die of it, that tho Board of Health announced a few months ago that consumption would thenceforth be treated as a contagious disease. The sputa of patients are examined without expense to the sufferers by the best bacteriological experts, and in this way a registry of nearly all infected persons will be secured, as is believed, far more certainly than by the reports of

physician. In every case of death the landlord is required forthwith to nail on the door the following notice :

TO THE PUBLIC

“ Consumption is a communicable disease. This apartment has been occupied by a consumptive and has thus become infected. It must not bo occupied by other persons than those now residing here until the order of the Board of Health, that it be cleaned and renovated, has been complied with.”

This, too, means what it says —thorough renovation at the landlord’s expense and not mere disinfection.

A paper called Woman recently had a prize competition on the subject “How to be Charming Though Plain,” and the following comprehensive definition is taken from one of the prize essays, and seems to me to be .sufficiently good to bring under the notice of Woman Comrades: —“ A f charming ’ woman may be piquantly self-assertive, though not aggressive ; ablo to talk well, but willing to listen; fearless in differing, though never flippant in arguing; soft of voice, honest of manner, gcntlo and womanly in all things. If clever, able to ‘ wear her learning lightly like a flower/ and occasionally forget it altogether. Possessing enthusiasm, also a hobby; this not to ride to death, but to supply that interest without which she would prove a weariness to the flesh. Not lacking a spice of mischief to give her a flavour, but having in reserve sufficient stateliness and dignity to put presumption down, and vulgarity out of countenance. Good-looking sho may not be, but suitably and tastefully apparelled sho always can be, and neat and dainty and fresh from tho crown of her head to the tip of her feet sho most certainly always ought to be.”

Grip.