Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

woman's Keview

15th, 1882

slavery, which the Egyptian Governments have so often promised, but have hitherto failed to perform.

A WIFE'S PROPERTY IN HER JEWELS.

The action brought by Mme. Mercer, milliner of Park Street, Grosvenor Square, against the wife of Mr. Hwfa Williams for a debt contracted before her mariage, resulted in a judgment for £1,990. Execution was, thereupon, levied on some jewels, settled on the wife for her exclusive use. These, it will be remembered, the husband claimed as his property, and a verdict was given, at the trial before Lord Coleridge, in favour of the plaintiff, Mr. Williams.

In March Mme. Mercer obtained a rule for a new trial. It was again assumed that the marriage settlement did not refer to the jewels, and Mr. Justice Matthew and Mr. Justice Cave discharged the rule, although the latter judge thought there ought to be a new trial, but yielded to the decision of his brother on the bench.

The defendant again appealed, and a copy of the settlement being produced, one of its clauses was found to state that jewels, ornaments, plate, linen, furniture, &c., were excepted from the property to be transferred to the trustees of the settlement.

The Master of the Rolls said that its effect clearly was to give the wife the jewels for her separate use. They became the husband's property on marriage, and then the marriage made them the separate property of the wife. Section 12 of the Married Women's Property Act, provided that a wife was liable to be sued for debts, and any property belonging to her for her separate use to satisfy debts contracted before marriage, "as if she had remained unmarried."

A verdict was accordingly entered for the execution creditor, with the costs of the appeal in the Divisional Court.

MISCELLANEOUS.

A 'SISTER' from the House of Mercy at Clewer, and a good swimmer, plunged into a pond, and rescued a drowning boy. Surely girls will learn to swim after this,' says an evening paper.

EXERCISE FOR GIRLS.-Dr. Richardson said in one of

his lectures on Domestic Sanitation that cricket is good for girls as well as boys, and when fairly played, when force is not used in the place of skill, brings all the senses into action. There is no reason why ladies' cricket clubs should not be established. There is, however, one game which ought to be abolished, and that is football. It is utterly selfish and brutal, and leads to all kinds of accidents, sometimes to death itself, but to no kind of health, and encourages coarseness and vulgarity. Every child should learn to swim. Hardly any one ever becomes a really good swimmer who learns after thirty years of age.

It is hoped that arrangements will soon be made for giving the girls of the Savoy Precinct Schools instruction in swimming.

LADIES AS JUDGES IN FLOWER SHOWS.-In a flower show at Old Trafford, near Manchester, held on May 26th, two ladies, Mrs. Schneider, of Fallowfield, and Mrs. Cussons of Southport were appointed among the judges. The Manchester Guardian observes "It will need but little consideration, now that we have been told which is best, to perceive why it is best, and that ladies shall in future always have this very important part of the day's work allotted to them, it is to be hoped will now become an established rule."

ST. JAMES'S HOME FOR FEMALE INEBRIATES.—The annual meeting of the directors of this Home was held on May 18th, at the St. Michael's School, Buckingham Palace Road, under the presidency of the Earl of Shaftesbury. The report, which was read by the hon. secretary, Mr. Charles Zierenberg, stated that the average of the number of women reclaimed was higher than in any preceding year; and reference was also made to the permanent effect of the teaching that was received at the home. During the year 451 applications for admission had been made, and many women had been unwillingly turned away for want of funds. Amongst other work 11 girls had been returned to their parents and several married couples reconciled.

A MAGISTRATE'S DECISION.-Are magistrates aware of the power placed in their hands of decreeing a separation between husbands and wives, in cases of great

cruelty. We fear very many are still ignorant of the law. Three weeks ago a middle-aged woman applied to the magistrate at Clerkenwell

"For a protection order against her husband, so that she might be separated from him. Mr. Barstow said it was a common mistake among some people to think that a magistrate had the power to do what the applicant in this case asked. If she wanted a separation order, she must go to the Divorce Court. The applicant said that she had been twice married, but that her second husband had turned out a "perfect devil." He got drunk, threatened her and her family, and was selling her home bit by bit. Mr. Barstow remarked that the home was probably her husband's. The applicant said that was not so, as the furniture was left her by her first husband. When the present made up to her he was not blessed with a single farthing, but he spoke so fair, treated her and her family with such kindness, said it was not the "flesh pots" he was looking after, but only desired to make her a kind, loving, and affectionate husband, and to look after her in her hour of need, that she was deceived, and married him. He had not been in the house long-she had only been married to him some five months--before he threw off his mask, and showed himself in his true colours, began drinking and cursing, and if she did not give him money he would go to the till and take it. Owing to his dissipated habits her business was being ruined, and she was afraid that if he were not checked, she and her family would have to go to the workhouse. Mr. Barstow said he had several of these applications before him, but all he could do was to refer the the parties to the Divorce Court, and that was in many cases as bad as no advice at all, for the parties had not the means to go there."

