Ladies’ Column and Ladies’ Letters.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 12, 1 June 1896, Page 8

Ladies’ Column and Ladies’ Letters.

It is said that newspapers supply the kind of information that their readers demand. If this be true, how sadiy the fine old word “ lady ” has degenerated. Formerly, being derived from the Saxon “ Leafdian ” —#.*., Breadserver—it signified a useful, purposeful woman. Now, judging from the inane rubbish given in the so-called “ Ladies’ Letters and Columns,' it signifies a creature of the feminine gender, whose chief interest is centred on what she and her kind carry on their bac’s. Would any editor dream of printing under the heading of “ Gentlemen’s Columns ” : “ Mr Vere Tomkins looked very becoming in a morning coat and vestof blue-black worsted, trimmed with silk braid, inexpressibles of French grey tweed, neatly turned up at the bottoms; a spotted blue tie and gold pin ?” Yet this is the kind of stuff served up for the delectation of women under the heading of “ Ladies’ Columns." Besides the inanity of this sort of writing, there is a vulgar personal tone about it, and we wonder that women of any sense do not resent it. One can hardly conceive of anything more impertinent than public comment on one’s clothes, and how one looked in them. Yet we are told that there are certain women who like it, and probably this is true. But they should not be ad. dressed as “ ladies.” Cal) a spade a spade, and let their descriptions of dresses and looks be headed “ The Peacock Column.” Then those that like it may read it, and the good old English word “ lady ” will be saved from degradation.