The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-10-18

WOMAN'S WORLD.


SWefeQ In the negative, Iva ehS
of women in Austria is a low one says
a woman writing from Vienna NOR can
we expeet it to be raised in any great
degree till the women themselves are
alive to their position. and take an active
interest in it. instead of continuing in
the slassez faire'' state of the present
dav. True it is that a few women are
working tooth and nail for their cause,
but there is great difference of opinion
as to what that cause is-in fact, it
seems to me that there is a want of
union between the different societies
founded by women and the founders Of
such societies.
This is a transition period. The girls,
too, of this generation are more alive to
their position, though the majority are
still anxious not to mix themselves up
with modern thought. So in their eager
ness to obtain husbands and fear of be-
ing stigmatized as "Alte Schatelm' told
maids) las unmarried women are called
here, and even of girls of about "a, one
often hears it said:-s-She is no longer
young"
The wife's dowry is subject to marri-
age settlements, but she has no right to
control her fortune or manage her
estate should she possess one. While
nominally It belongs to her. in reality her
husband has power owe" it as admins
traitor. Should her husband. however,,
mismanage or waste her estate, or even
his own she has her remedy. She can,
with the consent of the trustees. under
her marriage settlement take out letters
of restraint against him. but even be she
successful she still has no right to man
age her own estate. A male guardian,
generally the trustee, is appointed to look
after her rights in those of her children.
Here again in the eyes of the law she is
a minor.
In the case of such women who have
followed some trade or profession before
marriage the consent of the husband is
necessary before she may follow 1t after
marriage. unless it be specially stipulated
for iii the marriage contract. This also
applies to cases. where husband and wife
are parted either by mutual consent or
by law
1t seems curious that although women
are incompetent in the above mentioned
cases in all the Austrian provinces with
the exception of Corinthia, and the w
ships Of Vienna and Trieste, taxpaying
women are allowed to vote for the town
councils. though, of course, they have no
parliamentary vote. At Stockerau. less
thar half an hours journey from Vienna,
last March, the town council passed a
new law. of which one clause runs as fol-
lows:-.sThe right of voting is personal.
$50 ,raxpaving woman may exercise
their vote either personally, Or any one
resident in the same district to whom
they give the power may exercise 1t for
them
BY a Jaw of 1919 women may also vote
for the lower Austria provincial Diet;
provided they have completed their
twenty-fourth year, the age at which al
Austrians. whether male or female. come
of age. This right. together with hat of
voting for the town councils. was again OF
cognized and made law in 1861. 1t IS IN
tcresting to note that one of the most
promising, prominent and capable OF the
members returned to this provincial Diet
in question owed his seat entirely to the
women
Then il was that other members, per-
haps not finding the member in question
to their taste. began to question the right
of women to vote, but in vain. In Octo-
her. 1888, the question was again raised
in the lower Austria Provincial Diet,
when forty-three out of the fifty-two
members present voted against IT, twenty
members absenting themselves. One OF
the chief arguments brought against
women having the vote was that the
women themselves did not value it, and
had never petitioned against being shut
out from 1t.
The struggle is still going on. Since 1890
a society has been formed which has the
Parliamentary vote for women as its aim.
But the times are not rropitious, and as
women may neither form political So
cieties nor speak in the mems societies to
which they belong. there is very little OPP
portunity for agitation.
-
The very latest fad of London's swell
set is to receive and part with guests
upon the staircase. The social customs
of London usually find their way west
ward sooner or later. There is very high
social authority for the new fashion. 1t
Is already many years since the host and
hostess met or parted with their guests
on the steps of their homes, and since that
time this social function has been per-
formed in the Railways, at the doorway
of the parlors or in the p~ariors. The fash
ionable set of London would now, how
ever. consider this a mark or scant hos
pitality.
The new rules are very exacting. The
host and hostess should take up a position
about one-third the way up the flight. The
host must stand on the outer side next
the banister, while the hostess takes up a
position on the stop below him toward the
wall. Guests on entering the house first
pass through the hall. where an attendant
relieves them of their wraps. Before en-
tering the rooms or greeting any one they
ascend the staircase TO be received. After
this ceremony the guests retire to the foot
of the stairs, and the function proceeds
in the usual manner.
Clasps for cloaks are just now quite
lovely. made of metal, gold. silver and
steel, with enamel, and they have a chain
from one end to the other, SO
that the cloak can be arranged to fit
tightly or loosely round the neck at will.
Marquise rings are still growing in
favor; in fact, are being sold so rapidly
that jewellers are unmounting other rings
to make more of this special kind, as lit
tie else seems to take the public this sea
son.
The newest things in dress are the
TUNES made entirely Of lace and worn
over colored silk or satin dresses. The
g.. ou1 r,oro haafttif1fl tho lace 4ha haf-