Women's Work For Soldiers And Sailors

From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 31st December 1917.

WOMEN'S WORK FOR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.—

The Lindley sewing parties for 1917 have been very well attended, and the committee are glad to report a very successful year's work.  One thousand seven hundred and thirty three pairs of hospital slippers and surgical boots have been made and over 800 woollen comforts knitted including many welcome gifts from friends who work in their own homes.  The sum of £50 has been paid over to the bureau, Ramsden Street, including £20 raised for the special effort week.  This is in addition to the summer garden party at Briarcourt when the sum of £87 was raised for the cause.

[I have included this because it is very local to me.  Briarcourt is a large house in Lindley designed by the architect Edgar Wood.

There must still have been similar sewing parties, and groups making comforts for the troops, all over the country, following on from the burst of activity in 1914 at the start of the war.  There were probably fewer women available for sewing and knitting, though - by the end of 1917, many women were working full-time, in munitions factories and replacing men who were now in the forces.

I haven't been able to find out what the 'special effort week' was.]   

Is Your Larder Loyal?

From the Todmorden & District News, 28th December 1917. 

IS YOUR LARDER LOYAL?

If the King came into your kitchen to-morrow would his royal presence cause you any misgiving?  Would he find you a patriot in your work of food preparation—in the stocking of your larder?

His Majesty, on a recent visit to the Guards' Training depot, entered the cook-house, as the bugle was sounding its invitation, "Come to the cook-house door," to see how the food was prepared for the soldiers.

A large number of women cooks are employed, and when the King asked the men what they thought of the women as cooks, an Irish Guardsman tendered his unstinted praise thus, "Sure, Sir, they're grand, they beat the men into fits!"

Are you grand in your civilian cook-house?  Are you, in the kitchen, helping to beat the Hun?  The women of Britain are the ones who can render the greatest aid in our food crisis.  Let all women "be grand!"

Ladies’ Football Match at Preston

From the Lancashire Evening Post, 26th December 1917.

LADIES' FOOTBALL.

10,000 Present at Preston Match.

There were 10,000 people at Deepdale yesterday afternoon at the ladies' football match between teams representing the munition workers of Dick, Kerr's and Coulthard's, and the appearance of the historic enclosure was quite like old times.  The proceeds from the sale of tickets which were supplemented by a collection taken by wounded soldiers on the ground, were for Moor Park Hospital, and when all the money has been got in, the funds of the institution should receive a handsome windfall.  The players, who were understood to bare been in strict training for the encounter, wore orthodox football costume, jerseys, dark blue shorts, and regulation boots.  Coulthard's were in red and white stripes and Dick, Kerr's in black and white, with the addition of natty, close-fitting hats to match.  Corsets were barred.  So far as appearances went, Dick, Kerr's seemed to hold some advantages between two athletic-looking sides.  Miss Hollins kicked off.  Teams: —
Coulthard's. —Misses A. Sumner; May Coates, N. Charnley; J. Rangeley, L Forshaw, F. Proudfoot; G. Fitzgerald, L. Atkinson, L. Rayton, L. Billington.
Dick, Kerr’s—Misses E. Clayton; B. Traynor, E. Nixon; E. Birkins, A. Kells, M. Kay: A. Standing; G. Whittle, F. Rance, F. Redford, L. Jones-
Referee: Mr. J. Lewis, Blackburn.

After the Christmas dinner the crowd were in the right humour for enjoying this distinctly war-time novelty.  There was a tendency amongst the players at the start to giggle, but they soon settled down to the game in earnest.  Dick, Kerr's were not long in showing that they suffered less than their opponents from stage fright, and had a better all-round idea of the game.  Woman for woman they were also speedier, and had a larger share of that quality which in football slang is known as "heftiness."  Quite a number of their shots at goal would not have disgraced the regular professional except in direction, and even professionals have been known on occasion to be a trifle wide of the target.  Their forward work, indeed, was often surprisingly good, one or two of the ladies displaying quite admirable ball control, whilst combination was by no means a negligible quantity.  Coulthard's were strongest in defence, the backs battling against long odds, never giving in, and the goalkeeper doing remarkably well, but the forwards, who were understood to have sadly disappointed their friends were clearly afflicted with nerves.

