A Heroine Indeed.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 2005, 15 December 1886, Page 2

A Heroine Indeed.

How maoh necessity then is for opening up new epberes for women'* work me; be seen from the ease of the girl ia boy's clothe* which came before a police magistrate the other day. The young lady, •• who has good features and closely eat hair,” was attired in a short jacket and trousers, with stand up collar and peaked eap, and conveyed tbs general impression of a respectable boy. She had done her work faithfully, ahd had fallen easily into the habits of metropolitan errand boys—such, say, as smoking oiga< rettes. Bat this was only playing her part, and np to now her proceedings were worthy of the greatest praise. If her mother's story is true, it reveals a very pitifnl state of affairs indeed " She said that she had fonr children, and that the prisoner had been supporting her and her brothers and sisters for some time past, every farthing that sbe earned being brought home. She had tried to get employment as a girl, but failed, and ultimately in a state of desperation at seeing them all in a condition of semiostarvation, sbe assumed tbe garb of a boy, and at once succeeded in obtaining employment.” If this is really the state of tbe labor market, the austerest of British matron* might condone tbe short cut hair and the breeches. For here is a girl well a ble and willing to do bard work. She can get no employment of an; kind, and her mother and four sisters are starving. Wtaat can she do ? In a moment of desperate inspiration sbe dons the clothes, and with them the opportunities of tbe stronger sex. She finds work at once. There is a touch of real heroism in this, and there are two classes of the community who should not forget it. First, it should arouse new energy in all who are working directly on behalf or in support of young girls ; and second, it should constitute a fresh and powerful appeal to all who have relations of any kind whatever with young women, not to add, either by thoughtlessness or deliberate selfishness, to the difficulties with which nature and convention have already so unfairly handicapped them.