DO WOMEN-?

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 65

DO WOMEN-?

By

Plain Jane.

(Special for the Otago Witness.) First of all our critics insisted that we lacked all or at least most of the attributes necessary to fit us for a share in public affairs. A later stage marked the interrogatory period—Can women reason Do women think? Are women capable? And so on. I smiled the other day, when I read that that enterprising newspaper, the Literary Digest, had conducted an inquiry on the Question—“ Do women 'ose, sooner than men, their power to think? ” Anyhow, that supposes that w e do think, which in itself is something to the good. Answers were invited from the heads of women’s organisations, with this result: “ A flood of replies has come in, and, as it turns out, the letters discuss not only the point directly at issue, but go on to fell what is in the minds of thinking women and to compare their meatal activity with that of men. Most interesting the compiler finds this. He tells us, ‘ I wish that I could publish all the letter's, unabridged. Never in my whole experience have I had better material to work with. But the extent of it is so huge that, to. niy regret, space allows me to quote" from only one correspondent in six.’ Then he remarks, ‘ I have been impressed greatly by the tone of the letters. Not one reflects the spirit of the so-called “ war of the sexes.” Women criticise men, it is true, but they do it understandingly and, therefore, generously. Moreover, they are not nettled by the question raised ; they are too secure in their position for that. To me, the reading of this enormous mass of testimony has been a delight, for it shows conclusively that the women who are leaders of women have a sense of measure and of fairness which as I take it is just about the finest thing that education can produce.’ ” 1 cannot do more than give a small amount of space to the replies. It is not necessarv in every case to quote the woman —her ideas are the main thing—and we must be content with a representative selection. The first woman quoted points out the different attitude that speakers take when addressing women and addressing men. As she says: “ A public speaker, before the average group of business men, is wary of literary reference or subtle criticism of popular writers, and he usually injects suffice t of the well-known fraternal platitudinous matter to appeal, as he believes, to all his audience. This is no longer true of the men who are engaged to speak before club women. It is for Gentlemen’s Night that the programme-maker seeks for the popular good-fellow style of entertainer.”

Another candidly observes : “ Since not to think is no disgrace and to feel is a

charming virtue, some women, when inertia or disillusionment overtakes them, backslide into the conditions of yesterday, not because they have lost the potver to think, they have lost the desire.” In lighter vein, a third woman says:—■ “ Offhand, I should say that your question, ‘Do women lose their power to think sooner than men’ deserves to. be placed right side by side with the timehonoured one, ‘ Who is the head of the house?’ It would be quite as prolific of discussion, and equally convincing in results! Why not get some concrete data? Compile a list of thinkers on varied lines and among men of a certain age, and lei, the women match it; or reverse the process. It would be an interesting experiment.” i “ I do not for a moment believe that women lose their power of thinking sooner* ■ than men ” reasons another. “ It is true that there is often a period, when a woman’s children are small—especially if she has several very near together—and her house-keeping tasks at their heaviest, when she seem s to lose her contacts with events outside her own home. But at the end of ! this period, if she was really an intelligent woman to start with, she usually faces the world with a mentality which is not damaged,. but improved by the experience she has had. It requires patience and quick-wit-tedness, tact, and ingenuity, .executive ability and a sense of economics and pro-

portion, to bring up children and run a house—to mention only a few of the qualities that make up the average mother's mental equipment; and in the exercise of all these she develops. other qualities, which teach her and help her to think rapidly and wisely and well.” ” Women keep their enthusiasm longer than men, ’ thinks one, while another tells Us that “ what women’s clubs have done for woman and the home simply can not be measured, men who have almost forced their wives into these organizations because they have seen what they did for other women, and then I nave watched these newcomers grow. It’s marvellous.”

Some vary in v views suggest that wo* men s clubs nave erased for ever the words ‘ country woman,’ for the women in rural districts are as up to date as the women in the large cities.” From another source: ” J have never attended an afternoon bridge where some aspect of women’s work was not discussed.” “As a woman,” says another, “ I would naturally prefer to say the woman’s power of thinking equals if not outlasts the man’s. Iler weakness is that she is not so willing to put her thinking to the test, as. the man does, mainly because she thinks in long terms, the man in short terms. Woman is created to prepare for the future. That which she experiences today registers the knowledge that there will be an after-effect, sooner or later. The average man thinks of the expediency of the moment.”

