LIFE TO-DAY AS I SEE IT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3696, 4 December 1912, Page 7

LIFE TO-DAY AS I SEE IT.

LADY DOROTHY NEVILL ON THE MODERN WOMAN.

It is ol no small service to a generation to have its standard of social manners measured up against that I of past times and thus to be shown its 'own weaknesses and strength. -The difficulty is to obtain a comparison that is without bias. Naturally the only persons really capable of undotaking tile task aro those who have themselves lived through Time’s metamorphoses, who have always been interested, in life, and whose powers of observation and criticism have not become dulled with the passing of years. Even then, the present is sure to be in some degree unfairly treated in the comparison with tho past. The conseryativo. instinct is too strongly ingrained in the human race ever to allow us to break free entirely from the trammels of ancient days. “Tho good old times” are always with us. Lady Dorothy Nevill, who, in her new book, • “My Own Times” (Methuen 15s. net), undertakes to draw comparisons between tho present social kaleidoscope and that of tho Victorian era, is as broadminded and fair a critic as one. may ever hope for in the circumstances. She lias lived in live reigns; she is wise without being worldly; and old without being contemptuous of youth. She is not backward in exposing the follies of the Victorians any n;oro than when she is denouncing the shams of the present age. And, although an aristocrat and a staunch Conservative, she can still generously admire what the present century has brought in tho way of real progress and changes for tho better in the conditions of tho masses. ..She will not allow herself to be numbered among the pessimists. SOCIETY TO-DAY.

“Modern society,” she remarks, “is constantly being attacked for its frivolity, its heartlessness, and its indifference as regards morals, which are unfavorably contrasted with tiiose of tho same section of people during the Victorian era. If, however, anyone cared to study the Law Court reports which appeared in newspapers at that period, they would, I am almost certain," discover that in this respect things were pretty much the same, indeed they might even appear to have been worse.”

Lady Dorothy Nevill notes the enormous increase in facilities for popular amusements as being one of the great social changes of recent times, and says that the increased popularity of shooting may bo realised from the fact that the amount -of game shot in the three kingdoms every year is fifteen times what it was in 1860. Tlio present craze for novel reading does not appear to her to be so harmful as many like to assert ; matters in this respect were a good deal worse fifty or sixty years ago. “Ladies, for the most part, then read nothing hut sentimental novels. ... I do not think there are any publications today so demoralising in a certain sense as the novels which delighted a former generation ; whilst not vicious, they were vapid and silly to an incredible degree/’ When she comes to deal with modern politics and the rise of democracy, Lady Dorothy Nevill has many observations of great interest to make. “Siivc the death of Queen Victoria the mental attitude of the populace seems to have undergone considerable change, a good deal of that respect for old institutions which was formerly such a characteristic of certain classes of the population having seemingly ceased to exist, whilst a new feature is the general distrust (well deserved, it must be confessed) of both political parties.” She notes that of late years the Radical Party, “which' contains a number of first-class mimes,” has thoroughly mastered the art of playing to the gallery; and bewails the lack of keenness that exists in certain sections of the Unionist ranks. As an illustration of the difference in the temper of the Radicals she cites the instance of a Radical enginedriver who, having been told that Mr Balfour when speaking was particularly sensitive about noise, drove his engine up and down, emitting the while piercing whistles, on a line which chanced to be close to the hall where tip then leader of the Opposition was delivering a great speech. DISRAELI.

'On? of Lady Dorothy Nevill’s greatest friends was Disraeli, and it is when she is comparing the Tories that- he led to victory with their successors of to-day that she is inclined to mourn the loss of a dogged' determination in the Party and also a neglect to encourage young men of promise in their ranks. * “How different is this from

the methods pursued by Lord Beaeonsfiekl, who never left a stone unturned to lure clever young men into the Conservative field, and when he had once got them there took care to show that their efforts were held in high appreciation. As the groat. Tory leader used frequently to tell me, a constant How of energetic and enthusiastic young men is the lifeblood of a great political party. Though, considering his many worries and his arduous life, it cannot have hern otherwise than wearisome trt him. Loi'd Beacon,sfield made a special point of personally entertaining oil sorts of youthful aspirants to politi ml fame whom he thought might in some way or another assist the triumph of the Conservative cause. In one year alone T know that over 450 of such individuals enjoyed his hospitality.” She considers that one of the greatest changes in modern Parliamentary life is the way that political adversaries fraternise outside the House of Commons. “Mr. Gladstone and Lord Beacon sfield would as soon have drought of meeting'bne another at a j dinner party as fighting a pm'-Tdit: Messrs Asquith and Balfour' arc constantly announced as being present at various social functions in company with one another.” The w’hc old lady is not without a certain amount of admiration for Air Lloyd George, “the poet-idealist Chancellor, who has fought a gallant and jMccossful fight to emerge from the class in which lie was horn and which he continues stou+ly to defend.” But she becomes roallv angry when she consider? other politicians “who have deliberately turned upon their own class, seeing in the new propaganda (class against class) a comparatively easy means of obtaining political power and, such was'it is, renown.” MODERN WOMEN.

Of modern woman, Lady Dorothy Nevill has some particularly penetrating criticisms to pass. Upon the subject of the vote she says she preserves an open mind, but it is apparent she has little sympathy for the militant methods of the Suffragettes. “Heaven did not make women insinuating and persuasive that they might ho peevish; it did not make them feeble, that they might be imperious; it did not give them a softer voice than nr an that they might rail at him; nor delicate features to be disfigured by rage. Angry women forget themselves and the' dignity of their sex. which lias never gained much by scold- 1 ing. The fact is that in a great many cases modern woman —in England, I mean —is spoilt.” Nevertheless on toe whole she is proud of her sex. “Whilst aristocracy all over Europe, I fear, is suffering an eclipse, woman, in spite of plaints and protests, remains as ever, an aristocrat whom no one really wishes to depose. Say what she will, she is the only being who elects without voting, governs without law, ana decides without appeal.” Since the beginning of the last century matrimonial alliances between the' aristocracy and the stage na\e become so frequent as now scarcely to attract attention. Viewing these alliances with a tolerant mind, i.acn Dorothy Nevill remarks; “It cannot iuMlv }>-> said that this is altogether a bad thing, for many actresses, !>?- shies being girls possessed of a go-.cl deal of sense —a quality scarcely conspicuous in the majority of young men who take their wives from the musical cornedv stage— are also healthy young women likely to produce fine ■offspring to their lords. Manx an old family has gained fresh vigor from an infusion of fresh blood. There arc few phrases of modern life in fact, upon which Lady Dorothj Nevill does not touch with criticism and enlivening anecdote pointing a moral sometimes. The book is one that will delight everybody who :s interested in the gradual doTP,opmo;u of society and the efforts of man .a no to "improve” on their ancestors.