WOMAN'S WORLDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 251, 23 April 1912, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLDS

(Conducted, by "Eileen")

NOTES FROM LONDON YOUTHFUL REIGNING PRINCESS. . London, 'March 1. A new reigning royalty —Grand Duchess Mary—has, by tin death of her father, the 'Grand'Duke of Luxemburg, come into her kingdom this week. The Grand Duchess, who is only 17 years of age, is under the regency of her mother (who, ■before her marriage, was the Infanta Marie Anna of Portugal). The new Grand Duchess will reign over a duchy a thousand square miles in all, which has its own Parliament and Government, that once was under the jurisdiction of the King of the Netherlands, that now is under the German Customs Union, but that was declared by the Treaty of London, 40 add years ago, neutral territory. A special tongue of its own has this little Grand Duchy—the language being a variety of Dutch, as might be expectod from its history. (French is the official language. A WOMAN DRAMATIST. A remarkable play from the pen of a woman dramatist—Mmc. Karen Bramson—has just been presented at the Thear Varigny in Paris, under the title "Puissance de Hoi." An unusual woman is Mme. Bramson in many ways, young, handsome, rich, an intimate friend of the King and Queen of Denmark, a tremendously energeU ■ creator, who works ten hours a <' " at her writing desk, a pioneer among Janish suffragists, and so well up in civic matters is she that some little time ago she was asked to represent her sex in the Copenhagen Municipal Council—an honor she, however, refused. The play, which deals with the sorrows of kings, was read over in manuscript by Queen Alexandra and the King of Denmark, but Mme. Bramson confesses herself a little dubious as to whether the English Censor will countenance it—a play about kings—after the strictness with which he banned "The Coronation" and, Mr. Laurence Housman's "'Pains and Penalties." A WOMAN HEAD FORESTER. There, is, in California, a lady who is said to be the only woman who has ever held the position of even acting head of a State forest reserve. At the time of the disastrous fire which recently swept over the San Bernado range in California the supervisor of the State forest, being forced to take personal charge of the fire-fighters, appointed Mrs. Leech deputy supervisor and acting head of the department during his absence. Mrs. 1 Leech, who is a Chicago woman, will, after the compelte extinction of the fire, act as the supervisor's deputy in investigating the source and extent of the fire and of re-building the forest from the Government nurseries. GERMAN WOMEN'S CONGRESS. As matters stand at present it would be difficult to imagine the British Government extending to any feminine organisation the courtesy shown the German Women's Congress now sitting in Berlin, since, at an opening banquet, the Imperial Minister of the Interior welcomed the congress in the name of the Imperial and Prussian Governments, and, in an interesting speech, said that its deliberations and the Woman's Exhibition would be watched with the greatest interest. He is of opinion that the efforts of women to obtain economic and social independence constitute one of the most serious problems that has been raised during the last generation. A strenuous programme is being dealt with by the women delegates concerning suffrage, do- ; mestic economy, dress, women's trades and professions, education, religion, morality, politics, family life and household arrangement. LADY PARISH OVERSEER. A lady, Miss Olive Marsh, has been elected clerk to Sturminster Marshall (Dorset) Parish Council. The appointment carries with it the duties of assistant overseer of the parish. | HOLIDAY SCHOOLS.

Encouraged by the great success of the summer schools—viz., special open-air vacation gatherings for London's poorest children in what for luckier ones is holiday time—the London County Council has decided to open, this summer, no less than 40 new play centres. Many of the London parks are utilised for this purpose, and a wonderful happy time is given the little people, who hitherto have had to spend their time in the gutters of some of the meanest streets of the East End slums. Now, both boys and girls are taught mending and needlework, in the hot weather they learn to swim, and, without any irksome discipline, a kindly guard is set over manners, dress, temper, etc., that could hardly be exercised when routine lessons are* the order of the day. • WONDERFUL NEEDLEWORK. An 'exhibition of great interest to needlewomen is to be held next week, and will be called "The Pageant of Embroidery, under tlie auspices of the enthusibody known as the Athene Society of Embroiderers. Since its inception the society, which has a studio in Ivnightsbridge. has stimulated the interest in embroidery by arranging half-hour lessons for members in whatever branch of the work they desire, and by giving expeit advice on all matters connected therewith. Here, they obtain every encouragement and practical assistance. A limbers of collectors of antique needlework are sending their treasures to the exhibition. The tßroiderers Company are lending several sixteenth century banners and many other wonderful examples of ancient needlework, still fresh and bright as if just finished; and a feature of the instructive show will be thaC an 'expert will guide parties over the various exhibits and explain the periods, methods and characteristics of the work exhibited.

BALL 'FOR LADIES ONLY. Whether Mrs. Grundy, after all her centuries of b«\v.aiUngs,ss at all satisfied with the independence of women of the present day, it would be interesting to learn. Last week in England two °new plays were performed, one with no women characters, another with no men and, on Saturday evening, a fashionable iancy dress ball, at which royalties were present, took place in Berlin with a male orchestra and ;i fireman enjoying the distinction of being the only members of the sterner sex present! 'Yet the dance was pronounced a genuine success. The guests were required to come in gowns representing well-known varieties of cluna, lance the name "Porcelain Ball", and many of the dancers were dressed as men.

'SUFFRAGE RESPONSIBILITIES. Consequent on the granting of votes to Ca lfornian women there has arisen the Ualifornian Equal Suffrage Associationr + 7, w !" ch alre 'idy mapping out a list of badly-needed reforms that it calls on women to see carried through, These deal with the desirability of the making of hotter laws in regard to child labor and the white slave traffic, a broader basis of education for women in schools colleges, etc. ' WOMEN OFFICIALS. In the State of Kansas there are no less than 74 women holding elective offices. Of i],i s total bate judges, several are registrars, one is a mayor, while others are county treasurent's C e te nt - V cl "' ks > , s * ;Il0 °l superintend-