Comparing the relative mentality of man and woman, one puts .it thus :—" “ Women think quicker than men, and they are impatient of the methodical, ana lytical reasoning of thinking men. “ A man gets half through his story and the woman breaks in with ‘ Yes, dear, and of course you closed the deal on you; own terms. I am tremendously proud of you,’ or ‘Never mind, you lost out this time, but you still have S— to see. Don’t forget to wear that new suit when you call on him/

“ Women's intuitions are surer than their thinking processes, and despite of all that is said to the contrary, they have more imagination,, than men.

: e more accurate thinkers, but nine men out of ten need the stimulus of a woman’s interest to carry their thinking .j a p..i.ci>cai issue. “ No matter how well, how long, or how late t woman thinks, there is always in ’• cm n- r of her brain a desire to make some man proud of her.

wo.iien over twenty-five care far more for their intellectual and higher development tha.n they do for clothes, amusements, and social position. As to whether they lose their power to think sooner than men is a matter of individual health, strength of will, power of concentration, and environment. “ Life has brought m e in contact with both men and women in their ’eighties whose minds are more active and alert to-day than ever, and again I have known men and women with every educational and financial advantage who at forty were mere automatons. It is all a question of the individual.”

“ Men do not arrive at a conclusion as clearly as women,” says another woman, while this original view follows: “ All too often their vision is obscured by the sign o! the dollar mark, or ‘ how will my analysis of this question affect my business?’ 1 f more men counselled with their wives, fewer gold bricks would be sold.” One more must suffice:—7 ‘‘ While I know hundreds of women who seem to increase in mental ability as the years pass, I am prone to believe that women grow careless earlier than men. Not having the same incentive for keeping constantly on the alert that men have, they give in more quickly to trivial interests and begin to slump, club women excepted. " I Believe that women are more generally well informed than men, consequently Letter conversationalists ; but, often, having tasted of a degree of local glory, they are more easily led into bluffing. An accomplished bluffer ceases to really think, and the end soon comes.” There . are at least another score of equally interesting and versatile opinions, and a careful reading confirms my rooted belief that there is little difference between the sexes. Whatever difference exists is du« to training and opportunity, and as our oportunities are daily increasing the

differences are becoming less and less. In the world of affairs we are still some distance behind, but the progress of women is greater than that of men because of the leeway to be made up. It is a law of nature that what we want most we get, and as we feel the need of knowledge and all that it implies the need will surely be satisfied, because we will make the necessary effort to acquire it.

WOMEN POLICE. WELLINGTON. March 1. A deputation froni the National Council .if Women waited on the Minister of Justice (Mr F. J. Ilolleston) and the Commissioner of Police (Mr W. B. M’llveney) to-day to put before them the subject if women police. Mrs H. Smith (president) said they had recently seen in the papers that there were two police matrons in Auckland, whose duties, according to the regulations, were not only in and around the police stations, but included those which would be considered policewomen’s duties. The reasons for urging the appointment of policewomen were that the police matrons could not perform all the duties scheduled for them. These duties, t seemed, should be performed by bona fide policewomen with pay, status, and all training commensurate with the importance and responsibility of those duties. It had been found in other parts of the world that women police, if properly trained, were a great success, and an assistance to women and children. While expense would probably be the reason given against such appointments, it was believed that the preventive nature of their duties would have results in the opposite direction, and in the end save the country much money, which now must be spent in curing what might be prevented In short, the council thought that the whole work of dealing with the criminal and protective work with regard o women and children should be in the hands of women as far a.s possible. These women should- be carefully chosen and thoroughly trained, and should have the status and pay which such work deserved. Mrs Smith asked if the police matrons had to take the oath.

Commissioner M’llveney replied in the negative. It was not considered that the oaths as 'dministered in the case of a policeman would be appropriate for a woman The only way would be to have an alteration in the form of the oath.

The Minister gave the deputation very sympathetic hearing. He said the}’ weie contemplating appointing more women. As to tlie name, while Mr M’llveney disliked that of “ policewomen, ’ the matter could be considered. It was not considered possible to give the same status to women, because thev could not perform the same duties.

Mr M’llveney read extracts from the reports of the police matrons, showing they had escorted prisoners, helped women and children off railway stations and boats, patrolled parks and playgrounds, and as well had attended nrisoners at the police station and courts. Some of those appointed were the widows of police officers, who had had experience in the country at small stations.

