The World’s Greatest Power — Woman

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 4, Issue 8, 1 February 1926, Page 20

The World’s Greatest Power Woman

WALTER DARBY, Auckland

T T OLLAND, a small country, has *•■*■3. race of hardy women. It is necessary for them to be so. During the winter it often happens that all is frozen up, especially around and about the capital city of Amsterdam, where you find the whole population practically on skates. The women are fine types, and, like most of the northern people, fair in hair and skins that are not thin. To see them in their rare old national costumes is a very picturesque sight, but as time goes on the old costume is fast disappearing. They escaped the scourge of the last great war, and such being the case they have enjoyed great prosperity. They are intensely industrious, and their climate for the greater part of the year necessitates their being very active. Holland is a small flat country with plenty of windmills. Their women folk do not let the time idly glide by, but work while the daylight shines bright, full of strength and goodwill. Hence they are a strong nation of women. "XJOW to give a short description -*■ of the women of Belgium. Their country is most interesting, and the most thickly populated country in Europe. It was during the war that the Queen of the Belgians became so well known and famous; also the thousands of women who passed over to England during the Great War, associating them closer with England than the women of any other European country, and thus you will find many of them speaking English, especially about Antwerp. The better class of women have fine characters. The middle class are most industrious, and they engage in all sorts of work. Their national tongue is French and Flemish. Perhaps their country is the most historic in the world, small

((Continued from our January Issuer)

but world-wide known. Their achievements during the great war will ever be remembered. For the most part they are short in stature. They have lively dispositions and are excellent company. They are generous and very natural, intensely patriotic with a great desire to remain in their country. Their love of work is intense. Therefore, you find industries flourishing in spite of the set-back of the great war. It is a land for whom the whole world has great sympathy, and its women-folk richly deserve it. Their love for works of charity is much marked. Indeed, they are endowed with a fine Christian spirit. Raymond concludes by saying: “Good luck to them, and they are worthy of a bright, prosperous and happy future.” “T FEEL,” said Raymond, “that I J- have exhausted your patience, yet if time would permit, a thousand and one things could I unfold about your beautiful sex. To pass by La Belle France would be impossible. Here in lovely France you have women perhaps second to none in intelligence. All the women would stop to hear of the doings of these beautiful, artistic, intelligent women. They have just the art of making the best of themselves. The women of other nations may have the same qualities, but no other nation of women has the happy knack of making every inch of themselves stand out to the best advantage. Others might take a hat and place it upon their sweet heads and look nice, but the French girl will let it rest there as though it were made especially for her, and the trimmings with which she will adorn it will show up her every advantage. Then she will wear shoes or covering for the feet that will

give her just that flippant finish to her walk that makes all the world gaze. She has the knack of making the two extremes or ends right and the rest is easy. On the average she is blessed with lovely eyes and nice teeth, and those eyes she has trained in all the arts to give expression to motion, feeling and sentiment that attract both men and her own sex. She is able to give a word description of incidents and converse with you in such a manner as to make you feel you are the only person worth while in the world. She is dainty, loveable and possesses characteristics of a very high order. She has a way of paying you compliments that makes you feel you are somebody of importance, and this is good for the virtues they extol, you possess, perhaps only in a mild way. You leave them with the impression that you have much good in you and lofty ideas enter your brain and often you commence to put into practice those virtues which you thought you had not possessed. Some might call this flattery, but it just as truly might be termed encouragement. They seem to understand that your bad qualities are well known to yourself, and it is not necessary to mention them, but your good qualities may be often hidden to yourself even. They are charming company, great lovers, and, to a faithful husband, women with a spirit of sarcifice beyond compare. Liberal minded, not in the least narrow in their views, they are great judges of human nature and know its virtues, and vices too well. Whilst their intensive imagination may lead you to say many things, it is difficult to tell them a real lie, for they can read you like a book. They have the true art of enjoying themselves, and making others do likewise. Whilst their natures, at the first few meetings, may appear light to strangers, it is when you begin to know them you find that there is a depth of character which increases with every meeting. Few women of the world have done more for charity in the fardistant parts of this globe than the French women, and those associated with these great works are often Frances greatest, richest, loveliest and most intelligent daughters. Clever industrious women, and even after marriage, if they enter into business life, they share the burdens and responsibilities of both in a fine and intelligent manner. Their foods are daintily and beautifully cooked. There is no waste, for everything is properly prepared, and even the delicate appetite is tempted. Intensely patriotic, when they leave their country it is always at a tremendous sacrifice, for they love La Belle France. NOW, travel across the Atlantic Ocean, where the largest steamships in the world are to be found, wending their way to the New World, namely, America. You will probably travel in a steamer of over 50,000 tons, with a passenger list of close on two thousand, quite a little

