A PRACTICAL ADDRESS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1871, 17 February 1892, Page 5

A PRACTICAL ADDRESS.

At the presentation of prizes at the Melbourne Girls' College, Miss Gibson, M.A., the Lady Principal, gave an address to the girls, pointing out to them very clearly their responsibilities and the necessity that existed for making the most of the opportunities within their reach if they were to be successful in after life. Miss Gibson said that in connection with our education institutions a serious question arose when so many girls left the colleges after having climbed to the top of the tree. Every year more and more girls stepped forward to earn their living for themselves, and, especially in a new country, their opportunities were small. People who could not leave their daughters money should enable them to earn their own living. The old notion that women had nothing to do but look for husbands had had its day, and had not been altogether successful. It had led to many unhappy marriages, and had made many bitter old maids. Most women realised that life was bare without some work. Up to the present the chief occupation for educated women had been teaching, and as education had become more widely spread teachers had greatly increased in number, and the fact that education was a necessary qualification for the work had given the occupation a higher social standing. It was said now that it was difficult to get girls to do household work. Factory girls were more independent than domestic servants ; and a pupil teacher occupied a higher position than a factory girl. In other countries, now, several professions have been tried for women, and she was glad to know that it was understood that if women must work they should have work suited to their character. The time would come when schools would not aim at book work alone, but till then girls must follow the career within their lot. It was often said that education unfitted people for manual work, but women should let it be seen that a lady of culture need not be ashamed of doing any work for which she might be adapted. They should consider well whether teaching was the calling for which they were adapted. There were teachers who hated teaching, and she sincerely pitied children under their charge. If girls disliked teaching let them take to some other calling, They were pretty sure to find some other. Already the Post Office and Telegraph Office and other means of livelihood were open to them. In course of time several professions would be open to them. Let girls seize every opportunity to cultivate their minds, and especially that talent with which nature has chiefly endowed them. They Bhould never lose sight of the womanly side of their character. Every girl who struck out a new career was a pioneer, and did good work for her sex. No life was happier than that of a worker in congenial work.

The street railways of Paris are under the government control, and the rules for their guidance are very strict. Only four passengers are allowed to stand on the back platform, and they must pay the same fare as the first-class passengers inside, viz., 3d., while those on the roof of the car ride at half rates. In a London police court a wife, only eighteen years of age, said she had been deserted by her husband. Even the day after their marriage they had to pawn her wedding ring to procure food. The magistrate ordered the man, who was out of work, to allow his wife 10s ajjweek. The ladies in connection with the London Missionary Society in South India Borne time ago claimed the right to vote at the annual conference on all questions, and not only on those that specially referred to women and girls. However, some of the older gentlemen objected. Not to be beaten, the ladies appealed to the directors in London. The result is that the directors have sent instructions granting them the same power to vote on all questions that the men have. This will no doubt have a great effect in favor of the equal status of women with the men among the tens of thousands of Christian converts belonging to the London Missionary Society in India. The action of the directors also shows that in the leading congregational circles of Great Britain opinion atronly favors the equality of the sexea.