Gifts For The Troops

From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 31st January, 1918.

GIFTS FOR THE TROOPS

The Director General of Voluntary Organisations (Scotland House, New Scotland Yard, London, S.W.1) announces that the following articles are particularly needed in large quantities during the next fortnight: — Comforts for troops in the field: Knitted comforts of all kinds, especially mufflers and mittens, handkerchiefs (dark shade), footballs, and boxing gloves.  Hospital supplies for sick and wounded in military hospitals: Pyjamas, slippers, hospital bags, dressing gowns.  All gifts should be forwarded to the nearest Voluntary Organisations’ Depot, or to the Comforts Depot, 45, Horseferry Road, Westminster, London, S.W.1.

Recipes for a meatless day

From Home Notes, January 26th 1918.

OUR MEATLESS DAY.

Miss Lydia Chatterton gives you some splendid recipes which contain no meat at all.

We all know how much the winning of the war can be helped by the strictest economy in the use of all food, especially that which comes from abroad; so if you resolve to live as much as is possible on the products of your cabbage patch, you are indeed doing your bit in a practical way.
Be sparing with sugar, flour, meat, fats, and cereals of all kinds, and make the most of all root vegetables—remembering that they contain a goodly percentage of sugar, and also that they can in many instances take the place of flour, such as thickening for soup.  This week I'm going to give you some special recipes for meatless days—try them, and you'll have no complaints, I assure you.
Try cauliflower cream and potato scones for breakfast, and you have a good nourishing meal without bread or meat.  Start the dinner with muligatawny soup, followed by a good vegetable pie and a ginger pudding, and you will feel satisfied on the coldest day.

Cauliflower Cream.

1 cauliflower
A dash of cayenne
2oz. dry cheese
½ teaspoonful of very finely chopped parsley and thyme
1 oz. margarine or butter
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoonful of milk.
Boil the cauliflower until tender, then take all the white part and beat it with a fork until it is a creamy mass.  Season well with salt, pepper and cayenne, then add the herbs, the cheese finely grated, and the milk.  Put the mixture in a fire-proof dish, sprinkle a little grated cheese over, and the butter in small scraps.  Brown in the oven or under the griller.

Potato Breakfast Scones.

¼ lb. flour
2oz. margarine or butter
½ lb. potatoes (weighed after being cooked and peeled)
1 teaspoonful of salt
1 teaspoonful of baking powder
½ tumbler of milk
1 dried egg.
Rub the margarine into the flour, add the salt and baking-powder, well mix with the potato mashed quite free from lumps.  Make to a paste with the soaked egg and milk.
Roll out, cut into scones, and hake for a quarter of an hour.  Eat hot.
Any left over are very good split and toasted another day.

Mulligatawny Soup.

1 onion
1 dessertspoonful of flour
1 quart of vegetable stock or liquor that meat has been boiled in
1 dessertspoonful of fine oatmeal
A few drops of essence of cloves
1 apple
2 oz. dripping or butter
A teaspoonful of lemon juice
1 tablespoonful of curry powder
A little boiled rice
Chop the onion finely and fry it in the butter. Stir in the curry powder and flour. Then stir in gradually the stock until quite smooth, add the apple peeled, cored and grated, the clove essence, lemon juice and a good seasoning of salt.  Boil all together gently for half an hour, being careful it does not burn.  Serve with plain boiled rice.

Vegetable Pie.

1 large onion
2 carrots
1 stick of celery
2 turnips
A teaspoonful of finely chopped parsley
Pepper and salt
1 tablespoon haricot beans
2 oz. butter or margarine
Mashed potato
Soak the beans overnight. then boil them until tender.  Peel and cut up the onion and other vegetables.
Dissolve the butter in a saucepan, put in all the vegetables wet from being washed.  Put the lid on firmly, and let them cook gently until tender.  No water is needed.  Put the cooked vegetables into a pie-dish, sprinkle parsley and seasoning between.  Cover with mashed potato, and bake until brown.

Ginger Pudding.

1 tablespoon of maize flour
1 big teaspoonful of ground ginger
4 oz. of mashed potato
4 oz. flour
2oz. dripping or suet
½ pint of milk
1 tablespoonful of golden syrup or treacle
A saltspoonful of carbonate of soda.

Mix together the flour and maize, add the finely chopped suet or rub in the dripping. Mix well with the potato, ground ginger, soda, and syrup.  Mix to a batter with the milk and steam in a basin for two hours.

Serve plain or surround with some heated marrow ginger.

THICK VEGETARIAN SOUP WITHOUT FLOUR.

Delicious creamy soups can be made with vegetables, milk and water, and 1 or 2 oz. margarine or dripping. 

Potato, turnip, parsnip, carrot, artichoke, dried peas, lentils, or cauliflower —any of these may be chosen, or a mixture of several—remembering the dried ones must be soaked first for twenty-four hours. 

A slice or two of onion is an improvement to any of them; so are a few scraps of dry cheese grated and added at the last minute. 

The method is very simple.  Clean, peel and cut up the vegetables.  Melt the butter or dripping in a stewpan, put in the wet vegetables, cover closely, and cook slowly until they are quite soft.  Rub through a sieve.  Return the pulp to the stewpan.  Season well.  Add milk or milk and water to make it a pleasant consistency. Make very hot and serve.

[I don't know what "marrow ginger" was.  Essence of cloves sounds more like something to relieve toothache than a spice, and perhaps was then used for both.]

OXO At The Front

From Home Notes, 26th January 1918.

Text:  OXO AT THE FRONT. 

Hot OXO is an inestimable boon to the fighting forces at this time of the year.

It aids and increases nutrition; it stimulates and builds up strength to resist climatic changes, and is invaluable for all who have to undergo exertion either to promote fitness or to recuperate after fatigue.

OXO takes up little space, is easily carried, and can be converted quickly into a hot nourishing drink which, with bread or biscuits, will sustain for hours.

OXO Ltd., Thames House, Lon. 

The Public Meals Order

From the Yorkshire Evening Post, 23rd January 1918.

DRASTIC CUTTING DOWN IN PUBLIC MEALS.

TWO MEATLESS DAYS.

GUESTS MUST BRING THEIR OWN SUGAR.

The new Public Meals Order—which comes into force on Feb. 3 except as to meatless days, which begin on Friday [25th January]—introduces a number of important modifications regarding meals in hotels, restaurants, clubs, boarding-houses, and all other eating-places.  Its chief features are:—

Two meatless days a week, and meat meals restricted to 3oz. uncooked.
Meatless and sugarless breakfasts every day, and sugarless teas.
No milk for adults, save with tea, coffee, or cocoa.
Five-eighths of an ounce of margarine a day.
Guests to bring their own sugar; residents allowed up to 6oz. a week.
Tea before 5.30 p.m. not to include more than 1¼oz. of all foods in which flour is used. 

...The meatless days ... are to be Tuesdays and Fridays in the Metropolitan Police district, Wednesday and Fridays in the provinces.  Poultry and game rank as meat.

Meatless breakfasts are ordained by the prohibition of the serving or eating of meat, poultry, or game between 6 a.m. and 10.30 a.m.  Children under ten are exempted from the no-milk stipulation.  The sugar allowance (1 oz. a day but not more than 6oz. in a week) is for sweetening purposes.  It is limited to residents for "the major portion" of a week and not rationed for sugar; others described as "guests" must carry their own sugar.

