THE LADIES,

Otago Witness, Issue 1825, 12 November 1886, Page 31

THE LADIES,

By Alicb. "

The world was sad — the garden was a wild ; And man, the Hermit, sighed — till woman smiled. — Campbell.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Subschiuer's Daughter. — l[ have consulted M r Price. hairdre6ser, abo t your hair, and ho informs me that cutting the hair off does not thicken it, and unless it is falling out would advise >ou not io cut it., but to apply an invigorating wash. I should recommend chloroform' wash. (2) To do the basket plait the hair is not tied. You take a piece of the hair jii6t above the nape of the neck and plait it in thre j , then divide the hair higher up and make two plaits of -three on either side, then arrange it. (3) A lady should always precede a gentleman into a room. (4) It depends upon the kind of salad it is. Snowdrop.— Wearing the hair in a fringe does not cau-e it to grow over the brow, and even If it did, it is considered a point of beauty in a woman. Polly. — I should advise you not to dvo your dress yourself, but to send it. to Clark, the dyer, George street, who will do it for you for Os.

SHOULD A WOMAN SHINE?

Doubtless, but her radiance should be more as the moonlight — soft and pure, mellowing and beautifying everything around, covering even miry places with light. Man is as the sunlight, strong and powerful; woman is the lesser light, borrowing her rays from him ; and as no more"- could we have our moonlight without oiu sunlight, so no more can we have good, womanly women in the world without noble, true-hearted men. Its is the natnre of woman to lean upon one stronger and to desire to please ; thus the character of a woman is formed in a very great degree according to that of her masculine associates, or according'as she has been educated to estimate their requirements of her to be. The girl who is trained among thoughtless, empty-headed men will in all probability grow to the belief that a woman's chief work in life is to look charming and her chief aim to bring her admirers to her feet. But there are women, very many left still (good for the world), who have high and lofty conceptions of all that a woman can be; who are old-fashioned enough to think that as daughter, sister, wife, and mother there is a grand field for labour — for the exercise of that patience and trust, that gentleness and love, that brave, untiring hope with which nature has so bountifully giff-ed her, but which fashion would teach her to ignore. Women need never fight for their " rights" ; none, much less men, would seek to deprive her of thetav The right to cheer and comfort is hers, and the right to influence others for good. That influence is her sword, and it is by it she wins her greatest victories. It has ever been acknowledged that a woman's influence is most powerful either for good or evil ; and while many a man has just cause to curse the ( name of Woman for his downfall, many have reason to bless her for the patient, persevering love that gave her kind hand to assist him to his feet when others passed him by unnoticed or in scorn. There is, and there ever will be, plenty for women to do in the world while there are pain and djstress, evil and sorrow. There is no need to 'cry out for her " rights " ; yet bow often is it the case that, instead of alleviating' suffering, by her unkind words or selfish life she adds to the distress ?

We naturally expect unselfishness and gentleness in women, as we look for strength and power in men ; and when a woman tries to tread from her nature all that is gentle and forgiving, a weakness best got rid of, she loses her power. Then a woman is not womanly, she is something spoilt, for she cannot be manly, though she may be very masculine. Men do not like a bad imitation of themseves— a woman aping their manners and trying to usurp their place. Of course, there are many instances where, from various reasons, woman has had to do battle, with the world for daily bread, and to whom all members of the family owe all their good. To such all honour be paid for their fortitude and courage. Wordsworth draws a fine picture of a woman — . A perfect woman, nobly planned To warn to comfort and command. A being drawing thoughtful breath j A traveller 'twist life and deat.li ; A creature not too wise and pood For human nature'B daily food, And yet a being still and bright, With something of an angel light.

"With something of an angel light I" Not altogether angel. The world does not need angels. It does need true-hearted, noble women. Such women have gone far to work its greatest good. If mothers and teachers would but oftener seek to instil these thoughts into the minds of the girls in their care, there would be fewer women grow up with not a thought higher than themselves. It is getting old fashioned now to be earnest, or I might say : Girls, don't be content with frivolous, aimiesss lives ; don't be content to do nothing in this great, sad world. Set out on life with a grand ideal before you. You may never soar to its heights; you may often get dispirited and weary, for there will be so much io drag you down; but you -will get further up than yon will by never making the effort, and being content, to fiit from flowr to flower. Glory in the' fact that you are a woman ; leave man to his work. Your sphere is boundless ; your work that whioh a man never can perform. Jtake a name, not one trumpeted from platforms, but one that wil} be remembered in reverenb. Ibve by all who dome within yW infmbi&iQ.