Some members of the deputation thought the appointments should be made known so that others could apply, but the commissioner stated that many applications were received and the candidates were carefully selected. Mr Rolleston promised consideration of the reouest regarding the name and status of the women so employed, and said he would look into the question of their taking the oath.

Mrs Smith thanked the Minister and commissioner for their sympathetic hearing. A MAD IMPULSE. AUCKLAND. February 27. A sensation was caused in Karangahape road on Saturday night by an intoxicated youth in a “ borrowed ” motor ar which, unable to take the bend ip the road, mounted the footpath, -knocked down a pedestrian, and then collided -with the safety zone. The car was taken by the youth from Mackelvie street. Ponsonby, and was being driven along Karangahape road towards the Grafton bridge. Eye-witnesses state that its speed was excessive. The car coul 1 not take the bend in this street about 100yds before the intersection of Pitt street, and it mounted the footpath, and d .shed along the pavement for some yards, knocking down David Thompson, aged 55. who resides at Cook street. Still out of control, the car continued its wild career across the street, and, after colliding with a veranda post, it struck the safety zone with some force, and again went on to the pavement further down the street. Mr J. M’llveney. inspector of police at Auckland, who happened to be walking along the footpath at the time, had a narrow escape from serious injury, the car missing him by a few inches.

When the car stopped Constable Wilson, who was standing • under George Court’s veranda, promptly arrested the sole occupant. Robert Joseph Charles Draper, aged Mr Thompson was picked up, and after being attended to. was admitted to the Auckland Hospital. Yesterday his condition caused some anxiety, but this morning he was reported to be out of danger and progressing satisfactorily. His injuries consist of a fractured ••ight humerus and a fractured right rib. Draper was brought before Mr F. K. Hunt. S.M.. at the Police Court this morning, when he was charged with unlawfully converting a motor car valued at £2OO to his own use, being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a car, having no license to drive, driving in a reckless and negligent manner so as to cause injury to David Thompson, and with wilfully damaging the car to the extent of £6 3s Cd.

Draper was remanded in custody until March 3.

HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS.

Dry starch moistened with water and laid on a bruise will prevent the skin discolouring. A piece of bread tied up in muslin and put into the water in which vegetables are cooking will prevent an unpleasant smell. When sewing on buttons that will have a great strain on them, put a piece of an old kid glove imder the material to which the button is sewn.

Glycerine will remove tea or coffee stains from white or coloured table linen. Apply with a soft, clean cloth, leave for an hour or so, then wash the article in the usual way.

Fruit stains on tablecloths should not be allowed to dry in. As soon as the accident happens, stretch the stained part of the cloth over a basin and pour boiling water through till the stain disappears. When pressing clothes, do not run the iron along as when ironing in the ordinary way a« this tends to stretch the material. Press on the iron for a moment, then lift and place on the next part of the garment. Before using a new lamp chimney, it should be placed in a pan of cold water, which must be brought to the boil. Allow the chimney to cool before drying it. This will harden the glass, and it will last much longer. A smoky chimney is best cleaned by being plunged into warm vinegar and water to which a little salt has been added. This loosens the soot.

Remove all stains from alabaster by sponging with a flannel- dipped in finelypowdered pumice stone, after being mois tened with turpentine. Wash with warm borax water, tepid white soapsuds, and wipe dry. Polish with a soft dry brush dipped in plaster of Paris, which may be used with white of egg for repairs. Do not let your children drift aimlessly. Teach them to be self-Tespecting, and to know that all debts have to be paid. Money debts are best not incurred. Debts in the way of careless conduct, indifference to duty, lack of carrying out the ordinary rules of health all have consequences that can be very disagreeable. Children benefit greatly by an hour’s rest some time in the early afternoon. Just after the midday meal is best, and a child should be put into a darkened room and allowed to sleep cosily for a good hour. When out on holiday it is not impossible to tuck a little one up in his pram or in a cosy corner by the sea, if the sun shines. To avoid strain on the worn portion of a garment to which a patch is applied take care that the threads of both garment and patch run in the same direction. Damp the patch and press it over with a cloth and it will wear better and be less noticeable. Remember that whin a hole makes its appearance the fabric round it is more or less stretched and thin and needs strengthening by having the patch much larger than the hole. It is rubbing with soap and washing in too hot water that usually causes woollen garments to shrink. They should just be squeezed through warm soapy water and rinsed in clear water of the same temperature. If they have shrunk they can be improved by washing in soapsuds and rinsing in clean soapsuds instead of clear water ; repeated washings in this way will often restore them to their proper size and fluffiness.

o r in a country nook. Anyhow, mother well knows that that hour’s sleep in the day-time is a splendid tonic.

