Widnes Examiner. — 1912-08-31 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

WOMEN'S CHAT.  Woman's Suffrage in the United States.—The Presidential election in the United States, which takes place in November, will be the fl:st in which women voters will take any, considerable part, and Mr. Roosevelt's support of Womans Suffrage, marks a further stage in the American progress of the cause. Hitherto Colonel licosevelt has been generally regarded as an antifeminist, but he now declass in favour of equal citizen rigt ts for both sexea, on the score that working a omen need the vote as a weapon with which to defend their economic interests. In six States, women already possess the "full suffrage," and the addition of Washington and California to the four original suffrage states—Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado—meant that fully a million women will be entitled to vote in the Presidential election. In some of the States, women have no vote of tny kind, but in most of them they have been granted the "school suffrage." In the six States referred to, wornee have the vote on the adult suffrage basis encl it includes the municipal vote, the vote for the State Legislature and the vote for the President, for which purpose the voters elect delegates who then elect the President. Of the other candidates +Abe are its the running for the Presidency, Mr. Woodrow Wilson has not declared himself a suffragist, nor has Mr. Mir, and it leeks as if Mr. Roosevelt will have the solid support of the feminist movement in the States. Hunger Strikes.—The forcible feeding of the two ornen who were sentenced to penal servitude, for attempting to set fire to a Dublin theatre, as again revived discussion as to the treatment of the militant suffragists. Whatever views we may hold with regard to women's suffrage, we cannot help feeling shocked at, such repulsive methods. And yet it is difficult to suggest any other way of dealing with it determined " hunger strike." In their own interests these misguided women cannot be permitted to commit suicide by a slow and painful procets. Nor on the other hand, can the authorities be expected to accede to the demand for preferential treatment. It is our boast that there is one law for all in this country, and if a person commits incendiary acts, he or she must suffer the penalty, irrespective ef the motives which prompted their commitment. "Without Encumbrance."—The use of the word "encumbrance" as a synon3m for children, cannot le too strongly condemned, and the system associated with it, is equally blameworthy. These words "without encumbrance " may he found in hundreds of advertisements for garden( ra, housekeepers, coachmen, chauffeurs, stewards, butlers, &c., as well as for appointments in public iestitutions. A great deal is heard nowadays about our declining birth rate, and the evils that are expected to result from It, but is it any wonder that the hirthrrite should decrease when a ban is put upon children, when, as so often happens, public appointments are closed to the heads of families and when their chances of promotion are jeoperdited? It is easy to understand that in certain situations, such as master and matron of a workhouse, a large family of small children would be very undesirable, but in rune' cases, better accommodation might he Drovided for little ones, or array g4ments made for officers to live out. In any case, the hateful word " encumbrance" as applied to children ought to disappear from public notices. It is an insult to our sociA life and a disgrace to any public body that uses it. Ex-Sultan's View on Large Ilate.--Mulai Henn, the ex-Sultan of Morocco, having retired from business, is now in the enjoyment of a pension of .C 15,000 a year fr m the French Government. That is sufficient to enable him to enjoy all the refinements of civilisation, for which purpose be is now on a visit to France, where he has been expressing his opinions of vcomers' fashions. Ile does not approve of the large bats worn by Frenchwomen, and thinks the small ones of the men much more becoming. Possibly his opinion my not t ohltogether without influence in the world of millinery, for the exSultan is being somewhat " lionised " in Paris, and he says that the Fienchwoman's hair and face are much too beautiful to be hidden by large hats, a shiewd complirmit which will no doubt be duly appreciated. Freakish Millinery.—The millinery of the moment may be, and doubtless is, smart and eashing, but it is most certainly freakish. Never were hats less trimmed, some straw hats have just one feather at the back, and that constitutes the sole garniture. Nothing in shapes seems to bizarre, coal scuttles and helmets, four cornered and tricornes abound. One shape, the Robespierre, has soft outlines, and being guiltless of corners is becoming to old and young. A novel idea is the bat of chamois leather in its natural colour with a brim of straw trimmed with quills. The beaver tat will carry all before it this autumn the plush bat following it very closely. Felt h ts have been worn more or less all the summer. Milliners shops are now full of white felts in a variety of shapes, but all small in size. The Coarse Lace Blouse.—No kind of blouse, introduced during the last two a oars, is quite as handsome as that made of coarse lace, with a basque. It has been very much worn with lingerie dresses this season, and will doubtless influence the shape of that useful garment the blouse, which as autumn advances is made in heavier rusterials, such as velveteen, coarse ribtei silk, and crepe do chene. The new models of the last named materials have very cheap basques, and are more like small coats than blouses. With Robespierre collars, j %hots, and frills Emile way up the sleeve, as well as round tho wrist, they are certainly quaint, although not suited to any but slim women. The coarse lace blouse is capable of great variety, and this possibly Is one of its many attractions. .1 t can be built of so many different kinds of lace, or of insertion arranged vertically or diagonally, and joined by lace beading. A . net or lace yoke then completes this fascinating garment, which can be easily made by anyone who has time at her disposal, and a little skill in the use of the  needle.  ,