township, with a great variety of people representing all nationalities, for the most part speaking the English language with a foreign accent. These are bound for New York. On this trip you will get some conception of the kind of people who go to make up the population of the United States. The American women are entirely different from those of the rest of the world. They are very free in their speech, and in most cases it is not necessary to have an introduction before entering into conversation with them. They are fluent speakers, and express their opinion freely about most things, and especially about their United States. In their opinion all other countries merely exist, but America lives, and if you wish to be a success there it is best for you to join in the chorus and, if possible, raise your voice even above theirs in praise of America. This will make right your stay in America. They are extremely generous, very fond of sensation, being always on the look-out for some fresh novelty. History and tradition may be good to read about; they are out to make new history, and to make and break records. Time counts for a great deal in their country, and they invariably crowd as much business or pleasure in the twenty-four hours as is possible. Everything must be done in record time. Hence they are always on the look-out for the latest invention or idea to accomplish their end. No country is more marked by the characteristic dominance of the women over the men than the States. They are clever women, and if a man has any particular genius lying dormant in him they will bring it to the surface as quickly as a dentist relieves a patient of his tooth. With so many nationalities making up their population the characteristics of the women-folk are legion. It will be quite some time before they develop a uniform national spirit, and what that will be will be interesting to know. It must come when about seven-eighths of her people are born in America, of parents of American birth. The women are, for the most part, well versed in politics and if they once make up their minds for a change it comes quick and lively. They make love quicklyno beating about the bushand when the bargain is clinched, they expect the man to be what he really ought to be. If he is found to be twenty carat, he will be made happy and comfortable; otherwise, if he is found wanting in this respect, an account of his stewardship might be called into question. Divorce is rampant amongst a certain class. On the other hand, with another class, the marriage tie is kept sacred until death. When will a certain class of American women see the calamity of the lax marriage tics? It will be one of the greatest discoveries they have made for themselves, and for the welfare of their nation. The call on the American women - —with such a huge countryis one

of great seriousness and responsibility. All will depend on them. Such lovely creatures that they are, and with such generous hearts there must exist in them the goodwill to do the right thing, and the right thing is very old -and not pleasant, and requires great strength of mind and sacrifice. “Good-bye,” said Raymond, thanking all the good, kind American women for their many good things. r 'HEN to introduce you to the -®- women of another land, comparatively speaking, whose resources are beyond the estimate of man, and that will in time be a rival of the great United States. This is Canada. The difference between the two countries is much marked. Once you are in the land of Canada hustle and bustle cease to exist. The womenfolk are not so rapid in expressing their views, and perhaps not so quick to relate the history of themselves and family. They are more reserved and take a longer time to become acquainted. The very nature and immensity of their country makes them self-reliant. They are slow to change their customs and will soon revert back to the old one if the new one does not prove wise and beneficial. They are home-loving women, and the country being for the most part agri-

cultural, they are bound to make a strong, solid race. Many of them speak with a slight American accent, which is interesting. Many of them spring from good old British stock, and the traditions of their ancestors are well marked in them. They are women with abundance of character and as time goes on its fruit will be spread in this large, sparsely populated country. In other words, their destiny points to something great, perhaps of slow growth, but sure. They are charming, good entertainers, and most agrcaibe company, with the necessar ■ amount of humour to make life v.. . ill while. IT is a long journey that has no -*■ turning. Just as surely the longest voyage must end sooner or later, and even the description of this charming creature, woman, must come to an end. Before doing so, Raymond said he would like to give his opinion of the women of one other country, whose charms and beauties are not to be out-classed by any other country on this great globe. Indeed, the fortunate discoverer of this land little

dreamt of its great possibilities. 1 rue, he found a native race, the most warlike and intelligent of all other native races. They were a race that even this hardy and experienced discoverer recognised as above the average, notwithstanding the fact that he is supposed to have met his death amongst them. A race even to this day, though diminished in number, is admired by the whole world. Whilst in other countries, the coloured races are looked down upon it is the rare exception and when it does happen it is usually a stranger concerned who does not know their true worth. The white children who followed in the wake of the native race have an esteem and true veneration for the latter that does not exist in a like manner in any other country, and to-day an insult offered to this lovely dark brown race would be resented by the whole white population. It is perhaps the last but not the least land of importance that has been discovered. In climate, wealth, resources and beauty of scenery it is unequalled, and this same native race can boast of having raised one

of its own sons to the high exalted position of Acting Premier, and many of the same race hold positions of importance in the leading professions. “Well,” said Raymond, “I heard from the lips of a learned Italian that wherever you found the original native race occupying the country, blessed with marked intelligence, (which to his mind could be attributed to the effects of the climate and environments) the white children who are born in the same land possess also their many great qualities.” This, from an eminent man who has made a study of the question and undoubtedly he is right and it has been proved so. He also made note that her women folk would be especially distinguished. “Well,” says Raymond, “I must disclose the name of this wonderful country which nature had hidden so long from the view of the British Empire and foreign countries. This land is none other than New Zealand, which name is derived from its first discoverer, Tasman, a Dutchman. It was later explored by the celebrated Captain Cook, eventually becoming a British possession, and remaining to this day British in every sense of the word. You have listened attentively to

CJhe Slim Cjirl QHOULD wear frocks that are or pleated, taking every advantage of the? prevailing vogue for wearing scarves with every kind of frock. If her slimness extends to her ankles she may revel in the fashionable short skirt, and bear in mind that horizontal lines will help to make her more important. Lace frocks, too, should specially suit her, for there is nothing like lace for the soft- mug of angularities. Cjhe Qtrl Q HOULD wear dresses and suits with lines that have a downward movement; like the piague she must avoid those that run round the figure, and take every care, even if she has a belt, that her waist is non-fitting. She will find lung neck openings and long revers becoming, and should rejoice lin t long sleeves are coming in again, for the sleeveless fashion is emphatically not suited to her type. CJhe (§hort Cjirl C MOULD wear skirts that arc not k -- too short, for they will make her look shorter still. And if she fancies a tunic, this should be either very short or very long; the “in between” length is apt to “cut” the figure; nor should she indulge in wide hems, or an evening frock that is very low at the back. CJhe CJall Cjirl O MOULD wear something that lends her dignity, no matter how young she is. Not for her the pretty little muslin frock that suits her best friend so well (!), though flounces will detract from her height so long as they are of the tailored kind, not fussy. Belts, pockets, embroidery, panels, draperies; these, which are at the moment fashionl able, will all help to break the I straight line from neck to hem, i which is not becoming to height.