Thrift Exhibition

From the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 22^nd May 1917.

FOR OUR LADY READERS.

EXHIBITION NOTES.

A DISPLAY OF RATION MEALS.

Interested crowds gather daily around the stands at the Thrift Exhibition which are devoted to the Sheffield Training College of Domestic Science to listen to explanations of the rations displayed.  Visitors should examine the cards showing the exact proportions allowed for each person per meal per day.  The menus are worked out for the week, and the actual rations for each day shown for a family of four at 20s. and 35s. a week for food only.  This means in the first instance only 5s. a head per week, and the meals at this rate consisted yesterday of a breakfast of barley-meal porridge, 2oz. of bread, and ¼ banana each. Dinner of cottage pie made from the remains of Sunday's joint with rice on the top and a maize pudding; and a supper of kippers with 3oz. of bread and cocoa.

At 8s. 6d. a week per head, or 35s. a week for four persons quite an attractive display of dishes was shown, beginning with a breakfast of barley kernel porridge, with 2oz. each of bread and 2oz. of bacon.  Mid-day dinner included barley broth from stock made of the bones of Sunday's joint and taken with 1oz. of bread each: Durham cutlets of haricot beans and cold meat; and castle puddings made from barley flour.  For tea nothing was allowed but some thin oatcakes.  Supper was of mince with a border of rice and fairy blancmange made of jelly and milk.

One of the most thrifty dishes ever encountered was to be found on one of the stands consisting of potato chips evolved from the potato parings, which not infrequently find their way to the dust-bin.  They had been most carefully scrubbed and beautifully fried, and we were allowed the privilege of sampling them, so can speak for their excellence.  An apple jelly made from apple parings looked equally delectable.  Various printed injunctions further emphasised the need for economy such as "Let Rations Rule your Appetite," and the announcement that "Dishes made from scraps of bread are not shown. as there should be no scraps left over" conveyed a hint as to the exactitude with which the bread ration should be weighed out and eaten.

Thrift Cottage.

A room in Thrift Cottage furnished with quite artistic-looking furniture evolved from packing-cases and so on, is very interesting, while the section set apart for laundry work illustrated how this vital branch of the housewife's art may be executed without the use of starch.

Not the least attractive part of the College exhibit is the willingness of those in charge to explain the various methods and articles set forth.  For instance, one of the charming white-capped young ladies was showing how a most serviceable pair of knickers had been evolved from a couple of pairs of stockings after the feet had worn out.  A straw hat covered with knitting in a good shade of green made a really astonishingly attractive piece of headwear seen on the same stand.  

We were glad to see as we passed out of the Hall that a good response is being made to the appeal in the Press by the Glove Waistcoat Society for old gloves to make up into wind-proof waist-coats for the troops.  The Army and Navy Aid Committee are always open to receive gloves for this purpose, but during the exhibition people are asked to take them direct to the stand of the Society.  There they will see much that will interest them, and hear tales of how greatly these warm waistcoats please those who buy them at very cheap rates of from about 2s. 6d. to 6s. 6d.  One soldier, for instance, who had lain out in the open for two days and two nights, expressed the belief that he owed his life to the possession of one of these waistcoats.  Will our lady readers kindly ask their menfolk to look through their gloves and see what they can spare for this beneficent scheme, which gives employment to poor women as well as comforts to the troops?