Miss E. A. ORMEROD, F.M.S., has been appointed Special Lecturer of Economic Entomology at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. Miss Ormerod is Consulting Entomologist to the Royal Agricultural Society.

EIGHT London School Board Scholarships, four for boys and four for girls, will be competed for on the 29th and 30th of the present month. They range from £28 to £30 a year, and include two Lawrence Memorial Scholarships, four given by the Drapers' Company, and two given by the Clothworkers' Company. There are also some scholarships for blind children, given by the Committee of Gardner's Trust.

METROPOLITAN ASSOCIATION FOR BEFRIENDING YOUNG SERVANTS.-Lambeth ladies will be glad to know that a branch of this valuable agency has been opened at 7, Vauxhall Row, Thames Embankment, and that the Free Registry is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 11

till 1 o'clock. Not only are annual subscriptions greatly needed, but the personal assistance of ladies willing to help in befriending destitute girls from 13 to 20 years of age. The hon. sec. pro tem, is Miss Davenport, 3, Crown Villas, Kennington Öval.

EARLY CLOSING.-A correspondent of the Times signing herself Fair Play calls attention to the difficulties attendant on any scheme which would involve universal early closing. She says:

The letters that appear from time to time on this subject would give the impression that the ladies are determined to do their shopping at unreasonable hours, and that it is through a carelessness of the "sufferings" of their "sisters" that this is done. May I give another side of the picture? Throughout the West-end and in other parts of London the shops at which the richer and upper class of ladies purchase are shut early, for these ladies are generally taking their afternoon cup of tea at 5 o'clock, and seldom go shopping after that hour. But there is a large class of ladies who are employed all day, such as daily governesses, officials in the post office or elsewhere, assistants in shops, &c., who cannot possibly go shopping until they are off duty, but who are not, therefore, blameable for adding to the hours of these shop assistants. These ladies cannot possibly enter a shop before 5 o'clock, and often much later; what are they to do? For on Saturdays the shops shut at 2 o'clock. The remedy is easy, and is in the hands of the shopkeeper. Let him reduce his staff at 4 or 5 o'clock, and give the assistants, each in turn, a shorter time of duty. It is possible that this would make the rest work a little harder, but this they would gladly do, feeling that it was a general benefit, and that they in their turn would get the chance of an evening's holiday. I feel sure, from my own experience, no one would willingly buy by gaslight whom circumstances permitted to buy by daylight, especially articles of dress. With regard to the remark of your correspondent as to the unhealthy state of the atmosphere in the shops, he will find that this is a tender subject, for if he were to make a remark on this point, he would find not only that those whom he supposes to be suffering from the bad air are quite unconscious of the fact, but are inclined to resent such remarks as tending to infringe the liberty of the British subject. One point is remarkable. Throughout the constant attacks on the shortcomings of ladies no mention is made of the work of the barmaids, especially those who work in the railway station refreshment rooms. "Would it surprise" your correspondents to learn that these young girls work from sixteen to seventeen hours a day, and sometimes have no holiday for thirteen consecutive months? And yet no suggestions are made to gentlemen to avoid going to "have a brandy" or a "sherry and bitters" after 5 o'clock, or as to otherwise arranging to give these sufferers a chance of fresh air, which must be as necessary to them as to those who do the comparatively easy work of selling a yard of riband or a pair of gloves to a lady, who is not in a hurry to catch a train,

and can therefore give ample time for counting change in making up the total of her purchases-a boon of no small value when mental arithmetic forms a large item in the 17 hours' work. There are times in the middle of the day when practically shops are empty of customers; why cannot this time be given for a walk to get fresh air? Ladies are not usually customers at tobacconists', yet few shops keep longer hours and have fewer holidays than these. As a rule, it will be found that these even keep open on Sundays. Yours obediently,

FAIR PLAY.

GARIBALDI'S APPEAL TO WOMEN.

THE following proclamation was issued by Garibaldi to the Sicilian Women from Messina, on August 3rd, 1860. It shows that from the example of Mazzini, Garibaldi had confidence in the patriotism of women, and in their willingness to perform the hardest sacrifices for a sacred

canse.

TO THE SICILIAN WOMEN.

"Liberty! the most precious gift of Providence to peoples, has been gained for Sicily, thanks to the manly resolution of the Sicilians, and the generous aid of their brethren of the continent. Liberty, difficult to gain, is more difficult to keep, as all Italy for ages has experienced to her cost. Sicily is such a country that there is no need in her case to recur to foreign histories to find examples of all kinds of civic virtues, and the women there have at all times displayed a courage which has astonished the world. From the women of Syracuse, who cut off their tresses to make ropes of them in the old Roman days, to those of Messina, who encouraged their relatives to attack a bombarding host, there are valiant deeds of this sex in this Island. The Vespers, also, an event unparalled in the history of nations, saw the fair islanders fighting by the side of the combatants for national independence.

I myself (I recall the occasion with emotion) in denouncing from the Palace of Palermo to this generous

« AnteriorContinuar »