WOMAN'S WORLD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7678, 11 April 1903, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD.

Among women inventors is tho woman who invented a gas meter for which the Paris Gas, Company ia paying her thousands of dollars a year in royalties.

It is interesting to :-,ote that Queen Alexandra of England Jias invented a combination smoker's outfit. The Queen has not yet taken, out her patent, however, and the only model of her invention which has so far been made is one of gold and silver, and is for the exclusive uso of the King.

A woman not so very long ago invented a much-used car-coupler, and a Miss Helen Murphy, of England, invented a bullet-proof shield made of aluminium. The inventor sent one to Lord Roberts when he left England for South Africa several years ago, where the device attracted considerable attention. It .is now being taken, tip by several foreign Governments.

It is interesting to note, that a lady belonging to a Scottish family has been the first woman elected as a fellow of the Linnsean Society. Mr3 Farquharsou -of Haugkton belongs to several societies, and concerns herself greatly with every progressive movement, particularly where the elevation of the lot of women- is likely to be the result. Mrs Farquhnrson is n distinguished scientist, and has written more than one interesting treatise on scientific subjects, papers which have been read at the International Congress at Paris, at tho Glasgow Exhibition, at the International Congress of Women in. London, aiid in various other gatherings.

A statistical inquiry -undertaken by Dr Beddoe has brought out the curiotis fact that in England' a brunette has ten chances of being married to nino chancc3 if she is a blonde, an^ tho English women are gradually losing their fairness of skin and hair in darker types, simply because men, persist in selecting tho darker-haired women for wives. The same ihing is happening in Germany, France and Switzerland.

Pedestrianisrn ia the fashionable exercise iu London, and the. bicycle of the up-to-date woman reposes in tlie second-hand shop. Even those who possess a half-dozen carriages feel obliged to take a walk every day, and usually combine it with ihe inevitable shopping tour. There is also a return to the " four wheeler " in preference to vhc hansom, which has been popular so long, as the jolting cf the latter is supposed to be harmful.

A new way is suggested for mothers to study their infant children's ways, and g-ivo their experience to the wo"rid and to- other mo;Jier3. It is by means of the camera. It is easy enough learning to take enapehots, and once you can do it you not only have a record of some of your by.by's happiest moments, but you may profitably note his build, growth and general appearance, as

time passes. To take, his climbing upstairs is a study in itself.

Mrs Davidsom, the wife of the new Archbishop of Canterbury, inherited her father's great kindliness and tact. She has been indefatigable in aiding her husband in his work as a bishop, and at Farnham Castle she has entertained probably more Royalties than any bishop's wife. The Duchess of Albany, Princess Henry of Battenberg, and Princess Christian have all been guests there again and again. Tho former Bishop, Dr' Thorold, expended a great deal of money in making Farnham Castl© both homely and stately. It is a big placs to furnish, as he discovered when be began the task, but it did credit to his good taste when it was completed.

Two interesting appointments to the Royal circle have just been made. These are that of Lady Lamington to be Second Lady of the Bedchamber to the Princess of Wales, in succession to Lady Bradford, resigned, and that of Miss Freda Bidduiph as an extra Lady-in- Waiting to Princess Henry of Battenberg. Lady Lamington is, of course, best known as having been, one of! the most popular of those great ladies who spend a portion of their lives iu Greater Britain. Miss Bidduiph is the daughter of one of her lale Majesty's most devoted servants; she is clever and accomplished, and has been known to Princess Henry of Battenberg from childhood.

Queen Helena of Italy has hitherto been quite overshadowed by her popular mother-in-law, " The Pearl of Savoy." Still, she is now making her way slowly but surely into the hearts of Iter husband's subjects. She is known to be devoted to her adopted country, and to be a model wife and mother. There is something strange in the thought that a Princes* brought up amid the wild fastnesses ~: Montenegro should become the arbiter of ta3to and fashion in to ancient a civilisation aa that of Italy. But Queon Helena has shown herself to bo dowered with tru-iy royal instincts; she goes through her duties as mistress of tho Quirinal with composure a±d

grace.

Madame Emilie Carlier has received the French ribbon of th_ Legion, of Honour, and, to judge from her life story, she richly deserves it. While the terrible massacre, wore going on ia Arir -;i_ in 1898, her husband was the Vice-Consul at Sevas. There she showed herself a true Florence Nightingale in her care for the poor victims of the Kurdish soldiery. A young Armenian suffering iroin a severe knife wound was only preserved alive through her constant care. On one occasion a host of infuriated soldiers made- an attack on her own house. Madame Carlier seized a rifle herself and used it to keep them off; and when at length they were repulsed she simply wrote to a friend, as 'the most important event th_t had occurred during the day: "Baby has just cut his first tooth.

For the third time during the thirty-five years of its eiristence the- Royal Colonial Institute on Nov. 25 listened' 'to a paper . written and read by a lady. Lady Hamilton, the widow of (the late Sir Robert Hamilton, who was Governor of Tasmania from. 1887 to 1893, gave her impression, and recollections of Tasmania, before the Commonwealth. Miss Charlotte. H. Spence, a South Australian authoress, who corresponded with George Eliot, read a paper in July, 1894, on tj-jSocial and- intellectual Aspects of Australian Life. And Miss Flora Shaw, now Lady Lugard, who, iu the words of the, late Cecil Rhodes, " did the colonies for the ' Times,' " filled the Whitehall ißooms to overflowing with the graphic recital of her adventurous trip to tho Klondike soon after the discovery of the Arctio goldfield, and Jto_g befor. any conventional facilities for feminine travelling existed..

Kleptomania is so much on the increase among well-to-do women in Paris that Dr Dubui-son has mode a special study of the subject at the request of the- proprietors cf ihe big stores, where such thefts are mpaft common. In his report the doctor treats fully the subject of instinctive monomania, so called, because it leads to ;the committing of offence, which neither reason nor sentiment encourages ; which the conscience reproves, but which the will has not- the power to repress. Of 120 cases studied by Dr Dubuisson, eleven women fcere found suffering from softening of _u> -brain. Of the remaining 109 cases 100 were suffering from' various diseases, Vhich leads the doctor to conclude that a relation does undoubtedly exist between disease and theft. The great majority of the feminine thieves suffered from some .form of hysteria, and the rest of the fair but frail creatures were victims of. debility, morphia or narcotics.