Breakfast, it is pointed out, is going to be a difficult meal in the business type of hotel.  Apparently no milk may be served with porridge, and the bacon course is forbidden.  Commercial travellers as a class eat a hearty breakfast, make a light lunch, and take a substantial evening meal.  Now the breakfast must consist of fish, eggs, jam, and bread and butter, and the heavy meat-tea becomes impossible.

As to tea-shop teas, the Order says no person shall be served with or consume between 3 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. more than 1½oz. in all of broad. cake, bun, scone, and biscuit.  The present limit is 2oz. but the old Order does not contain the restriction against consuming, and the omission of which allows permits to buy a bag of pastries at the counter and then sit down in another part of the premises and eat them with an ordered tea.
....

MEATLESS MENUS IN LEEDS

A START AT SOME OF THE PUBLIC EATING-PLACES.

Although today was regarded by many as the first meatless day, the suggestion by the Leeds Food Control Committer) that it should be so observed has by no means met with general acceptance in the city.  Hotel and restaurant proprietors varied considerably in their attitude towards it.  Some loyally excluded meat of all kinds from their menu, and mainly substituted fish, vegetable stew, macaroni, cheese, and eggs.  Many, however, are reserving the first meatless day until it becomes compulsory on Friday, one reason advanced being that owing to the sudden change in the weather, the meat purchased for use tomorrow would not keep.
…
Meanwhile it is not without interest to notice what is being served to take the place of meat.  At the Leeds and County Conservative Club a meatless day is not being observed to-day, but will be on Friday, when the menu will be:—

SOUP. 

Consomme croute au pot.   Yellow Pea.  Cream of Lentil. 

FISH.

Fried Fillet of Plaice. Cod Steak. Fish Pie. 

Fried Halibut Steak. Boiled Halibut and Hollandaise Sauce. 

Boiled Salmon Steak. Cold Salmon. 

ENTREES. 

Macaroni au gratin.   Vermicelli a la Portugaise.  Curried Eggs and Rice. 

Poached Eggs on Toast.  Poached Eggs and Spinach.  Welsh Rarebits. 

VEGETABLES. 

Mashed and Jacket Potatoes.  Boiled Rice. Haricot Beans.  

Marrowfat Peas. Spring Cabbage. Turnip Tops.

SWEETS AND CHEESE.

….

At one of the restaurants in Leeds where a meatless day was observed, the following was the menu.—

SOUPS.

Green Pea.  Scotch Broth.   Chestnut. 

FISH.

Filleted Plaice and Parsley Sauce.   Steamed Cod and Caper Sauce.  Stuffed Haddock.

 ENTREES.

Vegetable Irish Stew.   Bean Pie.  

Cheese Dumplings.  Tomatoes and Turnips au gratin.  

Lentil Rissoles.  Savoury Rice. 

Vegetables, Puddings and Sweets. 

At another restaurant a compromise was effected by the elimination of beef and mutton and the introduction of poultry, grilled ham, and sausage. Several dishes of fish were served, along with savoury omelettes, eggs on toast, and haricot croquettes.

Many of the restaurant proprietors spoken to to-day on the subject of the meatless day expressed the opinion that it will be welcomed, as whilst lately they have been unable to secure normal supplies, the general public seem unable to realise the fact, and are dissatisfied if they cannot procure as much as usual.

For the same reason the majority of them regard the new Sugar Order with favour.  This order only permits of sugar to be used for cooking purposes.  "Lately we have had the greatest difficulty, " said one manager, "in getting supplies of sugar, and many people have been anything but satisfied when they have not been provided with the quantity allotted to them.  I am glad they will now have to provide it themselves, as it will mean that we should have quite a hundredweight [50.8 kg.] per week less to purchase."

One manager expressed considerable doubt whether it will in future be possible to continue the supply of Yorkshire pudding.  In the opinion of some proprietors, it will not be legal to supply a customer with Yorkshire pudding and then boiled pudding or tart at the close of the meal, as by so doing the limit will be exceeded.

Representation of the People

From the Illustrated London News, 26th January 1918.

LADIES' PAGE.

It has taken just half a century of effort to get sex removed from the disqualifications for citizenship.  Fifty completed years precisely have passed since John Stuart Mill first challenged a vote of the House of Commons on the equal right of women to the franchise.  From that date to the present, women have carried on an unceasing propaganda in favour of the equality of their sex in representation as well as in taxpaying and obedience to the laws made by Parliament.  In the meantime, many things bearing on the subject have happened.  The Married Women's Property Act was an important step.  Several of the States of the American Union have fully enfranchised their female citizens, beginning with Wyoming in 1870, and now including wealthy and leading States such as Colorado and California; and in every case the change has proved able to gain the approval of the leading men and of the people as a whole.  Then our own Australasian colonies followed suit, beginning with New Zealand in 1894, and culminating in the Confederation of Australia in 1906, and just recently a part of Canada.  The admission of women to higher education, and the brilliant success many of them gained in abstruse subjects, such as mathematics, is another notable fact that has helped in changing opinion.  But finally, of course, the part taken by women in this terrible war is the immediate reason for the general agreement now expressed that we ought to be recognised as citizens sharing in the corporate life of the nation.  As the Archbishop of Canterbury said, in the House of Lords debate, the vote is not being given as a reward for the work done by women—for it is not a privilege so much as a trust to fulfil—but as a recognition of the ability and devotion that they have shown and that have proved them to be a valuable portion of the nation's forces.

The Lord Chancellor, opposing the enfranchisement, suggested that women voters will be more ready than men to make “an inconclusive and hasty peace, throwing away all for which we had fought.”  As George Eliot said wittily, “Prophecy is the most gratuitous form of error,” and any assumptions as to what women will do with the vote are necessarily of that order.  But, as the old herbalists believed that the bane and the antidote always grew near one another, the next page of the Times to that recording Lord Loreburn's prophecy bore its contradiction, in the record from Canada as to the recent election there in which the one and only question was conscription— “the appeal for reinforcements for the Canadian army.”  We are told by the impartial Times correspondent that “possibly 400,000 women voted, of whom at least 70 per cent. cast their ballot for the Union candidates.  The appeal to support the men in the trenches was very influential with the women.  They were better organised than the men voters, and their speakers were very effective.”  Nor did it, in fact, need this last-hour proof that women are willing to give the sacrifices necessary in a righteous and defensive war, for every one of the splendid New Zealand boys whom we have seen in our midst was brought up by a voting mother, and, when the need of the Empire arose, those mothers not only voted their money, but gave their darling sons to the war in a manner that alone should have defended women from Lord Loreburn's imputation.  New Zealand was the first of our Colonies, before the war, to vote the cost of a battle-ship to the Imperial Navy, and in the war her contributions have been exceptional.

........