All the conventions were duly honoured.  The teams on making their appearance (after being photographed) indulged in "shooting and the rival captains, before tossing the coin for choice of ends, shook hands in the approved manner.  At first the spectators were inclined to treat the game with a little too much levity, and they found amusement in almost everything from the pace, which until they got used to it, has the same effect as a slow-moving kinema picture, to the "how-dare-you" expression of a player when she was pushed by an opponent.  But when they saw that the ladies meant business, and were "playing the game" they readily took up the correct attitude, and impartially cheered and encouraged each side.  Within five minutes Dick, Kerr's had scored through Miss Whittle, and before half-time they added further goals by Miss Birkens—a fine shot from 15 yards out, just under the bar—and Miss Rance.  Coulthart’s, who were quite out of the picture in the first half, "bucked up" after the interval, and quite deserved a goal, but it was denied them, much to the disappointment of the spectators.  They had a rare opportunity from a penalty in the last few minutes, but the ball was kicked straight at the keeper.  On the other hand, Dick, Kerr's added to their score, Miss Rance running through and netting whilst the backs were "argufying" about some alleged offence, a natural touch which greatly delighted the onlookers.  Mr. John Lewis plied the whistle with discretion, whilst keeping within the four corners of the law, though he was clearly in a dilemma, probably for the first time in his official career, when one of the players was "winded" by the ball.

Result—DICK, KERR'S 4, COULTHARD'S 0.

Christmas Trains

From the Sunday Pictorial, 23rd December 1917.

XMAS TRAIN CRUSH.

Lack of Facilities Leads to Much Crowding.

WAR WORKERS ON HOLIDAY

Fewer but more crowded trains was the order of the day at the London termini yesterday.
Thus, although long queues formed up before the booking offices, and although even guards' vans were packed with passengers, the decreased facilities realty resulted in a considerable slump in the Christmas rush from and to the country. Those who did travel had to bear all the discomforts of wartime journeying.

At King's Cross over 500 people were lined up waiting for tickets to the North by one train. Many people had to wait over two hours for tickets, and many got none.

The great majority of the travellers were munition workers.  At St. Pancras Station there were also many munition workers travelling. The twelve o'clock train for Manchester went out in two portions, and several coaches were added on to the first portion.

Paddington Station was very busy. Six lines were all the time before the booking hall windows, and in the early morning extended right through the booking hall to the subway and out into the street. The 1 p.m. train to Torquay, Plymouth and Penzance was of enormous length, and every seat was taken.

Many people were left behind when the 11.50 train left Euston for Birmingham, although the train was in two portions.

Waterloo was perhaps the busiest station in London owing to the number of soldiers coming and going on leave, in addition to great throngs of civilian travellers.

The majority of people, however, are apparently spending their Christmas at home. A railway official said there seemed a decrease in Christmas travelling all round. We are grateful that our appeal has been so well heeded.

To-morrow and on Boxing Day Underground train services will be as usual, with a Sunday service on Christmas Day. Many omnibus services will cease about 5 p.m. on Christmas Day.

Christmas Food Supplies in Leeds

From the Leeds Mercury, December 22nd 1917. 

CHRISTMAS OUTLOOK IN LEEDS.

SHORTER SUPPLIES AND HIGHER PRICES.

For the fourth year in succession Christmas will be spent under the shadow of the great war cloud.  Yet the people of this country are fortunate in so far that, prior to the past few weeks, they have experienced little difficulty in supplying the wants of their households.

If some definite action had only been taken by the Leeds Food Control Committee to avoid the queue system, which has become a public nuisance, and a grave menace to the health of the community, there would have been little or no cause for complaint.

Yesterday saw the principal streets of the city again thronged with tremendous queues numbering hundreds, and in some instances reaching into four figures.  As a result of this abominable system many people will of necessity be confined to bed this Christmas through chills contracted in the ranks.

The public, however, have the satisfaction of knowing that the Food Controller has stepped into the breach.  From the Order he has just issued, and the strong appeal he is making to local committees, there is every possibility that Leeds will have to bestir themselves, and set machinery to work to eliminate the practice.

The supplies of tea, butter, and margarine is about similar to last week, but in consequence of many of the shops being closed for three days next week there is an extra run on the commodities.
Yesterday the weather was ideal for Christmas shopping, and large numbers of people took advantage of it.  All the establishments had a varied and attractive display, and great business was being done all over the city.

The Poultry Section. 
The stalls in the Leeds Market were adorned with tempting rows of turkeys, geese, chickens, ducks, pheasants, partridges, pigeons, grouse, and rabbits, masses of greenery, and trays of luscious fruit and vegetables.  Inquiries, however, reveal the fact that the reserves of stock are much less than usual, and householders, who do their Christmas shopping late, may find them-selves obliged to do without some of their usual seasonable delicacies.

