IS THE NEW WOMAN AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE OLD?

Otago Witness, Issue 2996, 16 August 1911, Page 78

IS THE NEW WOMAN AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE OLD?

By Luceda.

Lately I have been thinking, reading, and noticing much about the New Woman, and I have come to the conclusion that this New Woman—that is, the average woman of to-day—is something for our ago to congratulate itself upon. You see her in 50 guises as wife, mother, professional woman, clerk, business girl, etc.. but the foundation is always the same. The advocates of the "hobble" 'and "harem" skirts I consider as "freak women," and as such dismiss them from my discussion, for " freak women" have existed from the beginning, and will probably exist to the end. They have stood as glaring exceptions to every type of woman which has evex lived. Let us consider the New Woman in her various vocations. First, for the foundation. The New Woman is, first of all, an educated woman. I do not mean to imply that she is always clever—far from it, —but she is educated. In many cases she has high degrees and diplomas. Sometimes she is selfinstrueted, and often she is an attender of lectures, evening schools, etc., seeking every possible means for improving herseilf. Now, education means training and development in three directions —physically, mentally, and morally. The New Woman is a vast improvement on the Old physically, because, when she found out that tight clothes and small boots were harmful, she threw them away; when she learned about fresh air and! its benefits she threw open her doors and windows and let in the sunlight and the air; when she realised the value of exercise she exercised in proportion as. she needed it; when they told her about the dangers of dust she threw out her microbe traps and put in sensible furniture and hangings. These are a few of her reforms. Mentally, of course, she has vastly improved, for the mental achievements of the average woman of 50 years ago were very, very small. Morally, our present-day woman more than holds her own, for with improved education, broader view, and better mental capabilities come ability to choose between right and wrong, and strength to follow the right. So much for the foundation; but I want it understood that there are as many types of . women raised on thi sfoundation as there are types of houses raised on concrete piles. You all know the New Woman at a glance. You meet her in wet weather; she wears emiart rain-resisting boots, enveloping coat with storm collar, and pretty crocheted cap or tweed hat. She does not give you the impression that ,she is going to melt, but neither does she look at all manish. I am an ardent supporter and admirer of the New Woman, but not of the mannish woman, who clumps round in men's boots, smokes cigarettes, talks questionable slang, calls her men acquaintances "dear chaps," and so on. Never for one moment have I thought of that creature, except with feelings of loathing and disgust. But to go back to the New Woman. In clear, cold weather you see her stepping briskly along in a smart tailor-made costume, and becoming hat. In the summer you see her on her bicycle, looking sweet and cool in a white linen frock and hat brightened by bows of ribbon, her whole costume completed by a pair of brown boots. There is nothing freakish and manish about her dress then. -

Conversationally the New Woman is an acquistion. Sometimes she is a good talker, sometimes she is not; but if she is not, she is* a good listener. You may-, see her one minute doing a bit of wordy banter with a young man fresh from college, anon talking politics with the politician, music with the musician, painting with the painter; and though she does not gossip she is not above talking small talk. I' do not' mean to imply that she is proficient in all the above subjects, but she has sense to avoid those pitfalls which the ignorant fall into ' when discussing subjects they know little or nothing about. Now, to come to the New Woman at home. Some people say that she won’t marry, some that men won’t ask her. Now, this is all talk, for it is as wife and mother that the New Woman most distinctly outshines the woman of 50 years ago. As' a girl the New Woman has no end of boy chums. She likes them, and is liked in return. She plays tennis and cricket, and goes boating in the summer; plays hockey, and is a keen football “ ban-acker ” in the winter. She is a lover of good, clean sport and sportsmen. In her work also she is constantly associating with men. But at last, when Mr Eight comes along, do you think she faints and gasps, “Oh, this is so sudden?” Well, she doesn’t. She says “ Yes" nicely and sensibly, and they settle down as partners in life and work. But first the New Woman leaves work, and takes a course of domestic science, where she learns not only the ways and means of housekeeping, cooking, etc., but also the reasons for these ways and means. Very likely they can’t afford a servant. What matter? She is able and willing to do the work. In America at the present time the wives not only of the working men but of the business men, doctors, ministers, etc., do all their own housework. Above all, she knows ■ the value of money, and does her marketing accordingly. As a housekeeper the New Woman is a decided sucoqss.

Now, as a companion: She understands business and its worries. If her husband is unavoidably kept at work he does not come home to tears and reproaches, but to a cosy fireplace, warm slippers, hot tea, and a smiling wife. One of the greatest results of the effect of this broadened life of women is the exclusion of that petty, totally unfounded jealousy which has broken up many a home.

Then as a mother the New Woman fills the role of the ideal. 'She is the mother, friend, companion, adviser, and guide of her children. From their tenderest years they are taught to come to her in their troubles, and no childish worry is too small to be inquired into and smoothed away. I have said nothing about the Old Woman and not half enough about the New, but just to finish up I want to emphatically state that, though the Now Woman is educated, broad-minded, and capable, she does not ape the man and she has not lost her womanly qualities. She i& quite as charming and loving as her sister of 50 years

ago, but she is vastly Improved otherwise. She is, and always will be, a decidedly womanly woman.