Of course, the vote is now given on different terms from those on which we have always asked for it. Our claim has always been “Votes for women on the same qualification as they are given to men.”  I still believe that this would have been a much better basis.  It would have enfranchised all women paying taxes on their own account, who would have been mainly single or widowed, but including some married women in business or owning property; but the whole number would have been far less than will come in by the present arrangement.  The absurd restriction of women's votes to persons over thirty years of age would also not have had to be devised, as the only scheme for somewhat lessening the flood of new and inexperienced electors.  However, the working men objected to the preponderance of propertied and well-educated women amongst those who would have been enfranchised “on the same terms as men”; and the present change, illogical as it is, at least removes being of the female sex from the list of disqualifications for voting, where it previously stood with lunacy, crime, pauperism, and childishness. —FILOMENA.

[The Representation of the People Act of 1918 granted the vote to women over the age of 30 who met a property qualification.  The same Act gave the vote to all men over the age of 21. It became law in February 1918.

Until the Married Woman’s Property Act of 1870, and later extensions, married women effectively could not own anything – it belonged to the husband. The acts allowed her first to control any money she earned, and then to keep any property she had before her marriage, and any that she inherited during the marriage.]

Is Tea a Necessity?

From the Illustrated London News, 12th January 1918.

LADIES’ PAGE.

LORD RHONDDA [the Food Controller] has set down as the maximum allowance of tea per week suggested for each person only one-and-half ounces!  Of sugar he allows half-a-pound, and of butter or margarine a quarter-of-a-pound.  These quantities are exactly half in the case of the fat and the sugar, and less than half in the case of the tea, of what our domestic servants used to expect as their weekly allowance, if the domestic system was to ration them in these articles.  In many households they were practically allowed to consume what they pleased of such things, and then usually they much exceeded the quarter-of-a-pound of tea.  How are they now to be confined .to an ounce-and-a-hall of it, I wonder?  No scheme of rationing can work satisfactorily unless it can be enforced on everybody; and unless we mistresses are absolutely compelled to diminish the servants’ food to the ordered amount it will be useless to suppose that we can do it.  Voluntary partial efforts will merely result in those who are loyal to the national needs being left without domestic workers; while the numerous selfish, well-to-do women who would, in order to keep servants, give them any-thing they can get hold of, disregarding patriotism, will surreptitiously supply far more than the rations.  Indeed, I cannot see how any mistress, unless backed up by strict State compulsion on one and all of the community, can dare to say to her servants "Yon are only to have an ounce-and-a-half of tea for a week."  Once they realise that they cannot get any more than that allowance by changing places, it will be all right; but this will only be true if all mistresses who supply more (from stores already put by or surreptitious sources), are very severely dealt with by law.  Otherwise there simply will be an exodus from the loyal households.

Is tea a necessity?  There is almost a mutiny in the Government offices, where thousands of women are employed, at the threat that the tea which has hitherto illuminated the middle of the afternoon's weariness shall be abolished.  The excuse of the authorities for this dreadful threat is the time that is wasted by the girls in preparing and consuming the little meal.  But, as a practical fact, the brain works so much more freely and rapidly after a cup of tea has cleared it that the time spent upon taking the vitalising beverage in the afternoon is by no means wasted.  Every serious brain-worker knows by experience the powerful, invigorating, and awakening influence of the precious herb.  One of the Chinese legends as to the origin of tea is that the shrub sprang up for the first time on the spot where a devoted son had thrown down his eyelids. which he cut off to prevent himself from sleeping while watching over his sick mother; which thing is an allegory.  A royal poet of the native land of tea, China, the Emperor Kien Lung, wrote an ode in its praise; he counselled, "At your ease drink this precious liquor, which will chase away the five causes of sorrow; One can taste and feel, but not describe, the state of repose produced by a liquor thus prepared."

Whether there is any real value in tea as nutriment of the nervous system or whether it is purely a passing stimulant cannot yet, strange to say. be considered settled question.  Liebig claimed to have demonstrated that "tea and coffee have become necessaries of life"—not mere luxuries, observe—"by the presence of one and the same substance in both vegetables, which has a peculiar effect upon the human system.  By contributing to the formation of bile, they have become a substitute for animal food to those eating little meat, and to the large class who are unable to take regular exercise."

[Justus von Liebig was a 19th century chemist and food scientist.]

How To Become A Laboratory Attendant

From Woman’s Weekly, January 26th 1918. 

HOW TO BECOME A LABORATORY ATTENDANT.

A New Opening for the Girl Worker of To-day.

MANY girls feel they would like to take up scientific work, but they cannot always spend the time or the money in the training.  

The war has opened up a fresh career that means working in a laboratory, and no previous experience is necessary, for women are now engaged as laboratory attendants.  

There is so much work to be done in the world of science that the trained workers require untrained ones to help them. 

Different kinds of work are all ranked under headings— often with very long names.  Where clays, earths, and such like are tested is called an assaying laboratory; or if it is for metal, a metallurgical laboratory.  Whatever is the nature of the scientific work, the laboratory attendant must help the workers and be responsible for the care of the laboratory.  

She will most probably have a boy to work under her.  She will be required to get to the laboratory about 8 a.m., and help to get the room, or rooms, ready for the day's work; have the windows opened, fires lighted, see that the room is swept, or sweep it, and dust it herself.  

If she has a lad helping, she must keep a sharp eye on him — see that he touches nothing on the working-benches.  A chemist may often have to leave important work on his bench when he leaves off for the night — it cannot always be put away.  So that makes a laboratory attendant's position a very responsible one. 

HER “ODD JOBS.” 

ONCE the rooms are clean and tidy, the “still” must be started, if the distilled water used is “home made.”  Then the big bottles containing acids—called “Winchesters” — must be looked over.  If any are empty, fresh ones must be brought in from the store cupboard.  By this time the staff will arrive, and work begins.  If there are several, every one will be sure to want something at once.  The attendant will be required to prepare the samples for analysis.  If an ore, she will crush it in a mortar and pass it through a sieve whatever size she is told.  If a 100 sieve, this job lasts some time.  If the sample be a metal, she will have to cut it into small pieces.  She may drill it, or, with some, hammer it very fine, and cut it up.  If the sample is already in small pieces, she must clean it, if soiled.  She may have to wash it in ether. This quite an exciting job, as the ether evaporates off quicker than she can clean the sample. 

All kinds of odd jobs will fall to her lot.  Stoppers will stick fast in bottles—especially alkalies —so that she frequently has to get her wash-bottle of boiling water and remove them.  The girl who is good at removing stoppers will win golden opinions for herself. 

Of course, the more she picks up about apparatus or electric batteries, the more use will she be to her chief.  To be a useful laboratory attendant a girl must be quick, sharp, take an interest in her work, anxious to learn all she can, and let the staff see she is a willing worker. 

Some of the men who have held positions for many years in the same laboratory are quite “characters.”  We know of one who always speaks of “my laboratory,” and who keeps a far sharper eye on the general expenses than does the chief himself. 

One golden rule of a laboratory is that the work must never be spoken about to anyone outside, as it is often confidential. 

Sometimes people will find an excuse to look over a laboratory just to find out something. 

HE KNEW TOO MUCH. 

A VISITOR one day got permission to look over a large laboratory where rubber was being analysed.  He said he knew nothing of science or commerce, and at the end of his visit he asked for a bit of rubber as a keepsake.  He opened his penknife, and, licking the blade, cut a bit.  Suddenly he found himself turned out with the remark, “None but one experienced with rubber would have known to wet the blade first if you want to cut rubber.”