A well-known poultry salesman told a representative of the "Leeds Mercury" yesterday that there was a very short supply all round.  Breeders had not raised the stocks of previous years, owing to feeding and labour difficulties, and the usual consignments from Russia and America had not arrived.  The result was that there was practically a general advance all round on last year's prices, when there was an average increase of about 2d. a pound, and 6d. on normal times.

Turkeys were selling at 2s. 3d. and 2s. 4d. (1s. 8d. last year), geese ls. 8d. and 1s. 9d., (1s. 4d. to 1s. 6d.), chickens 1s. 8d. (1s. 6d), ducks Is 9d. (1s. 4d.), hares 8s. to 8s. 6d. (6s.). partridges and grouse 6s. (same), pigeons 1s. to 1s. 2d. (same), rabbits 5s. 6d. to 6s. a couple (3s. 6d. to 4s.), and pheasants 14s. a brace, as compared with 7s. 6d. two years ago and 12s. last year.

The increase in the prices of rabbits and hares is due mainly to the dearer shipping freights for frozen goods: and the absence of shooting parties from the moors is chiefly responsible for the shortage of birds.

Holly and mistletoe are plentiful and in good demand.  The wholesale prices are 8s. and 5s. to 6s. a stone respectively, which is only about 6d. above last year; but this increase is compensated by the fact that the quality is far superior.

Fruit, Fish, and Nuts. 
There is a fair supply of fruit, and of good quality, although the variety is not near so great as in normal times.  Prices are reasonable, considering present conditions.  Apples are again the predominant feature.  "It is surprising," said one dealer, "how English growers have come forward and assisted us. English apples, before the war, were very little heard of, but, judging from the quality and supplies sent in, I think we might to be able to do without -foreign apples, even after the war."
Some excellent eaters can be bought at from 5d. to 8d. a pound, and cookers at 5d.  These are about similar to last year, but in oranges there is a distinct shortage.  Valencias, which five years ago, sold at three a penny, and a penny each, according to size, are now 2d. to 5d. each; while Jamaicas are 6d. each, as compared with ls. 3d. to ls. 6d. a dozen in pre-war days.

Green grapes are 1s. 6d., and black ones 3s to 3s. 6d.  Fourpence each are being asked for lemons, and 2½d. for bananas.  Boxes of dates, which last year was 6d., are now ls. 9d., and what few of the cheaper dates are to be seen are selling at ls. 4d., as compared with 3d.  Figs are almost unknown.  Nuts are scarce and very expensive, Brazils being 1s. 6d., almonds 2s., cob nuts ls. 6d., and monkey nuts and walnuts from ls. to 1s. 4d.

Owing to the severe weather of the past week green vegetables are not quite so plentiful.  Sprouts are fetching 3d. per lb., cabbages 2s. and 2½d., Savoys 3d., cauliflowers 4d. to 6d., celery 3d. to 5d. a stick, carrots 3½lb. for 3d., beetroot and parsnips 1½d. per lb., English onions 5d., Spanish onions 6d., Swedes 3½lb. for 2½lb., and potatoes 7 lb for 6d.

There was a fair supply of fish, but the prices keep very high, real soles being 2s. 6d., turbot 2s. 8d., lemon soles 2s. 2d., plaice 1s. 8d., cod ls. 4d., haddocks, ling, and conger eel 1s., herrings 3s. per doz., and sprats, which were plentiful, 4d. per lb.

[I have included this post to show that in spite of reports of widespread queueing, this seems to have been only for the basic commodities of tea and especially butter and margarine - the staple diet of the poor (along with sugar, which was already rationed, bread and potatoes).   For people with money, there was plenty of food available.  For an explanation of the prices quoted, see my note on prices.  To give some idea, a shilling (1s.) converts to 5p now, taking no account of inflation.  The Bank of England's inflation calculator says that £1 was equivalent to £63.66 in 2016, and 1s. would be equivalent to roughly £3.   There were 240 pennies in a pound, so 1d. was worth about 26p. now.] 

Official Action To Stop Queues

From the Sunday Pictorial, 23rd December 1917.

OFFICIAL ACTION TO STOP QUEUES.

Margarine Taken Over in London and Country.

SHARING THE STOCKS.

Lines of Waiting People at Meat Shops.

