The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-10-26

In France there is very little agitation
OF the woman question:" but there is
perhaps no other country, not even our
own, in which a woman may take up any
line OF work that she chooses. with so
little fear OF opposition or hindrance on
the ground that she is a woman. If a
person wishes To enter any calling, pro-
fession or occupation, the fixed and rigid
requirement Is that, whether by man or
woman the work be we'll done. IL Is the
fashion to think OF the French as frothy
and frivolous; those who know them well
find them as nation dead IN earnest
about their work.
There IL a community OF interest In
French family, says a writer In the Moth
er's Magazine. The father and mother
are partners. and the mother knows about
| their financial status quite as well as the
| father. Indeed, In many small shops, the
wife is cashier and bookkeeper, and Is
usually the person who decides upon the
| price OF an article in case of doubt, and
| who always knows where desired articles
are to be found.
This sort of thing Is made possible by
| the fact that because of the cost or fuei
many articles OF food are cooked at the
public bakehouses, thus relieving the
mother of a great deal OF responsibility;
|
| the work OF the family In even very mod
| crate circumstances IL done by servants
than Is the case with us.
The French mother considers domestic
economy a profession. To her II means
understanding of the value OF foodstuns,
clothing. furniture and service, and the
ability TO secure the best and most or
each on the most advantageous terms, or
TO get along with the least possible with
out making the family uncomfortable. III
includes the care and training OF her chii-
dren. and even the ability ana willing
ness to aid her husband In his business.
IL is regarded as the severest sort OF con-
demnation TO say or French woman
that she Is not "economical:" but that
word means far more in France and In
cludes many more virtues than the same
word signifies In English
Extravaganza in Hats
Last year the fashion OF ladies' hats
| was extravagant, and thought that the
climax OF folly had been reached, says
Henry Labouchere In Truth. a woman
| looked when out walking or driving ike
the horse at funeral. Her nat was
| mass OF ostrich feathers that waved far
above her This year the extravaganza
| has been outdone The hat itself is gen
| orally OF straw and In shape is like q
waste paper basket reversed. hut tine
| straw IL merely used as foundation Tor
wondrous fabric or MOWERS, iruits or
feathers. When II is feathers they are ar
ranged after the ideas OF Choctow In
dIans. Some OF them are piled on high,
Others straggle down the backs OF the
wearers. and others seem to be put In
vaguely promiscuous fashion. for the es-
sential Is TO have n great many OF them.
When Il is flowers they look like n bed
which a gardener has sown with varie-
gated seeds that have been allowed to
grow as they list The wearer either uits
this huge structure on the side OF her
head or at the back. and seen from be-
hind she looks as though she had no neck.
The prettiest girl almost ceases to be
pretty when arrayed In this headgear. As
for the plain ones-and they seem to have
the largest hats--they are made doubly
plain. A lady, fat. dowdy and past her
youth. I'm such n hat. II one OF the most
ridiculous sights that can well be con-
ceived
Fall Fabrics