HOURS AND THE PAY. 

THE working hours will be from about 8 a.m. to 6 or 6.30 p.m., With one hour off for dinner; and there is plenty of opportunity to make a cup of tea in the afternoon. 

The pay will depend on the size and style of the laboratory.  A girl who had never been in a laboratory before would get about 18s. a week to start with, and would eventually get 25s. to 30s. a week.  

In a large firm, where two or three were kept, the head one, who would require to be experienced, would receive a higher wage. 

HER STYLE OF DRESS. 

THE most suitable style of dress is an overall.  In some laboratories a cap to match is advisable, if the goods to be experimented upon give rise to much dust, such as ores.  

She may have to attend to the store of chemicals, and she will also be responsible for keeping the bottles that are in use filled up. Of course, this has to be most carefully done, as an error on the attendant's part would upset perhaps all the scientific work on hand.

[Woman's Weekly were running a series of articles at this time on good career occupations for women.  There's no suggestion here that the lab attendant posts were available because women were replacing men who were now in the armed forces, but it's quite likely.  

The suggestion that using ether would be 'quite exciting' amused me, given the effects of breathing in the vapour.]  

How to Knit a New Heel into a Worn Sock or Stocking

From Weldon’s Ladies’ Journal, January 1918.

How to Knit a New Heel into a Worn Sock or Stocking.

First procure wool to match the sock in colour and texture, and choose four steel needles which will give a similar tension in knitting.

Unravel the worn heel, being careful not to unpick a single stitch of the leg below the instep level.  Pick up on two knitting needles the stitches across sole of foot from one side of instep to the other to prevent them dropping. Now pick up stitches for the heel flap on one needle.  Join in the wool and knit to the last stitch on the heel needle, and slip one stitch of the side needle on to heel needle, and take these two together. 

Turn and purl to last stitch of heel needle, and as before slip one off from the side needle and take two together.  Do this at end of each row until the heel flap is long enough.  Count the stitches left at the centre of the sole of the sock, put them on one needle, then turn the heel by the same method used in the original knitting.  There should then be left on the heel needle as many stitches as were counted at the sole.  Hold the two needles together and take a wool needle and graft the heel and foot together.  All ends of wool, both old and new, must be darned in very neatly and securely, especially near the instep portions, and at the end of the grafting.

[I'm not an expert sock knitter, so this makes no sense to me.  It does imply that there was one standard way of knitting heels at the time, so if you had knitted lots of socks in that way, you might be able to follow the instructions.]

Econnomy in Fuel and Lighting

From Weldon's Ladies' Journal, January 1918.

National Service for Housewives

Or How to Keep the Home Fires Burning.

The necessity for economy in fuel and lighting is most important.  And not only the mistress of the house, but each member of the family, and each servant dwelling under the same roof-tree, should take scrupulous care to see that no wastage occurs.  Here are a few hints from the National War Savings Committee:—

Coal and coke, mixed in equal proportions, give a fuel which lasts longer than coal alone.
Just before retiring for the night, remove all partially burnt coals from the fire, and put them aside to cool, and use same to build the morning fire.
Buy one of the closed box cinder sifters, and so sift all the cinders, which then place in the coal-box, ready to put on the fire.  The dust which remains may be dug into the garden with benefit to the earth.

Briquettes, if obtainable, eke out the coal splendidly.  They should be arranged to allow of the free passage of air through the fire, and must not be poked. [Briquettes were made from compressed coal dust, and could be bought from a coal merchant.]

Pay special attention to the dampers in the kitchen range. See that they are not out longer than is necessary to heat the water or the oven.  More kitchen coal is wasted in allowing the heat to roar up the chimney than is used for heating or cooking.

Make your sitting-room and bedroom fire-places smaller by getting fire-bricks for back and sides from your ironmonger. Even an ordinary brick or two may be used for filling up the grate, and so economise the amount of coal burnt.

Burn all vegetable and kitchen refuse. Vegetable rubbish must be placed under the stove to dry thoroughly, and then be burnt, or there are portable incinerators to be bought now, in which all household rubbish can be destroyed.

When filling kettles and saucepans with water for cooking or washing purposes, heat only sufficient water required.  A kettle or saucepan filled to the brim will take longer to boil, and so consume more coal or gas, than if half filled.  After the water has once boiled, do not keep the kettles simmering away on the gas stove, and thus consuming gas to no purpose,

Make plenty of paper spills, and place some in each room, in order to save matches. Smokers should take note of this.

Be careful to see that all saucepans and kettles stood over stove, gas, or oil are perfectly dry.  They will last longer, save labour by keeping cleaner, and will not get smoked.

Keep your gas cooker scrupulously clean every day; do not allow the burners to become clogged, brush them out well.

A reader in Italy has sent us the following economy recipe: Collect odd scraps of paper useless for- other purposes.  When you have a good quantity, put. them in a tub or basin, and just cover them with cold water. Let them remain some days till the paper is quite soddened.  Then take them out in small handfuls and squeeze them into balls.  Let them dry thoroughly sun or in a warm place.  They burn well and are good for lighting fires or even for boiling a kettle, or cooking small dishes.

[I don't know what the reason for burning vegetable waste was.  There was a great emphasis on growing more vegetables, so composting the waste would have been more sensible - and in World War 2, it would have been fed to pigs or chickens.]   

Millions of Books Wanted

From Woman’s Weekly, 12th January 1918.

More Millions of Books Wanted!

By MARY MARRYAT.

MY DEAR FRIENDS, —Do you know that from 75,000 to 100,000 books are wanted every week for our brave men in the trenches and camps, for our suffering men in hospitals and convalescent homes, and for the boys in training?  Books of all sorts and sizes, of all kinds, and on every variety of subject.  Some people think that only novels are needed.  This is a mistake.  Books of every sort are welcomed.  Poetry, travels, scientific books — all are of use.  I was told this the other day when I took some to Surrey House, Marble Arch.  This is the headquarters for the gathering of the battalions of books that are being sent to our fighting men.

There is a soldier in the hall of Surrey House.  He will take the books from you.  Around him are packing-cases full of book, and, alas, many empty cases waiting for the books which do not come; for again, alas! the supply DOES NOT NEARLY EQUAL THE DEMAND.  One hundred thousand A WEEK are asked for.  How many, think you, come in?  LESS THAN 30,000 a week!  This is not only sad; it is, I think, a disgrace to us people who are staying at home.  Books are so easy to get— many of them are so cheap.  Do you know that one of those I took to Surrey House I HAD BOUGHT for TWOPENCE at a bookstall!  It was a well-known novel.  It was very shabby, but it was quite complete.  I was ashamed to give it, so I asked the soldier if it was too shabby.  "Oh no!" he said cheerfully.  "They are all useful."

And, remember, there is no need to take the books to Surrey House, nor even to send them there at all.  There is no need to be in London, or anywhere near it.  No matter where you live, from John o' Groats to Land's End, you will find a post office somewhere within hail.  Well, you have but to take your book, or books, or magazines and picture papers—for these, too, are wanted in their thousands—and hand them in at the post office.  You need not wrap them up or tie them together.  Just hand them to the clerk.  He, or she, will do the rest.  From the post office they will safely reach the trenches, or the hospital wards, or the camps—wherever the call for them is the most urgent.  You will all hurry up and send some along, won't you?

