Some Notable Women.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 10, 1 April 1896, Page 3

Some Notable Women.

By K. W. S.

(Continued from March.)

MRS MARGARET SIBTHORP is a prominent and important figure among womenworkers in London. One can learn something of her mind and spirit from Shafts , the monthly paper which she so ably edits; but it is a further revelation to look into her face, where one can see her strong, brave soul shining forth. Mrs S.bthorp looks as if in times past she had suffered; but, if so, the result, happily, has not been to embitter » her nature, but to draw out her &ympathies for

others, and especially for women. She is one of the pioneers in advance thought, advocating the principle of perfect freedom frr women. She believes in their economic independence, their right to citizenship, equality in everything with their brothers in the eyes of the law, their right to equal remuneration for equal work in the industiies and professions, and especially in the right of married women to theii individual freedom. She is as strongly against the “ subjection of women ” as ever John Stuart Mill wrs in his day, and strikes out fearlessly at everything which tends to perpetuate evil. She has made a study of hygiene, and has thought out and adopted a certain style of dress, which she invariably wears. She is a lover of animals, and so is an anti-vivi-sectionist. She often pleads in the columns of her paper that the lives of birds might be sp«.i id, and that women would give up wearing wings ai d feathers in their head gear. She calls the habit of wearing such ornaments a relic of barbarism, in i the wings, &c., “death trophies.” Mrs Sibthovp is strongly opposed to vaccination, is a vegetarian in practice as well as theory, and an abstainer from alcohol. Her love for suffering humanity is a passion with her, and yet her emotional temperament does not hinder her strong brain from goingstraight to the cause of the suffering, and trying to remedy the conditions which induced the trouble rather than endeavouring to palliate the immediate effects. She corresponds, and tries to keep in touch, with women in all English-speaking countries, arid takes the keenest interest in their welfare and progress. She is constantly asking the question, although the form varies greatly: “ If she be small, slight-natured, miserable, 11 ow shall men grow ?” And her great longing is to see women strong and free, and taking their rightful place in the world. One feels inclined to “thank God ami take courage after meeting such a woman ! Long may sue be spared to edit Shafis % and through that paper to stretch out a hand ol kindly sympathy and help to all who need it. MADAM SARAH GRAND, whom we have known best as the authoress of the “ Heavenly Twins,” opened the discussion already referred to at the Pioneer Club—viz., “ Moral versus Physical Force,” and, judging from the reception she received, was was very much appreciated. She has a strikingly expressive face, pretty, soft hair, and she dresses most artistically. Her voice is pleasant and tuneful, and she enunciates clearly and without efiort. As I sat listening to her I wondered whether if some of those who had criticised her book so severely, and

speculated as to what kind of monster Madam Grand must be, would not, if they saw her then, feel some of their prejudices melt away; and whether, as they heard her speak so earnestly on the higher morality, it might not have dawned on them that they had misjudged her. Let us hope so. MRS JOSEPHINE BUTLER Is now a dear venerable old lady, so frail, but so tenderly watched and cared for by her many friends and co workers. 1 attended one of the morning meetings of the Conference of the “ British Federation for the Abolition of State Vice,” held last July twelve months, in St. Martin’s Hall, London. When I got into the Hall I found that I had seated myself behind our old friends, L)r. Kate Bushmell and Mrs Andrew. Mrs Butler spoke for a few minutes, and although her voice was weak, her mind was as clear, and her spirit as strong as ever. After the morning session was over, Mrs Andrew introduced me to Mrs Butler, and we all adjourned to the celebrated vegetarian restaurant in Little St. Martin s Lane, where we had lunch. Mrs Butler was most congratulatory to us in New Zealand on our having obtained the Franchise, and earnestly hoped we would use it for all good ends, one of the most important io her mind being the repeal of the C.D. Acts. I was glad to be able to tell her how many of our Women’s societies felt most strongly on the question, and were determined not to rest until the Acts were swept from our statute books. If ever a woman fought a good fight Mrs Josephine Butler did. It is difficult for us to realise in this day of comparative toleration the odium which attached itself to any woman who came to the front forty or fifty years ago in any way. When we add to that the nature of the woik to which Mrs Butler has given her whole life, we must feel that hers is one of the noblest souls that ever breathed, and that the Englishspeaking race owes her a deep and lasting deb f .