THE NEW WOMAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3693, 30 November 1912, Page 9

THE NEW WOMAN.

HER APPEARANCE IN PERSIA

“Until there are good mothers the country will make no progress.” This statement by a Persian woman in Teheran shows that the women of that country are waking up, and doing it very thoroughly. The October number of the “Moslem World” publishes a most interesting and instructive article on the subject by Annie Woodman Stocking.

“When the new woman of Persia awoke,” says the writer, “being still a woman, she straightway thought of her appearance, and made some significant changes in her dress. In the street she is still enveloped from head to foot in the long, black sheet of Chuddar, hut in place of the troublesome face veil of white cloths she wears a small square of black net or woven horsehair. A glance at her feet shows that she uo longer scuttles, along on heelless slippers ,but wears well-made slices with. as high npi a? she ph-as-es. A few years ago women who wore shoes coining over their ankles were jeered at and threatened in the street. The full-length European skirt is rapidly displacing the very abbreviated plaited skirt and narrow black trousers so long the ugly, ungainly house dress. “Many women who have not adopted skirts wear a house veil draped round them like a skirt, and caught over the left arm— a graceful and pleasing costume. Many girls are wearing their hair braided in one, instead of in eight or nine tiny plaits, hair worn in one can he combed every day, whereas once or twice a month was considered quite sufficient in the old style. Sis or seven months ago a very progressive young woman de-» signed an outiit to take the place of the Chcddur, leaving the face heavily veiled. She appeared in this several times on the street, but attracted so much attention, and was so annoyed by so many remark's, that she was obliged to put it away for some future day.

“Tn her homo the new woman receives you as graciously as ever., prepares less elaborate refreshments than formerly, docs not force you to eat as much as in the old days, and offers cigarettes in place of the water-pipe. Her guests are seated upon stairs instead of the floor, and drink their tea from cups, as tea-g'asses have gone out of style.- The numerous and tiresome company of woman servants are conspicuous by their absence, and the daughters of the house are not ashamed to pass the tea and sweets with their own hands. . The hostess does not'say quite so often, ‘0 Klianum, we Persian women are nothing hut savages/ yet she speaks with sadness of her own childhood. ‘There were no schools for girls in our-day ; we had no opportunity.’ Or she tells you how she was married at the age of 10 or 12, and how good it is that times have changed. The fact that her own daughter of 14 or 15 is still at school gives the mother a feeling of self-re-spect. If, however, a girl is 16 and unmarried, the mother is a little nervous about it. for their old-fashioned neighbors will talk. The mother speaks of her daughters with as much pride as of her sons, and is keenly interested in their progress. “ A few weeks ago I was congratulating a young mother unon her firstborn. and added, ‘I suppose you are sorry the baby is not a boy/ To my amazement she replied, ‘What better service could 1 render mv fatherland than to bring up girls? For until there are good mothers, the country will make no progress.’ ”