IF I WERE ONLY A MAN!

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23106, 4 February 1937, Page 16

IF I WERE ONLY A MAN!

BY A MERE WOMAN There were six of us. We were sitting round the fire making toast, arguing and regretting. ... "If only I were a man ... I would do this, think that . . ." And one thing we were all determined upon was that we would be more fair towards women than men are to-day—in industry, professions and offices. You would think that man would be pleased that woman has at last become to some extent independent, capable, and so willing to work for herself, that she'll work as hard as any man, for less money than any man would deign to accept. But no! Just listen to a remarkable speech made to me by an editor. It has rankled in my mind for three years now—well, here it is. Ed. (in course of friendly discussion): Nursery governessing and nursing are the only jobs in which women should be allowed.

Me: Nursery governessing and nursing? Ed.: Yes. If I could do it, I would clear every woman out—out of industry, out of offices, out of . . . Me (making effort to control rising fury): And you would dump the poor things in the middle of the sea?

Ed. (commendably surprised): No, I would put them in their rightful place, the home.

Me (sarcastically): By Act of Parliament?

Ed. (sarcastically): Perhaps. Me (angrily): You'd better start seeing about it right away! I bolted then, smarting with indignation and not caring very much whether or not I lost my job. Now really, truly, if I were a man—and by man, I mean man—l would hasten to reorient my outlook and grasp with pleasure the fact that nowadays there are more useful careers open to women than that of being millstones around the neck of a long-suffer-ing father or brother. I'd be pleased that woman are becoming responsible human beings such as could be judged by their capabilities rather than by their sex. And if only I were a man, I'd do as much as possible to foster this idea. And here's another idea that needs a bit of fostering. If only I were a man I'd give the lead to employers (the majority of employers are men> to pay women equal wages with men. The idea that only men have dependents is as hoary as the beard of Methusaleh. Women often have dependents too. Sometimes parents, sometimes younger, or invalid, brothers and sisters. Why should the dependents of women not be supported as comfortably as the dependents of men? Another thing still—if I were a man and had no job, I would give up hanging about street corners for hours and hours every day. and try to save my soul and my physique by enlisting—if nothing better offered. The army is not exactly anyone's dream of paradise but I should think that street corners and an aimless existence are even less so. If the army wouldn t have men, then I'd emigrate, or set off for adventure instead of sticking around hopelessly forever, while the girls of my race outshone me in initiative and adventurous enterprise. If I were a man—but after all. perhaps if I were, I should do none of these things I have mentioned but merely "carry on" as usual glorying in the fact that I still held the whip hand.—Glasgow Weekly Herald. NEW LIFE WITH THYRODONE. For those who are run down in health tl-ere's a new lease of life in Thyrodone, the concentrated oyster extract. Thyrodone will re-build you up. It will create necessary blood, it will reorganise your nervous force, it will put firm flesh on emaciated frames. Thyrodone is Nature's Perfect Tonic—the real pearl of the oyster. 4s 6d from Wilkinson and Son and other Chemists.— Advt.