Always your friend,

MARY MARRYAT. 

FICKLE AND FAITHLESS.
“PATSIE.” — “Patsie,” to be candid, you are fickle and faithless.  I am speaking my mind straight out, you see.  What else can I think or say when you tell me that you had a sweetheart for three years who had asked you to marry him, and whom you liked sincerely?  Then, suddenly, you came across a handsome Canadian, and at “the first instant you set eyes on him” you knew “he is the boy for me”!  I can't understand such quick changes.  You never can have had any real feeling for your first sweetheart.  I don't think this is honourable conduct.  And apparently the Canadian thinks as I do, for he has gone away, and you have heard nothing from him for three weeks.  Men don't like faithlessness, you know; at least, the best kind of man doesn't.  And this Canadian must have seen how you dropped the other very quickly, for you say you told him all about the sweetheart in France.  The only thing you can do now is to wait, but I fear it will not be a very satisfactory business.

HOW TO GET THIN. 
My advice on this subject to “Worried One,” and other girls of eighteen who beg me to tell them how to get thin, is the same as “Punch’s” “advice to those about to marry”— Don't!  Don't try to get thin, girls — at all events, while you are growing.  And remember that you continue to grow, in height, until you are twenty.  To try to reduce your weight during the years of growth is a very injurious and, maybe, a very dangerous thing.  So, please, young girls, don't ask me any more how you can get thinner.  “Worried One,” thanks very much for your nice letter and complimentary remarks.  Take my advice, and don’t trouble about what these foolish creatures say about your fatness.  They only say the things they do to tease.  If they see you ignore them they will cease their stupid rudeness.  Plump girls are generally more admired than thin ones.

[Mary Marryat was the nominal problem page editor for Woman's Weekly from its beginning in 1913 until at least the 1960s.  Although the column in its later years showed a photo of a friendly-looking middle-aged lady, I strongly suspect that if the original Mary Marryat ever existed, she had long since retired before the column ended. I've included this piece for the appeal for books to send to the troops, and I've also added two of the replies to letters. The war meant new kinds of problems between women and their 'sweethearts' which Mary Marryat had to deal with, as well as as the questions about how to lose weight - still a common concern of women's magazines.] 

Insurance Work for Women

From Woman’s Weekly, 12th January 1918.

Insurance Work for Women.

It is always nice to be a pioneer, and girls have so many opportunities in these days to be first in the field.

Insurance work—outdoor — is quite a new occupation for girls.  Hitherto they have contented themselves with office work, and left the men to reap the outdoor harvest, because comparatively few women take out insurance.

For the future, such a large number of women will have to work, not only to keep themselves, but to at least partially keep their families, that it will become absolutely necessary to insure their lives and provide for their old age.

The woman who pays in a small sum yearly can guarantee a definite sum as an income when she reaches a specified age; it may be quite small, but it will be certain, or she can look forward to obtaining a lump sum.

If a girl becomes an insurance agent, she will always work for one insurance society.  She can, if she chooses, include fire insurance, but it will be life insurance that will be the chief work.

As a rule, the payment is by commission, and the start off is difficult; but once a start is made, there is no reason why a girl should not make as much money as a man.  The insurance society she works for will give her all the information necessary for the work, papers and so forth.

It is work that can be started while at one's ordinary occupation, and then, when a little success has been gained, a courageous girl would do well to devote her whole time to it.

THE NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS.
No one under about twenty-four should take up the work, and the one thing that is absolutely necessary is that she should be a good talker.

The suitable girl is one who is rather strong-minded, and, as the Irish say, "has a way with her."  The timid, gentle, yielding girl would be useless. Moreover, she must make up her mind that she is going to succeed, and not be disheartened by one or two black days.  She must cheer herself up thinking how much money the men-folk make over similar work.

She must dress nicely, but in rather a practical fashion, so as not to appear too much of a butterfly, or other women will not take her advice.

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE IS USEFUL. 
A girl who has been in business will succeed best, and she will know how to get in touch with other girls, as that is the difficult point.

The men do so much insurance work in the city, in office hours and at lunch time; why should not women too?  The girl who has worked in an office can speak feelingly to other girls, how by saving a little every year they can eventually look forward to starting some small business of their own later on.  If they have not the prospect of a happy marriage to look forward to, then at least they can look forward to independence.

CANVASSING AMONG THE WORKERS.
The women to be canvassed are practically any age; of course, the younger the better, for their own sake.  A girl with plenty of friends working with large firms should do well, and if she knows any forewomen, better still.

The work will mean, in many cases, calling at a girl's house, but on becoming an insurance agent one must be prepared for this.  It may often mean evening work, as sometimes that will be found the only way of doing business.

No girl absolutely dependent on her earnings should give up her present work until she has worked up a connection; but one who lives at home, and can do without her weekly salary at first, could, of course, do so.  But it is almost always best to start while at work, as success will not be likely to come at first, and if the usual work is going on, a girl is less likely to give up her new venture and feel down-hearted over it.

AFTER THE WAR. 
When the war is over a very great number of women will be thrown out of work, and it is anticipated the market for clerical workers will be very over-stocked.  The girl who has been slowly but surely building up a connection in insurance work in war time will then be quite ready to devote herself whole heartedly to the work.

Once a girl has proved to her insurance society that she is worth it, she could obtain a salary and still get commission; but, of course, the latter would be lower than when on no salary.  The usual commission is about 2 per cent.  A man who is an insurance agent, and devotes his whole time to the work, never expects to make less than £200 a year, while some make big incomes.

A girl who can work up a connection among women who are earning good salaries will do very well, for these women can take out much larger policies, which mean larger commissions for the agent; so that the work depends on a number of small ones or a less number but with higher figures.

A Day in the Life of a Shell Girl

From Woman’s Weekly, 12th January 1918.

A DAY IN MY LIFE.

BY THE SHELL GIRL, WHO HELPS THE "MAN BEHIND THE GUN."

A munitions worker 

LIKE most English girls, when the call came for women to help in the Great War, my ambition was to make shells, and I joined the great army of munition workers. 

The work is hard— very hard—but the pay is good, and, what is more, the munition girl is always happy in the knowledge that she is "doing her bit" to help the boys "out there." 

My work was boring and screwing 6-inch shells, operations which require much attention and care, for the cap must fit exactly to be of any use.  When I joined I was put to watch a machine for a fortnight (during this time I 'was not paid), and after that I was allowed a machine of my own. 

The heaviest part of the work is lifting the shells by means of a chain hoist.  They weigh 186 lb. each—a tough task for a girl, but I was spared this, for the machine behind me was run by a man named Joe. and always when I attempted to get a shell he would say, "Eh, mate!  Let me do that!"  

Joe was quite a character in our room.  He was a discharged soldier, but would never talk of his experiences "out there." 

"You get on with them there shells," he would say.  "Time enough to talk when the war's over." 

Joe kept his eye on us during the night shift, and whenever he noticed a head nodding over a machine he was quickly on the scene with a can of tea, which he kept incessantly stewing over the hydraulics.  In the day time he always came well provided with apples and sweets, and in his unostentatious way he would hand them to the girls at lunch time, hurrying away before we could thank him.

