Mr Maclellan's Reply to "A Young Woman.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11725, 28 November 1905, Page 3

Mr Maclellan's Reply to "A Young Woman.

TO "THE EDITOR.

Sir. — I am not in the habit of replying to anonymous writers, as a rule, but, I think, in all courtesy to tho correspondent of the gentler sex who animadverts upon, and takes me to task, on what I communicated, through your generous columns, some days ago I will forego my usual attitude. I have old-fashioned notions about young women taking part in controversies of this kind; yet, I presume, it is the fashion of the day — to me it seems that these young women have assumed masculine garb as well as up-to-date slang. Now my dear young lady (I beg your pardon, I mean "Young Woman") it is not pretty to say that you know what he is "getting at/ Neither is it particularly ladylike to talk about "any yarn anyone might spin" — somehow such expressions do not appear to belong to the gentler sex. Let us hope that it was your little brother, or, perhaps, your young lover who suggested such phrases. I suppose you are twenty-one; but still that age nowadays seems to me almost infantile. As far as girls are concerned, some thirty or forty years ago a girl of sixteen knew far more about good housekeeping than the average young woman of six-and-twenty of to-day. She, however had no time for women's rights or women's franchise, her sole aim being the happiness of her home and pure domestic bliss. Why, bless my soul, a girl of one-and-twenty in those- days was almost looked upon as an old maid ! The Toting- latly says "that they all feel aii-d know that they are doing their best for tho town and their fellows. They may feel, but they certainly don't know and will require a lot of experience before they gain that knowledge.. I am sorry to hear that there are "crowds" of these young women, and, by inference, young men, who are not churchgoers. Their Christian education, evidently, has been

and slill is sadly, neglected. Perhaps a term or two at Sunday school would benefit them. My young friend says that she would like me to come in contact with somfc of the young women (let alone the young men). Well, for the present, I'll let the latter alone, so if she will kindly send me her name and address T shall Ho most happy to meet lser, and any of her gentle friends, whenever convenient. You then might' have, a chance, "Young Woman." of saving yourself and others from assisting to bolster up the greatest and most ridiculous fallacy that the world has ever known. — I am, etc., D. MACLELLAN. P.S.— Understand that I am taking an exceptional course on this occasion, and will not -further reply to anonymous correspondence. '"