From HERB and THERE

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 2, Issue 3, 1 September 1923, Page 6

From HERB and THERE

|» /j j-iio. j-i. vj. -U-&X&1N XL* a. j. , u 110 IS I J iVI years old and began painting in oils less than three months ago, has won the distinction of having one of her canvases accepted by the Royal Academy. Mrs. Barnett, widow of Canon Barnett, has done some sketching in the past, but her medium was principally water colours. She really began to paint in oils only in February, and one of her canvases was of such sterling merit that her friends insisted she should submit it to the Royal Academy jury. It is estimated that the jury had to throw out at least 8,000 paintings, sketches and sculptures this year. The picture which has won a coveted place at the Academy Exhibition is entitled Towards the Light. It shows a lone fishing boat sailing toward the horizon. Mrs. Barnett was the founder of the Institute School of Art, Hampstead, and co-founder with her husband of the Whiteehapel Art Gallery, o o o IN the parish register of Chiltern All Saints, Wiltshire, there is found an entry of October 17, 1714, after the marriage of John Bridmore and Anne Sellwood, which declares that the wedding dress of the aforesaid Anne Sellwood consisted of nothing but a "shift." The explanation of this extraordinary proceeding is that if a woman would consent to go to her wedding in one garment only, her creditors could not sue her for their due. The same law prevailed in America till a hundred years or more later, and in our own country there is on record a case in Lincolnshire as late as 1844 in which a bride presented herself to be married, wrapped only in a sheet, in order to evade the law of debtor and creditor, o o o THE death is announced of Lady Constance Lyton, daughter of the first Earl of Lyton, and notable militant suffragist. She was born in 1869, but it was not until 1908, when 39 years old, that she began to take part in the struggle for votes for women. Lady Constance was imprisoned four times for her militant activities. While incarcerated in Holleway gaol she decided to scratch "For Women," with a hairpin, on her body, over the heart, but her request for lint and plaster to guard against blood poisoning betrayed her. She spent a month in prison in Newcastle for throwing a stone at Sir Walter Runeiman. Lady Constance Lyton was born in Vienna, and her childhood was spent chiefly abroad. o o o BY women and for women" is *-) the watchword of a new taxicab company which has just started in New York. It owes its existence to the uneasiness caused to women by the recent crime wave. Many of New York's cab-drivers are now spending long terms in gaol for robberies committed upon late travellers. The new company has announced that it will pay its women drivers the same wages as men. In advertisements published it appeals for the patronage of women who, detained beyond the normal time of going home, fear male taxicab drivers. o o o LADY EVE, wife of Sir H. Trustram Eve, of Bramham Gardens, South Kensington, S.W., has been elected chairman of the Parks Committee of the London County Council. Lady Eve told a Daily Mail reporter that she is very interested in games for children, and that would be a great point in her work. "I am very keen about lawn tennis, cricket, and net ball for our young people," she said, "and I consider that playing in a team is an essential part of the education of every child. I have not contemplated the construction of more sports grounds in the parks yet.

A recent development of the women's rights movement has been the formation in the United States of a, national league, designed to abolish the custom of married women taking their husbands' names. In condemning this custom, which is described as a relic of feminine servitude, the league insists that women should retain their maiden names and assert their individuality. While a few advanced clergymen and others endorse the proposal, it is

denounced by some eminent lawyers and judges, who contend that the change would be of.no possible benefit to women, while it would cause endless confusion and bring about dangerous disturbances in homes throughout America. o o o IN one of the New York reform institutions the women inmates recently went on strike because they were refused permission to wear dresses in accordance with prevailing styles, while beautifiers were also banned. Eventually the heads of the institution gave in, whereupon peace was restored. Strangely enough, Salvation Army leaders have expressed their approval of this desire on the part of unfortunates in penal institutions to look their best, and have emphasised the necessity for treating girls differently from men.