The hours at our works were from seven at night until eight o'clock the next morning for two weeks; and six at night till seven o'clock in the morning for the next two weeks.  During a shift most of us were able to make from sixteen to eighteen shells, and this, at piecework rates, brought our wages from two pounds fifteen shillings to three pounds per week. 

There were nice recreation rooms in which we could rest during dinner hour, and for a quarter of an hour at tea time.  There are attendants these rooms who, for the charge of a penny, will heat up any food you may bring. 

MY "MATES." 

My "mates," as they called themselves, were a strong, free-and-easy lot, very intolerant of my finicky ways, and some of them looked with scorn at the clean serviette I brought each day, and my cup and saucer in place of a can for my tea; but they were a very kind lot of girls, as the following story will show: 

There was one little woman whom the girls, for some reason or another, did not like.  She was not interested in their stories of the fine clothes they were buying, and the surprises they had "up their sleeve" for "George" when he came home.  All through the long shift the little woman would stand silent, her eyes glued to her machine; and during the dinner hour she never entered the recreation-room.  I learnt afterwards it was because she only had a crust of dry bread to eat, and didn't want anyone to pity her poverty.  One day she completely broke down, and I saw the girl at the next machine, after a little hesitation, turn to her. 

At lunch time that day this girl called her mates and told them the story.  The little woman's husband had deserted her.  She had six children, and the eldest, a boy of eighteen, had just joined up.  She was trying to keep things going, but her strength would not allow her to make more than ten shells a day, and the order was that twelve must be the minimum per shift.  Unless she could do better she was to go. 

Without any more ado, and, of course, against regulations, a group of girls banded themselves together and pledged themselves to put at least six shells to the little woman's total. 

And they did; and, what is more, would not listen to the little woman's thanks.  "Garn,'' said one girl. 'it doesn't matter who makes 'em, long as Kaiser Bill gets it in the neck!"  

The munition girl keeps herself and her friends alive with her high spirits and her unbounded energy.  She means her man to win the war.

WOMEN MUNITION WORKERS.

Women desirous of doing War-Work are now being offered every facility for training in the Engineering branch of Munition Work.  No charge is made for the training, and a Subsistence Allowance at the rate of 25s. per week is paid to students from the date of enrolment.  Overalls and caps are also provided free.
Women are urgently wanted, and all particulars of training. wages, hours, etc., may be had on application to: The Education Officer, L.C.C. Education Offices, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.2.

Watch out for Spies

From Woman’s Weekly, 12th January 1918.

HOW SPIES WORK.

Read here how one woman used a child in the service of the Kaiser.

IN these days when thousands and thousands of men and women are employed in making. Munitions and war machinery, even the humblest worker must have some knowledge of secret inventions which are so jealously guarded by our Government.  It is to these that I would first address a word of warning.  Make a solemn vow never to discuss anything of a secret nature connected with your work with anyone.  Spies are abroad everywhere, and the chance remark which you may perhaps deem of no consequence will fit in with other little scraps of information gathered in the same way, and give the enemy the information he wants.

IT WAS JUST CARELESSNESS. 
TAKE a case to point.  A young, educated lady, who had volunteered for war-work in a very important factory, was dining with her sweetheart in the grill-room of a popular hotel.  She was speaking, after the meal, of a new process that had been introduced, and in order to explain it better, began to draw diagrams on the tablecloth.  Neither she nor her sweetheart noticed that the waiter was lingering behind them, but suddenly a gentleman sitting opposite rose and upset his coffee over the diagrams.  As he apologised profusely, he whispered to the girl's sweetheart: "Follow me out."
On reaching the lounge, he turned to the young man and said: "1 am in the service of the Government, and I have reason to suspect that the man who waited at your table is a spy.  He was watching every line your lady friend drew, so I purposely spilt my coffee over the diagrams to foil him.  Tell your friend that she must be more careful in future."  We must take it that the lesson was not lost on that young lady.

NOT SO EASY! 
ANOTHER story which illustrates the danger of discussing military secrets in hotels and restaurants was told me by an officer who holds an important position at one of our base camps in France, 
He was dining in a West End restaurant with a brother officer, and although they were talking nothing but harmless military "shop," he noticed that the waiter was hovering around their table and neglecting other customers.  When the man disappeared for a moment, he whispered his suspicions to his friend, and the two formed a plan.  When the waiter came around their table again, they began to discuss in whispers— just loud enough for the man to hear—details of a new bombing aeroplane which had been specially and secretly constituted at the base.  On they went from one detail to another; the waiter edged nearer, making notes on the pad which' he was supposed to use for putting down the items on the bill. Before the officer had finished, he had enough information to fill a couple of foolscap sheets, but had he known that every scrap of the conversation was pure invention on the part of the officers, and that no such machine existed, he would not have been quite so pleased with himself.  What Berlin said to him when they discovered the truth, the writer knoweth not.

AT A TURKISH BATH. 
WHETHER the Turkish bath possesses some mysterious attribute which loosens men's tongues, or whether it is that men visit them after having dined "not wisely but too well," the fact remains that German spies find them a profitable resort.  Not very long ago, a well-known London journalist overheard a Government official talking State secrets in a Turkish bath, and a very sharp note appeared in that journalist's paper pointing out the danger of talking in cubicles.

THE WOMAN SPY. 
BUT perhaps the most dangerous spy of all is the woman secret agent.  A favourite dodge of this person is to pose as a war widow.  Usually she is accompanied by a very pretty child, and takes up her quarters at the best hotels, especially those frequented by officers.

A friend of the writer's had rather an alarming experience of the cunning of the woman spy.  He was staying in a Midland town, engaged in testing a new invention.  It was necessary for him to visit the works and bring back to his hotel certain plans and fittings day by day.  These he kept in an attaché case.  A very fascinating war widow, with a little girl about eight years old, stayed in the same corridor, and the little girl often peeped into his room while he was working.

The mother chided the girl for "interrupting the gentleman," but being a father, he said: "Oh, let her come in.  I'm very fond of children." 

And so the child became a constant visitor to his room.  One day he found it necessary to go downstairs to telephone.  When half-way down he suddenly remembered he had forgotten the particular paper about which he wished to ask a question at the works.  On reaching the door of his room he was amazed to see the innocent little girl opening his attaché case with a key, his own key being in his pocket.

As she heard his footsteps, the little girl turned round, concealed the key in her hand, and, with the art of a consummate actress, said: "What a pretty case!  I should like one like that."  My friend pretended that he had not noticed anything, but that day he sent a message to our Secret Service, and the widow and her child suddenly disappeared from that hotel — where to it would not be wise to state.

[The general advice not to discuss war work in public seems valid (as in the WW2 slogan 'Careless talk costs lives').  The specific stories related in the article don't seem very plausible to me  - but they would undoubtedly be exciting to the Woman's Weekly readership.]

Comforts For Tommy And Jack

From Home Notes, January 12th 1918.

COMFORTS FOR TOMMY AND JACK.

Knitting needles out, please!  Our soldiers and sailors want any number of warm comforts, and it’s up to you to help supply them.

Many people who knitted vigorously in the first winters of the war seem to think that their work is no longer so urgently needed.  But it is wanted, and wanted in larger quantities than ever, for we’ve got such a big army and navy to supply nowadays.  So please set to work this very minute.