New steps to improve the general food situation were announced yesterday, while both in London and in the country firm action to stop shop queues was taken under Lord Rhondda's commandeering order.  The text was issued last night of the Food Controller's Order conferring upon [local] Food Control Committees powers to enforce schemes for controlling the distribution and consumption of any article of food in their areas, and thus to prevent queues.  This provides for the registration of retailers and customers, the limitation of customers dealt with by any retailer and the prohibition of sales in quantities larger than those fixed by the Food Control Committees.

Card rationing schemes, which will come under this order, have already been decided upon at Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Northwich and Brentford.

Reports of vanishing queues yesterday were as follow:—
London.—Surplus margarine and butter in multiple shops were taken away and distributed to retailers by the Food Committees in the following districts:—Camberwell, Holborn, Wandsworth, Putney, Clapham, Balham and Tooting. At Lambeth, Islington, Lewisham, Southwark and Shoreditch inspectors were sent out to take a list of all stocksm

TAKEN AWAY IN BARROWS.

"We had a great time this morning," said Mr. G. H. Meakin, the Islington executive officer.  "I had my inspectors out at a quarter to nine, and every multiple shop was visited.
"In three cases we transferred supplies to other shops.  We loaded up the margarine on barrows and wheeled it through the street.
"The result was that all the queues were broken up and the people were able to obtain what they wanted with very little delay."
The real remedy for queues was adopted by the Hornsey Food Control Committee last night, which approved a rationing scheme for butter and margarine, lard and meat.

Stoke-on-Trent. —The Food Control Committee commandeered about five tons of margarine from a company.  Part of the stock was in the company's shop and part on the railway.  The margarine was distributed to retailers.

Hull. —The Food Control Committee met the chief wholesale butter and margarine merchants and requisitioned large supplies, which were distributed later among the smaller shops.

WORKERS' FOOD MARCH.

1,500 Leave Work to Protest Against Queues—Waiting at Dawn.

Towns where the queue evil was not relieved were—
Nottingham.—Great queues gathered at provision shops.  Supplies of butter and margarine were inadequate, and many shops closed after limited trading.

Leigh (Lancs).—Some 1,500 workers yesterday ceased work and marched to the town hall in protest against food queues.  The mayor promised to summon the Food Committee on Monday with a view to securing improved distribution.

Sheffield.—The streets yesterday were obstructed with butter, margarine and tea queues.  Long before dawn crowds had assembled waiting for shops to open.

Northwich. —Dense crowds waited for hours to buy margarine.  Several people fainted.

In London queues formed outside several butchers' shops for the first time.
More than one child fell out of the queues through exhaustion.

Queueing Problems

From the Leeds Mercury, December 22nd 1917. 

BATLEY'S REMEDY FOR QUEUES.

SCHOOL OPENED FOR THE WAITING WOMEN.

In Batley an interesting scheme was put into operation yesterday to minimise public inconvenience arising from butter queues.  Instead of people standing outside the shops in a queue, arrangements were made to accommodate them in a Sunday school, and here tickets were issued systematically, without which it was not possible to obtain a supply at the shop.

Ticket-holders were then allowed to go to the source of supply in batches of ten or twelve, under the direction of the police.

The scheme worked fairly satisfactorily, and was greatly appreciated by the public as a considerable improvement on standing out in the cold.

THE BRADFORD QUEUES.

LOCAL "CONTROLLER" FAVOURS RATIONING.

Bradford, in common with other towns, is deeply concerned with regard to the queue problem.  The long drawn lines of waiting customers outside the butter shops have grown in length as the days have gone by, and the Local Food Control committee has been giving the matter very close consideration.
They have been in communication with the Government and Members of Parliament, and they have urged that the Ministry of Food should take into their hands the distribution of all available margarine.

They contend that it shall be distributed equitably amongst the retailers all over the district so that the people may be able to purchase quantities near their homes, instead of having to go into the city and stand in queues.

Mr. William Warburton, the Executive Officer of the Food Control Committee, has expressed the opinion that many people are coming into the queues, not out of necessity, but for the purpose of obtaining supplies which are in excess of their needs.

The effect is that some people have more than enough, and others have to go short.  The only way to meet the difficulty was by a system of registration and rationing.

A DEWSBURY PROTEST.

GUARDIAN'S ALLEGATION AGAINST THE WELL-TO-DO.

Some bitter complaints were made at yesterday's meeting of the Dewsbury Guardians concerning the butter queues which have grown to such extraordinary lengths in the district, and particularly in the centre of Dewsbury.

