WOMAN'S WORLD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10440, 20 April 1912, Page 4

WOMAN'S WORLD.

In a recent Life of Hannah More, written by Annette Meekin, it is Btated that it ■was a woman, a certain Lady Middleton, who first enlisted the sympathy of Wilberforce for the negro slaves.

American suffragists have just launched a theatrical company to present suffrage plays. The idea originated with Mrs Jenny Howe, who recently delivered an amusing mock " anti" speech. She thinks tho publio tire of speeches and axe more ready to listen to plays.

Mrs Matthew T, Scott, president-general of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is the owner of a tract of 10,000 acres of land in Illinois on which she is conducting a " back to the farm" enterprise. Only a short time ago Mrs Scott was elected president of a coalmining company.

The Rev W. Johnston, vicar of Tlphall, who is shortly to oelsbiato his pastoral jubilee, recently had the remarkable erpiwience of marrying the third generation of a family in his parish. He had tied the nuptial knot not only for the mother, but the grandmother of a bride he married late last year. Mr Johnston has married no less than 1C55 couples.

Now Tork is rejoicing in its first trio of feminine deputy sheriffs. Two middle-aged ladies, Mars John S. Crosby and Miss Cornelia Swinnerton, of the Women's Suffrage League, and Miss Patterson, a journalist, havo been sworn in, and received badges wfth Mr Sheriff Julius Harburger's benediotion. "Yon can now," Mr Harburgei said, "exercise your authority wherever the law is being disobeyed. Just flash your badge and march the culprits to prison."

The Rev Dr Campbell, pastor of the City Temple, London, declared to an American interviewer that " the only way to get anything you want in politics in England is to inalte yourself a nuisance," Ho affirmed his belief in woman suffrage, which he deolared imminent, and we are told, when asked if the went out and made demonstrations on tho streets of London were held in great esteem in London, answered: " Oh, dear, yes. The women are all very gentle."

Tho Marchioness of Blandford rejoices in the reputafion t>f being tho most ideal mother-in-law in English society. Of hor eon's wife, the Duchess of Marlborough, she is the fastest friend, and when the Duchess entertains on a large scale at Sunderland House Lady Blandford is always her right hand. The Marchioness was very privileged at the Court of Queen Victoria, for sho was the only woman her Majesty ever received who had divorced a husband. She is as popular with hor daughters' husbands as sho is with her son's wife.

A correspondent in Vienna writes:—"The woman student hao censed to be on object of unusual interest here, the is just a student, mid has bccoma so numerous that no ono stares at her. The catalogues for last year show that thero wero at the three Austrian universities 24,80* students, of whom 199.1 were women, about 8 per cont. In the medical department thero were 271, and in tho philosophical—which includes the school for teachers—there wore 11)49, while only. 44 heard lectures in tho law department, where all doors have not yet been opened for women."

"While in New York recently, Anna Pavlova was aaked by a wealthy woman if she would danca at a private dinner fit her house. Pavlova said she would—for £3OO. " Isn't that rather a lot?" said tho lady. "No," retorted Pavlova, " I couldn't do it for less." " Coino," raid tho other, "make it J8250. Do I" "No," said Pavlova, firmly. "No, my prico is .£300." " Very wt 11, then, so be it." And the lady, with a resigned air, rose and drew her sables about her. But at the door she turned tuvd said, " Of course, you know, I tihan't expect you to ininglo with my ffuosts." " Oh, in that case," said Pavlova, with ft smile, "I'll gladly let you'off the m."

Ono of the most prominent social reformers in America is Miss Kate Barnard (of Oklahoma), who is a member of tho Senate, and has tho official rank of Commissioner of tho Department of Charitios and Corrections. Beginning a dozen years ago, at tho ago of cifjhtoon, her crcmado on behalf of tho poor, suffering, oppressed, and defenceless, in tbo newly opened southern reserves of Oklahoma, Miss Barnard's wonderful eelf-de.-o-tion has obtained numerous reforms in the conditions of the masses. She is responsible for three provisions in the State Constitution of Oklahoma, and thirty-two laws in the Statute Books, most of which wera fought at every turn by larg;o and powerful corporate interests. Of stirring oratory, statesmanship, breadth of vision, and widest sympathies, Miss Barnard is universally known an "Hole" far beyond Oklahoma boundaries. '