WOMEN IN POWER

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IX, Issue 2571, 7 June 1909, Page 3

WOMEN IN POWER

FINNISH KKMAI-K FRANCHISE.

Although the women nicuiljuro ol the •Finnish Did only number 25, those oniVployed in the public service (Match the Iloifiinufoib correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle) exceed 75 nor cent, of Urn total number of employee*. • and in the railway offices, banks and oilier commercial and public institutions their number is legion. Lady doctors, jurists, clerks, and tcachcra are common in other countries, but here in llclsingl'ors women street-sweepers, milk-carriers, paper-hungei'ii, and booking clerks are common. There is nothing a Finnish woman cannot, will not, mid doo-i not do. The progress of the country, the .Methodical, clean ways, and the unfailing courtesy and despatch ouo meets ■ with aro evidence of it. These women are clever and diligent, too. Tlio viiht majority speak three languages, and about 50 nor cent, have a sound knowledge of n fourth. They all speak Swimj-" ifch .ind Finnish (and Finnish i< as dillicuit as Russian). Most, have as well liustiaii or German, and many have both, and linglish into the bargain. They are splendid workers, and have left, their mark on the social legislation o' the rmintrv. They swim lilte folies, can "ski" and skate and plaj hoclcev for bandy), or tennis with the best.' They work hard during the week, and Sunday i; often devoted to recreation. to preserve their fine health ami ml cheek. , , ~, There are certainly drawback* to this dominion of the petticoat. Sad to ielate. man is nothing, or, at best, only a very secondary object, Firstly, yonnm are far more numerous and mlmilely more intelligent and energetic Drew is a lotil art, and home life there is ,£Jue. The lnatsalar. or feeding house, where ouo must scramble for ones low at the common table, is the refuge o man. woman, ami child. There \a not ■ om< pafcablo modish in tlio ctiumry. |)re>H is only a decency, and not a decoration. .