Mr J. H. Dyson (Thornhill) put in a spirited plea for the poor people who were receiving parish relief.  He proposed that the Food Control Committees be urged to make it possible for these people to get food in the districts in which they lived.  It was positively deplorable, he said, that these unfortunate people should be put to the expense of going to Dewsbury to obtain butter, and then to have to stand starving in queues for hours.

Mr. P. R. Wilson (Ossett), in seconding, suggested that the local authorities should use the Town Halls for waiting purposes, and supply the folks with tickets of admission to the shops.

Mr. J. T. Peace (Ossett) said that if the middle and upper classes would "play the game fair," and not send persons to stand for them in the queues after already obtaining their ordinary share from their grocer, the problem would be easier.

 Mr. F. Priestley (Batley) remarked upon the hardship of a family of eight or ten persons being only able to obtain half a pound of butter through the queue system.  At the same time, in Germany, where all the food was rationed, he had reason to know that the queues were worse than here.
...
The resolution was carried.

[The board of guardians administered relief under the poor laws to people within their district (a parish or a group of parishes).]

What Ladies' Football Is.

From the Lancashire Evening Post, 22nd December 1917.

WHAT LADIES' FOOTBALL IS.

Considerable curiosity is being shown locally in what I believe will be the first ladies’ football match played in Preston, for there is no record of the visit to the town of the team that toured the country 25 to 30 years ago.  I am informed that the girls who are to compose the sides representing Dick, Kerr's, and Coulthard's, on Christmas Day at Deepdale, are practising assiduously, and that, indeed, the game is being pursued seriously by many more than can be found places for on this occasion.  In all, I believe, close upon a hundred of Dick, Kerr’s girls have been turning out, but the final selection will he made from about 27.  I do not know quite what people expect to see at these matches.  There are one or two of the girls, I am told, who are very clever, especially one Florrie Redfern, Dirk, Kerr's inside right, but whether this kind of thing runs through the lot or not remains to be seen.  One or two old hands at the game have been endeavouring to instil into them an idea of organised, as opposed to what may be described as mob, effort, but as rule these precepts are apt to be entirely forgotten on the day, and it becomes merely a joyous scramble.  However, the girls pretend to nothing but that which comes within their limited powers in such a strenuous and skilful game as football, and they are to be commended for the effort in the sacred cause of war charity.  I hear, by the way, that Mr. John Lewis has been refused petrol to come from Blackburn in his car to referee the match, but although the railway service on Christmas Day is impossible I rather fancy he will contrive to be present.  It is the one football refereeing experience he has not had.  In any case, both for the sake of the girls and the cause, I hope there will be a big gathering at Deepdale on Tuesday.  Already 200 of the 2s. 6d. stand seats have been sold.

Obituary of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

From The Manchester Guardian, December 18th 1917.

DR. GARRETT ANDERSON

We much regret to announce the death of Dr. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the first English woman doctor.

Elizabeth Garrett, the eldest daughter of the late Newson Garrett, of Aldeburgh, Suffolk, was born in 1836, and began the study of medicine in 1860.  Miss Garrett found immense difficulty in obtaining the education necessary to prepare herself for a qualifying examination in medicine, and still greater difficulty in finding any recognised body to examine her.  She was refused admittance to the examinations of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons of England, the University of St. Andrews, and many others, but eventually presented herself for examination by the Society of Apothecaries, London, the only British examination then not absolutely impossible to women.  Counsel's opinion was taken by the Society when Miss Garrett applied for admission to the examinations as to whether she could be refused on account of her sex, but the answer was in the negative, and as Miss Garrett had complied with all the conditions laid down for candidates she was admitted to examination, and, passing the tests required, became a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries in 1865.  She was thus the first woman to obtain a British medical qualification.  The Society then made a rule that no certificates of instruction would be received by them unless issued by a recognised medical school.  This rule effectually prevented other women following Miss Garrett's example, as all British medical schools refused to receive women as students.  Miss Garrett afterwards studied in Paris and took the M.D. degree of that University in 1870.