ROME INTERESTS.

BREAD SAUCE. On o teaspoonful of white breadcrumbs half a pint of milk, two cloves, three pepperoforSuttP°rneH S H all a onion ’ half a of cream’ P ° P^ r ' -° ne lable »Poomul wttT th h ° muk . in a pan ° n th® into it a r e o mOl! ’ Wlth the clovea into it, and the peppercorns. Brin- it to the t k, eU 1 &ha k e in the crumbs, add i butoer, and let it simmer gently for If il i 9 to ° thick add a little boiling water or more milk. Remove the cloves, onion, and nepnefcorns, erX“ Wlth k and P e PP er . • a Jd the cream, and serve it m a hot tureen. N.B.— it a cheaper sauce is wanted, leave out tn© cream and butter.

GRAPE FRUIT MARMALADE. Required: two grape fruit, one lemon, one and a-hali pints of water to each pound of raw fruit, IJlb of sugar to each pound of cooked fruit. Grate or 3’ice finely the rind and pith of the grape fruit and lemons, then slice the pulp and put all into a basin with the water. Leave it all night, j-icxt day put all into a pan, and simmer nntil the rind is tender. Leave for 12 tours, then weigh the mixture and add IJlb of sugar to each pound of fruit. Put all into the pan, and when the sugar has melted, boii fast until the marmalade sets when tested. Remove any scum; pot, cjid cover. SOLE SANDWICHES. Cook a skinned and filleted sole between two buttered plates. When cooked, shred the fillets finely and mix them with e. lit’le of the liquor on the plate or with a tablespoonful of cream; season well and re-heat. Have ready some slices of toast freshly mado and not too thick. Cut off the crusts and split each slice in half. Spread the untoasted sides with anchovy butter, cover one with the sole, and press the other on the top. Cut into fingers, and re-heat in the oven for three or four minutes. Serve on a d’oyley on a hot plate. Garnish with parsley. Plaice or whiting may be use<i instead of sole. These sandwiches make a good luncheon for invalids, in which case the toast should be spread with plain butter. Anchovy butter is made by mixing anchovy paste with butter. LUNCHEON PATTIES. Lina 12 patty pans with short crust pastry, fill them with crusts of bread, cover with a lid of pastry, and bake in a hot oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the lids carefully and take out the crusts. Mince half a pound of cooked ham, cut half a pound of potatoes up small, mix them with the ham. Melt half an ounce of butter in a pan, add a small chopped onion, cook for five minutes, add half an ounce of flour and half a teaspoonfnl of made mustard, and when blended smoothly stir in a gill of milk or stock. When this boils, add the ham and potatoes, and a dessertspoonful of chopped parsley. Season and cook for eight minutes. Fill the pastry cases with the mixture, cover the lids of pastry, and reheat in. the oven for a few minutes, then serve. Note: Cooked tongue, veal, chicken, game, rabbit, or lamb may be used for these patties. ROAST GROUSE. One brace of grouse, two slices of raw fat bacon, two slices of toast, a level tablesponful of butter, half a teaspoonful of salt, half a saltspoonful of black pepper, a few drops of lemon-juice. Have the birds prepared for roasting. Mix the butter, salt, pepper, and lemon-juicc, and put half of it ■nside each bird. Tie a slice of bacon over the breasts of the birds, and roast them before a clear, sharp fire for about 30 io 35 minutes. Baste them frequently with butter or good beef dripping. Abont 10 minutes before the roasting is completed, remove the bacon, dredge the breasts oi the birds with a little flour, and baste them ..with butter. At the . same time nut the slices of neatly-trimmed toast under the birds in the dripping tin. When cooked,. remove any string or skewers, lay the toast on a hot dish, plice a grouse on each slice, and. garnish the dish with heaps of filed crumbs and sprigs of washed watercress sprinkled with a few drops of salad oil, and salt and pepper. Serve with .the gravy strong and well-flavoured, and the bread sauce.