WOMAN'S SPHERE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9701, 4 November 1909, Page 5

WOMAN'S SPHERE.

[to the editor.!

Sir, —Let woman-kind be thankful. The pen is mightier than the sword. For I feel myself called upon to wield oue iii defence of women, after the way "Peripatetic" dealt with us in Tuesday's issue of the Daily Times. Now, I always read and enjoy "Fugitive Notes," but this time my enjoyment was speedily changed to chagrin. First of all "Peripatetic" criticises the Suffragettes. Well aud good. We live in a laud where women have equal rights with men, aud apparently "Peripatetic" does not complain of that. In England (the laud of the free!) these rights are denied to women; yet, if New Zealand women are allowed the franchise why not English women? It is pretty generally conceded now, that the Suffragettes will win, but does anyone think they would do so, did they not resort to such extreme measures? Again, "Peripatetic" cannot understand why women resort to beauty specialists and so forth. I wonder if "Peripatetic" ever knew a man who did understand a woman; aud, surely, our critic is illogical. He complains because we run to the two extremes of filly. All women know male creatures who curl their hair, use strong perfumes, wear purple and gold socks, aud sleep in gloves. We are acquainted, too, with the tj T pe of man that loafs round street corners, uses bad language, smells horribly of haeraud tobacco, aud appears to have a stroug aversion to soap aud water. No clean-minded healthy woman cau tolerate either specimen of humanity; yet because of them we do not rush to the conclusion that manly, clean men are disappearing. I would have "Peripatetic" believe me, there are other women than the Shrieking Sisterhood, and the poor silly butterflies who are slaves to fashion. The gentle, modest woman is not disappearing; as long as men continue to give liar that respect and regard with which they have honoured her through all ages, she will exist. The woman with the huuthig crop aud masculine voice exists, I kuow, but so does the dirty loafer who will not work for a living; and neither can be taken as a true type of their sex. Trusting you will forgive me for taking up so much of your valuable space,—lam, etc.. "SHEILA." Mastertou, November 3rd, 1909.

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