These patterns, which are, by the way, issued by the American Red Cross, are exceptionally simple ones, and you need have very little experience of knitting to tackle them successfully.

The Muffler.

First of all comes the muffler.  For this you need just ¾ lb. of four ply khaki, grey or navy blue wool and wooden or bone needles No. 3.  Cast on 50 stitches and knit plain for 68 inches.

A muffler like this American soldier is wearing is splendidly warm.

The Mittens.
These are made on to needles with a space left for the thumb.  You need ¼ lb. of the same wool as you used for the muffler, and steel needles No. 12.

Cast on 48 stitches, k.2 and p. 2 for 12 inches and sew up, leaving 2 inches open space for the thumb 2 inches from the top.

An easy, quick to make, warm mitten.

The Helmet.
You will want ½ (?) lb. of the four-ply khaki, grey or navy blue wool; 1 pair steel needles, No. 12.  The helmet is made in two parts, which afterwards are sewn together.

Front of Helmet. — Cast on 48 stitches (11 inches) k. plain for 25 ribs (6 inches), and k. 2, p.2, for 35 rows.  On the next row the opening for the face is made as follows:  k.2, p.2, k.2, p.2, k. 2, k. and cast off loosely the next 28 stitches and p. 1, k.2, p.2, k.2, p.2.  Run the stitches before the opening on a spare needle and on the stitches at other side of opening k.2, p.2 for 12 rows. The last row will end at the opening, and at that point cast on 28 stitches to replace those cast off.  Begin at the face opening of stitches on spare needle and k.2, p.2 for 12 rows.  At the end of the 12th row continue all across to the end of the other needle, when there should be 48 stitches on the needles as at first.  K. 2, p. 2 for 24 rows.

Top of helmet. — K.2, narrow (knitting 2 stitches together), k. 14, narrow, k. 14, narrow, k. 12.  P. the entire next row. On the 3rd row k. 2, narrow, k. 13, narrow, k. 13, narrow, k.11.  P. 4th row.  On the 5th row, k. 2, narrow, k. 12, narrow, k. 12, narrow, k.10.  P. 6th row.
Continue to narrow in the 3 places every plain knitted row with 1 stitch less between narrowings, until 9 stitches are left.

Back of Helmet.  — Work in the same manner as for front, but omit the face opening.  Sew the stitches of upper edges together with joining stitch.  Sew up the side seams, leaving the plain knitting at shoulders open.

Two views of a really sensible helmet, showing it on and off.

Another Mitten Pattern.
These mittens are made on four needles. You need for them ¼ lb. of the same wool as you used for the others, and four steel needles No. 12.

Cast on 52 stitches on three needles. — 16, 16, 20. Knit 2, purl 2 for 8 inches.
To make opening for thumb, knit 2, purl 2 to end of “Third” needle, turn; knit and purl back to end of “First” needle, always slipping first stitch, turn.
Continue knitting back and forth for 2 inches.  From this point continue as at first for four inches for the hand.  Cast off loosely; buttonhole thumb opening.

Tommy wants comforts.  Knit as many garments as you can and send them to

Sir Edward Ward, D.G.V.O.,
45 Horseferry Road, S.W.

If you knows of a better Cocoa....

[The cartoon is plagiarising the famous cartoon by Bruce Bairnsfather, featuring a old soldier, "Old Bill", at the front line, and saying to the fellow-soldier with him "Well, If you knows of a better 'ole, go to it."]

Why you have Sugar Cards

From the Leeds Mercury, 9th January 1918.

Why you have SUGAR CARDS.

Some people say it is because there is not enough Sugar to go round.  It is not true.  There is an adequate amount of Sugar for everyone if you stop the Brewers wasting it.  During the winter time the children need Sugar to keep them warm, and to feed their little bodies.  Surely you don't want it destroyed for beer, which no brewer would give to his children

Write to the Food Controller

(his address is Palace Chambers, London, S.W. 1)

AND TELL HIM TO STOP IT.

Write to The Strength of Britain Movement for further particulars, 175, Piccadilly, London, W.1.

The W.A.A.C.'s in France

From Home Notes, January 5th 1918.

THE W.A.A.C.'s IN FRANCE.

The amusements available for the W.A.A.C.’s are many, owing- to their enormous personal popularity and tho act that they are all what the men call “nice girls.”  They get passes like the men for special absences from camp, but they only go out in parties of two or more, and have to be back to roll-call in the evening.  This is not irksome, as their men friends usually have the same rules and hours.

Men-Friends.
There are few girls who do not quickly acquire men-friends, and as there are thousands more men than women there is a wide field of selection, and no excuse for choosing Sergeant or Private Wrong instead of Sergeant; or Private Right.  Pretty and plain, all have an equal chance, but they must remember that though they may get engaged, if they marry they have to return and take home service, as a soldier in France is not allowed to have his wife there.  That happens to be an army regulation, and an irritating one.
I asked one girl how she knew whether her sweetheart was not already married, and she replied promptly: “I looked in his pay-book to see to whom he was making allotments!”  It would be well if all W.A.A.C.'s making new friendships did the same; then there could be no broken hearts.  Invitations to regimental concerts and parties pour in on the girls, and they in their turn give dances and concerts, with refreshments of a homely kind made by themselves.

Irksome Rules.
There are two irksome things for the W.A.A.C.'s to put up with —- one is that there is only a fortnight's leave once a year, and the other that all letters are censored.  The first, however, does not bold if you have a sick father or mother, or other urgent, reasons for being needed at home; the second is lessened by the fact that a green envelope, similar to that given to a soldier, is issued once a fortnight, its contents are not censored, as the writer gives a signed undertaking on the outside that no military matter is dealt with within.  The censoring of letters is not confined to the rank and file — a general at headquarters told me he had had his opened frequently.
The list of fines and punishments in the booklet issued about the W.A.A.C. is very terrifying, but when 1 asked how it worked out, I found that a good scolding was the most terrib!e yet inflicted, and that any officer of the W.A.A.C. who wished to fine a girl would have to go to extraordinary trouble to do so, and get authority from the base commandant.  Of course, thoroughly unsuitable women are sent back, but out of the thousands who have gone there have only been four or five sent home.  The W.A.A.C. officers, from the Chief Controller downwards, are all fine women, and they know how to treat their rank and file.

A New Life. 
There are many advantages for an intelligent woman “soldiering” in France for the period of the war.  She can learn a new language with great ease, taking the free lessons that are available, and letting her ear do her good service for pronunciation and vocabulary.  Already some of the cooks who cater for the officers' mess can do so in French, and bargain with the fishwives and greengrocers. Business girls will have plenty or opportunities, if they join up as warehousewomen, of seeing French business life in the towns and comparing it with their own.  The country girl will be surprised at the French agriculture, and nearly all the women will be interested in noting the attention to detail that French girls of the better class give to their person, and their great skill in making the best of themselves.

Sugar Cards, Birth and Death

From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 7th January 1918.

DAILY JOTTINGS.

"BEFORE YOU CAN GET BURIED YOUR SUGAR CARD HAS TO BE PRODUCED."