In 1866 Miss Garrett, with the cordial help of the late Dowager Lady Stanley of Alderley, the Rev. Llewellyn Davies, and other friends, opened a dispensary for women and children in Seymour Place, London.  The knowledge that they might now be medically treated by one of their own sex quickly became known among women, and after a few years patients were so numerous that larger premises were secured, where 26 beds were provided for the serious cases.  Soon an adjoining house had to be taken, and in 1887, by which time several women had been admitted to and had passed the examinations for the Licentiate of the King's and Queen's University, Ireland, the work had grown so much that Mrs. Garrett Anderson, with her usual courage, determined to raise funds to build a hospital for women, to be staffed by medical women, which should be fully equipped to deal with the rapidly advancing progress in both medicine and surgery.  The foundation-stone of the New Hospital for Women was laid by Queen Alexandra, when Princess of Wales, in 1889, and in 1890 the hospital was opened with accommodation for 42 patients, and has now been further enlarged to accommodate 60 patients.  Mrs. Anderson held the post of senior physician to the hospital from its beginning to 1890.

In 1870 Miss Garrett became a member of the London School Board, and served on it for some years.  She also took an active part with the late Mrs. Isabel Thorne and Sir James Stansfeld, M.P. in organising the London School of Medicine for Women, and for twelve years held the post of lecturer in medicine at the school.

Mrs. Garrett Anderson was the first woman admitted as a member of the British Medical Association (1892), and in 1896 she was elected president of the East Anglian branch of the Association.  At the annual meeting of the British Medical Association in 1900 she acted as vice president of the Section of Medicine.  She was instrumental in forming the Association of Registered Medical Women, and held the post of president on more than one occasion.  Retiring from practice in 1904, she was able to devote herself to her favourite recreation—gardening,—and all those who had the pleasure of being her guests at her beautiful home at Aldeburgh will recollect with gratitude her charm as a hostess and the simple joy she had in her plants.

In 1907, by the death of her husband, Mr. J. G. S. Anderson, head of the firm of Anderson, Anderson, and Co., shipping merchants, was severed one of the most perfect unions of comradeship and affection that could be known.  In 1908 Mrs. Anderson was elected mayor of Aldeburgh, and held this office for two years in succession—a position her husband had held a few years previously.  Mrs. Anderson was the first woman to be elected to this civic dignity in England.  She was much interested in women's suffrage, and for nearly 50 years worked for the extension of the suffrage.  She was a sister of Mrs. Fawcett.

To those who knew Mrs. Anderson personally the most striking points in her character were recognised to be her great courage, her absolute honesty of purpose, her keen sense of humour, and her personal charm.

[Her sister, Millicent Garrett Fawcett, was a campaigner for voting rights for women.  Their father, Newson Garrett, built the Snape Maltings.]

Women’s Views

From The Illustrated London News, 15th December 1917.

LADIES' PAGE

Both Canadian and Australian women have been voting in London for the respective Parliaments of their own countries.  The one subject upon which the women, as well as the men, are being called upon to pronounce their opinion as voters is the employment of conscription to maintain the respective Colonial forces at the front in adequate numbers.  Australian women have had full and equal Parliamentary suffrage for a good many years; the Canadian women's vote is new, a recognition of the value of the patriotic services that they have rendered to the defence of their country, as English-women's coming franchise is also to be regarded.  As the Colonial women voters in this country are those who have come over to serve as Army nurses, there can be little doubt that their votes will be cast in favour of the cause to which they are giving their lives.

There is, however, a great fallacy in assuming, as is often done, that in a general way there is a sex-cleavage of opinion.  Women differ amongst themselves on all possible subjects of debate, precisely as men do; and the reasons for the differences are the same in kind. Our family training and tendencies — that is to say, the kind of views expressed, while the youthful mind is pliable and responsive, by those whom we are trained to respect and by nature love and desire to please; the company into which we are thrown; the character of our own organisation, whether robust, active and daring, or the reverse — all the conditions of life, in short — mould our minds and modify our opinions, whether we be men or women. Sex, very probably, is one factor, but not one that over-rides all others in the formation of opinions. Every day we may see illustrations of the great differences of opinion amongst women, even about what may be called specially women's questions.  Such a diversity is now being displayed over the new law proposed about the remarriage of separated persons: after they have been parted for three years, it is suggested, either of them shall be able to claim a full divorce without needing the consent of the other. There are in this country several hundreds of thousands of such separated husbands and wives, some apart under voluntary deeds, many more by magistrates' orders. Though their marriages are practically at an end permanently, and all the purposes of marriage as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer are abrogated, these people can never marry again in each other's lifetime as the law now stands.