To let them have mirrors and curling irons, it is contended, is much better than to compel them to sit lonely in a cell without any opportunity to enjoy their feminine charm. It is also asserted that young women should never be turned loose in garb which brands them as convicts or forces them to continue old associations. It is their privilege to look attractive, and to present an attractive appearance is, in fact, highly commendable.

AT the Surrey Assises recently, Mi-. Justice Coleridge, in welcoming on the Grand Jury the Countess of Onslow, Lady Farrer, and Lady Elizabeth Balfour, said: "1 am quite satisfied that the administration of justice will not suffer any harm, but will be strengthened, by ladies on the Grand Jury." o o o BRITAIN'S youngest chemist is a girl, Miss; Helena Stewart, and she owns and manages herself a drugstore in Baker Street. No one under twenty-one years old is allowed to open a chemist's shop in Great Britain, so Miss Stewart had to wait longer than she had intended before opening her business. Her twenty-first birthday was in October last, and then she bought stock for her store, engaged an assistant, a girl who had worked with her at college, and started in to be a chemist.

jyjRS. CABBIE CHAPMAN CATT, A'l President of the recent International Conference of Women at Borne, was born on a farm near Charles City, lowa. By the time she was fourteen she was teaching school in her home district. She saved her salary, and at the age of sixteen entered lowa College at Grinned. She worked her way through by taking the position of assistant librarian. Graduated at twenty, she was called to fill a vacancy in the high school of Mason City, lowa. Two years later she was appointed school superintendent of the city. A successful educational career seemed opening before lie- when she threw it all up to marry. She helped her husband run his newspaper for a few years, and then he died. Being obliged to support herself, she secured a position as advertising solicitor. It was while she was engaged in the duties required of her that she realised the obstacles that unprotected women had to encounter when thrown on their own resources. The result was that she soon allied herself with the suffrage cause, and began to serve it as State organiser for the lowa Suffrage Association. So great was the power of her oratory, and so high her executive ability, that she rose quickly in the suffrage ranks to impoitant positions, and succeeded Susan B. Anthony, in 1900, as President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, o o o r r , EN rules by which a, happy mar- * ried life may be assured are issued by the Legal Aid Society, says the New York correspondent of the Central News. They are as follow: Do not be extravagant. Keep your home clean. Do not permit your person to become unattractive. A slovenly wife makes a truant husband. Do not. receive attention from other men. Do not resent reasonable discipline of children by their father. Do not spend too much time with your mother. Do not accept advice from the neighbours or stress too greatly even that of your own family concerning the management of your domestic affairs. Do not discourage your husband. Smile and be attentive in little things. He tactful. Be feminine. Men are but overgrown children. They do not mind coaxing, but they resent coercion, o o o MRS. JAMES R. MANN, wife of one of the Republican leaders in Congress, has. submitted a, list of entries as the twenty-five greatest women in the history of the world not now living, says the Washington Post, in the contest being held to determine this question by the Women's Universal Alliance, whose international headquarters are in Washington. Mrs. Mann's, list follows: Mary, mother of Jesus; Ilypatia of Alexandria, Boadicea, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, Joan of Arc, Empress Eugenie, Mary Washington, Maria Mitchell, George Eliot, Harriet Beecher Stowe, George Sand, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Mine, do Stael, Susan B. Anthony, Prances Willard, Florence Nightingale, .Jennie Lind, Rosa Bonheur, Angelica Kauffniann and Cecile Chamihade. Pour other names of women undoubtedly great in their chosen field submitted by Mrs. Man.), cannot be considered, as they are now living. These are Mme. Curie, the world's greatest, woman scientist Sara. Bernhardt, Evangeline Booth, and Jane Addams. It was decided to restrict the contest to the names of women not now living, in order to be certain as to their fame. The winner of this contest inaugurated by the Women's Universal Alliance will be given lOOdols. in gold. All contestants must be members of the Alliance, and notable women as well as those of distinguished or illustrious rank will be considered as eligible for the list of twenty-five.