This was the statement made to a correspondent of this paper the other day by a lady who had visited the office of the registrar in order to register the death of her husband.  She was returning home, as requested by the official, to find the deceased man's sugar card when she made the fore-going remark, and I thought surely someone was trying an elaborate joke.

TO CHECK FRAUDS.

It appears, however, that her statement was quite correct. The registrar, before he issues a certificate of death, has to make certain whether the dead person is registered for sugar or not.  This is done mainly to prevent fraud, as any unscrupulous person could continue to use a dead person’s sugar card unless there were some such means of obtaining or cancelling it.  The registrar not only requires the sugar card in case of a death, but also issues this important document to anybody who registers a birth.

Wool required for Sock Knitters

From The Times, January 7th 1918.

KNITTERS FOR THE ARMY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,----Will you allow me through your paper to thank most sincerely those who so generously responded to my appeal for funds to provide wool for my knitters who are making socks for our soldiers?  We have sent out 800 pairs since last August and have over 400 still to go out, but I have no more wool left now, and socks are ever more and more urgently needed.  My knitters, all but one, are voluntary, and many of them working women; they are keen to help, and do splendid work, the blind knitter, to whom I alluded before, having now completed 200 pairs of socks.  May I earnestly appeal for more funds to carry on this most necessary work?  Wool is getting dearer and dearer.  I have the chance to procure a large quantity of excellent wool at a moderate price if only funds are forthcoming at once.  The worst weather is still to come, and socks will be needed in ever-increasing quantities.
I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
EVELYN TEMPLETOWN.
10, Onslow-crescent, S.W.7, Jan 4.

Commercial Warfare

From Woman’s Weekly, 5th January 1918.

The Coming Fight!

A Straight Talk to the Girl Clerk About the Coming Commercial Warfare

Glad as we shall be when the war is ended, the business girl must face the fact that the clerical workers will be very numerous, and the best equipped will get the jobs that are going. 

The war has brought about great changes in the commercial world, and when it is over our commerce will be in many ways quite different.  We trust never again to have our markets flooded with German goods, and we expect to trade largely with the Spanish-speaking countries of South America.  In most foreign countries correspondence in English and French can be carried on. 

In Europe nearly all large firms have clerks who can speak these languages, but in South America it is different.  The good folk there are quite content with their own mother tongue, and if those they correspond with do not understand, then they just feel very sorry for them, that's all. 

Now we, as a nation, want to make our commercial world the greatest there is and if we set out to trade with an unknown tongue, we at once set out to learn that tongue.  That is the reason so many far-sighted people are learning Spanish. 

Outside the scholastic world, people do not realise how Spanish is taking a prominent place in the daily work.  Masters and mistresses themselves are learning it, and boys—or perhaps we should say the boys' parents—are often advised to take it as one of their subjects.

Lord Cowdray has recently presented a large sum of money to a provincial university to enable Spanish to be one of its special subjects, as he considers it is of such importance to the future prosperity of the nation. 

Now is it not a happy thought that one can fit oneself to earn more money and at the same time be doing really quite patriotic work ?  We hear about the coming trade war when the war is over.  Well, the girl who learns Spanish will be fitting herself to fight in that. 

Spanish is quite an easy language to learn.  The girl who knows French will find that a great help, and the pronunciation need not trouble her.  The great point is to be able to read it and to write it well.  A good plan is to get a "Spanish Self-taught."--there are plenty of such little books — and a Spanish grammar, also a dictionary.  By these simple aids one can get a good insight into the language. 
It is no good to go to a school that says you can be proficient in one month.  That may be all very well if you want to speak only, but speaking Spanish is of little value to a girl clerk.  You want to write a letter in Spanish grammatically.  This point must be impressed upon any school entered.  A good idea is to get a girl friend to start Spanish at the same time.  Two working together help each other.  But be sure to choose a girl who has grit in her, and will stick to it. 

English girls must realise that for many years to come the effect of this terrible war will be felt by all classes.  The girl who now looks forward to the future and fits herself for it is very wise.  She will not only learn to read and to in Spanish— what is called commercial Spanish—but she will practise typing letters in Spanish too.  She will, in fact, fit herself in every way to take a post as clerk in an office with a large correspondence in Spanish.  Of course, it may be that she will have a letter in English dictated to her which she must translate into Spanish; or, it may be, some of the heads of the firm will be able to speak Spanish, and dictate a letter in it to her.

The understanding of Spanish spoken is consequently important, but to speak it oneself will not matter.  We make a point of this, because so many girls may say: "Oh, I could never speak Spanish!  My French was so bad at school the girls always laughed at me."  Speaking a foreign language is not a strong point with the English, but it need not worry the ambitious girl clerk.  Go in and win; that is the best advice.  It may mean some hard work, it may mean a few less "picture evenings"; but war-time is work-time, and nothing a girl can do can come up to what the "boys" are doing, for penetrating through their hard work is the awful risk of their lives.

The girls are only asked to fit themselves to take their share in the fight in the commercial warfare so that we may as a nation be in every way worthy of the great sacrifice so many have made. 

[It's interesting that Woman's Weekly was already foreseeing severe competition for jobs, post-war, at a time when it must have been far from obvious that Germany could be defeated, though the predictions of the value of learning Spanish seem a bit off the mark.

Lord Cowdray was Weetman Pearson, created a Viscount in 1917.  The Pearson company was involved in construction, and had business interests in Mexico – they had built a railway for the Mexican government, and had developed successful oil wells there, which were bought out by Royal Dutch Shell later in 1918.  He had endowed a Chair in Spanish at the University of Leeds.  (Information taken from Wikipedia.)]

Halifax & District Women’s Day

From the Halifax Courier, January 5th 1918

HALIFAX & DISTRICT WOMEN’S DAY

The Halifax and District Women's Day was held on Saturday, September 29,1917, with the object of raising a fund for the benefit of the Y.W.C.A. War Charities work in connection with the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.  For many months thousands of women and girls have undertaken all kinds of non-combatant service in the Base Camps of Flanders, and France, and, therefore, it is the obvious duty to do all in our power to minister to the moral and material welfare of these brave women who are enduring much and living under strict Military discipline.  Through the generosity of the people of Halifax and district the amount has now reached the sum of £420 2s. 7d.  The treasurer, Alfred Morris, Esq., joins me in expressing our grateful thanks to all those who have helped to raise the fund.  Although the balance-sheet must need be published, it is the great desire of all who have taken part in the "Women's Day" that the full amount required to build the Hut, £500, should be realised, therefore, they hope that some who have not yet contributed will do so, and in order that a Hut in France may bear the ancient and honoured name of “Halifax.”— Believe me, yours faithfully,

HATTIE S. FISHER-SMITH.
The Gleddings, Halifax.

[followed by financial statement]

Brecon War Clothing Depot

From the Brecon County Times, 3rd January 1918. 

War Clothing Depot.

Miss deWinton has found a large number of socks at the depot, and she is sending them at once to France.  A good many pairs have been sent without names of knitters, so she is unable to send personal acknowledgements.  She is most grateful for all the help, and hopes knitters will accept this thanks.

The present most pressing need is little caps, and Miss deWinton would like to have 300 - by January 25th; so will everybody knit hard?  There is plenty of wool at the depot, and the Mayoress has the pattern.

[Miss deWinton had given the pattern for caps in a previous appeal - here.]