A strong committee has been formed to press this alteration on Parliament; but an equally ardent and vigorous objecting committee has also been constituted under Church of England auspices; and on both these committees there are many women of light and leading.  It is obviously one of those perplexing cases where the most just and personally unprejudiced mind may find something to be urged on both sides.  But the Church-woman, regarding marriage as a sacrament—or at least an inalienable, a necessarily life-long tie — can admit of no excuse for the proposal; while the more worldly woman's mind sees nothing but the cruel disadvantage to a woman of being legally tied to a man who is no longer really a husband and protector, yet whose name of husband prevents the chance of the unfortunate wife finding happiness in another marriage.  Even the women concerned do not agree upon the proposal.  "I feel that nobody has any right to make me a divorced woman when I have been true to my marriage vow in letter and spirit," says one separated wife; while another bemoans in agony of soul the cruel state of the law that certainly makes it difficult for her to get employment, perhaps shuts her out from accepting another husband, and so debars her, though faultless, from having the joys of motherhood and settled social position.  On the other hand, if a man may so behave as to force his wife to separate from him, and then he may divorce her after three years, where are we?  So even on such a subject there is no "woman's party."

Butter and Margarine Rationing in Sheffield

From the Sheffield Independent,15th December 1917.

SHEFFIELD FOOD CONTROL

Rationing of Butter, Margarine and Tea.

The Sheffield Food Control Committee met yesterday evening to consider a scheme for the regulation of the supplies of butter and margarine within the city.  This scheme was the outcome of conferences between traders in the city and representatives of the committee.

The essential feature of the scheme is that each householder shall be "tied" to a shop for the supply of the commodities named.  He or she will be supplied with a card available for three months, and when a purchase is made this will be entered upon the card.  Through the medium of the committee the shopkeeper will secure the supplies necessary to give customers the fixed amount.  The card which will be issued will be threefold—one portion for the shopkeeper, another for the committee, and the third for the householder.

The committee has made elaborate arrangements as to how the cards shall be filled up and stamped, and a sub-committee will consider and deal with questions of supplies, deliveries, etc.

It has been decided that "there shall be no canvassing or advertising for cards," and that the scheme shall be extended to tea and any other foods.

The Rhondda Biscuit

From the Evening Despatch (Birmingham), 11th December 1917.

THE RHONDDA BISCUIT.

Lord Rhondda [the Food Controller] has just confessed that he does not consume a pound of tea a year, and a woman correspondent reveals the secret that he is eating oatmeal instead of bread.

If these simple and economical oatmeal biscuits were tried (she says) more people would follow his example: Into 1 gill [¼ pint] of boiling water melt loz. margarine or dripping.  Stir in ½lb. medium oatmeal and a saltspoonful of salt.  Knead for few minutes, roll out, cut into squares and bake 30 minutes.

From the Yorkshire Evening Post, 30^th November 1917.

“RHONDDAS.”

"A quarter of a pound of Rhonddas, please," asked the small child.  From the biscuit-tin with duly printed label, the shop-keeper handed over the goods demanded.  Thus, remarks the Daily Chronicle, is the  Food Controller already assured of immortality, for long after the war has become a memory Rhondda biscuits will remain a household reality.

Dundee Knitting Fortnight

From the Dundee Courier, 7th December 1917.

Public Notices.

DUNDEE WOMEN'S WAR RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE.

KNITTING FORTNIGHT.

COMFORTS FOR THE MEN AT THE FRONT.

WE GIVE THE WOOL.   WILL YOU GIVE THE WORK?

APPLY—HEAD OFFICE, 27 BANK STREET.

ALL THE WARD DEPOTS.

The Soldiers fight 'mid war's alarm;

Let US KNIT to keep them warm.

Christmas Gifts needed for the Front

From The Manchester Guardian, 5th December 1917.

THE CIVILIAN'S CHANCE

CHRISTMAS GIFTS NEEDED FOR THE

FRONT.

The civilian's lot in war-time is to all appearances a humble enough business, and it is hard to talk of his sacrifices.  His figure seems woefully insignificant against the vivid background of actual war, with its terrors and triumphs, its interminable epics of human fortitude and endeavour.  All of us stay-at-homes must surely feel, as we read of the struggle at Cambrai, that, however ambitiously we cast our resolutions, life for us will remain tolerably comfortable; that, no matter how grimly we steel ourselves to face the prospect of sugarless coffee and margarine eternally, we are hopelessly "out of it," like "twelfth men" in cricket matches, or even the scorers!

Yet our work at home is flattered by the very men who are sacrificing most: our fighting men are ever sending to us the call—nay, the entreaty—to keep and cherish all that they mean by "England" while they are away.  A simple enough task this is, in all conscience, and it can almost be defined in terms of warm hearthsides, steadfast friendliness—and "comforts." 

The list of articles printed below—compiled by Lancashire and Cheshire soldiers as representative of the things they need most to keep life in the trenches just tolerable,—these things can carry to a soldier on service the very essence of that English home life ho has left in our care. If we would answer Tommy's call to "keep the home fires burning" (and of course we are all desperate to do so if we could only find the way), the Comforts Fund offers one excellent way of doing it.

THE ARTICLES ASKED FOR. 

Cigarettes, cigarette papeors, tobacco, shag tobacco, pipes (clay and briar), tobacco pouches, pipe lighters. matches, candles, mufflers, socks, mittens, gloves, sleeveless sweaters, shirts, singlets, bootlaces, Balaclava caps. bachelors' buttons, macintosh capes, handkerchiefs, soap, shaving soap, safety razors, nail scissors, boot polish (black), 'tooth brushes, boot brushes, safety pins, anti-frostbite grease, insect powder, combination knife, fork, and spoon, needles, sewing cotton, chocolate, peppermints, tinned meats and fish, sweets, café au lait, writing pads, writing paper, envelopes, mouth organs, gramophones, gramophone records, indoor games, footballs, magazines and other reading matter, steel minors, tooth paste, pipe cleaners, and tinned milk.

Glove Waistcoat Society

From the Llanelli Star, 1st December 1917. 

GLOVE WAISTCOAT SOCIETY. 

One of the greatest hardships of a winter campaign is the suffering caused to our soldiers and sailors by icy winds on land and sea.  Leather is the only effective protection, but generally beyond the means of those who need it so sorely.  The Glove Waistcoat Society, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., has solved the difficulty of supplying leather coats by utilising waste soft leather of every description, such as cast-off gloves (kid, suede, etc.), discarded furniture covers, and also the fur linings of ladies' worn-out cloaks.  The fur coats are in great demand by mine-sweepers, as also the overall gloves made from the very small pieces of fur.  Contributors of material to "The Glove Waistcoat Society" may be assured that their help means work for a woman and warmth for a man.  Miss Doris David, Old Town Hall, who has been appointed as local agent, will be glad to receive any of the aforementioned materials.

Women in America

From the Illustrated London News, 1st December 1917.

LADIES' PAGE.

The chief difference that struck me on my two visits to the States was the way in which American women are allowed a free field and no favour—so different from here, where women are too often put in the background and kept from exercising the talents which they possess.  I could name a number of instances in this war in which the offered services of conspicuously competent women have been utterly rejected.  The women Army doctors are one illustration.  Their proffered services were blankly and curtly refused.  Not until the French Government, hard pushed for surgeons, and the poor Serbians, quite destitute of such help, had accepted and so displayed the value of our women's services, did our Government at length allow our own competent women doctors to treat wounded men.  In America, nearly forty years ago, a woman surgeon was called in to the assassinated President Garfield, and her signature appeared on the bulletins with those of eminent men colleagues.  Of the twenty or so fine and costly buildings that were put up by the different States at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, four had women architects; and a woman sculptor was given the commission by the State for the heroic statue of "Illinois Welcoming the Nations."  There are English women sculptors and architects, but there is no great statue or building that they have been allowed to undertake.  To snub women of high ability is an instinct with not a few Englishmen; American men arc almost free from it.  Consequently, they have not only a double reservoir of talent at call, but the liberated and encouraged energies of the women react upon their children, and help to produce the high level of capacity of American men.

This was pointed out to me by the extremely able lady, Miss Carey Thomas, LLD., who is Dean of Bryn Mawr, the great women's University near Philadelphia, at which President Wilson was at one time a Professor.  "In the United States," she said, "we have for the first time in history men who are the sons of several generations of parents educated on equal terms, and we see a marked result."  She ascribed the greater freedom of those men from prejudice against women's activities to universal primary co-education.  "When a boy has sat on the same bench with girls all the time he is at school, and knows very well that he has had to work his hardest to keep pace with the girls," Dr. Thomas said, "it is not possible for him as he grows up to be certain that his abilities are so wonderfully beyond those of his sister."  So American women are allowed to try what they can do; and in every direction they "make good."  It is rumoured that a corps of women is training to pilot the American war-airships.  I should deeply deplore women entering on the business of killing; and it would make no difference in the result, for if one nation accepted women as soldiers, the rest would necessarily follow suit.  But I am certain that if American girls have made up their minds to do this, they will be allowed to achieve it.  Meantime, a million women in America have already enrolled their names for war service of different kinds.