Extra Rations For Women Workers

From the Nottingham Evening Post, 30th April, 1918.

OUR LETTER BAG.

VIEWS OF CORRESPONDENTS

EXTRA RATIONS FOR WOMEN WORKERS.
In justice to many women workers I wish to lay before the public what appears to me to be at least an overnight on the part of the Food Control authorities as to what constitutes heavy work for a woman.  My work causes me to handle from 250 to 300 heavy articles per shift.  These are "up ended" twice. and moved backwards and forwards and handled in other ways.  I am lifting at least 5 tons of metal per shift.  I should think this is heavy work for women, yet I have been refused the supplementary ration of meat other than butcher's meat because my occupation is not on the schedule.  There are many women who exert themselves as much as I do, and some even more as I have been able to observe.  They also have been refused for the same reason.  If one considers that 11½ hours' actual work and 15 hours away from home constitute the night shift duty, it must be admitted that work under these conditions is heavy for a woman, and I write this on behalf of women who have done and are doing their bit in the great struggle for right and freedom, in the hope that the food authorities will make full inquiries into the nature of the work done in the various workshops before refusing extra food.—FAIRNESS TO ALL.

[A later letter from a woman doing similar work made it clear that they were working in a munitions factory, and that men in the factory were getting the supplementary ration, including the foreman whose job it was to supervise the women rather than do the heavy physical work himself.] 

Preserving Eggs

From the Denbighshire Free Press, 27th April 1918. 

EGG PRESERVING.

The Food Controller has issued an Authorisation under the Food Hoarding Order 1917, permitting any person to acquire eggs for the purpose of preserving them for use in his own household, but any person desiring to preserve eggs must first notify the Food Control Committee of his district as to the number which he intends to acquire for this purpose.  The Food Control Committee have power, if they think it necessary, to fix the maximum number of eggs which may be purchased for this purpose by any person.  Eggs are likely to be very dear during the next winter, and house-holders would be well advised to preserve them now.

[Eggs were preserved at that time by storing them whole (in the shell)  in a solution of isinglass.] 

THE W.A.A.C. in France

From the Illustrated London News, April 20th 1918

LADIES’ PAGE.

A PROUD record is that of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, "mentioned" specially for their courage and devotion to duty in connection with the recent heavy battles in France.  The exact words of the praise are these: "The Army Council has read excellent report of the behaviour of the W.A.A.C.'s during the late heavy fighting. . . The W.A.A.C.'s during the crisis have more than justified their existence, and have well maintained the credit of their sex and of the Army to which they belong."  Illustrations are given, such as a detachment in domestic service at an Army school who remained "in a dangerous position after all the pupils had left," and continued to prepare and serve food to the exhausted officers and men till all were compelled to evacuate the place, and then, refusing an offer made to them to receive transport on the ground that it was needed for more urgent use, the women walked fifteen miles back to the place to which they were ordered.  Who could have predicted, not merely such courage, but such a reserve of physical strength, staying power, and nerve force as the women of Britain are now displaying?

"Needs must," however, governs many arrangements, and even the erratic fashion of dress is compelled to bow before the conditions produced by the Great War.  The extreme shortage of woollen fabrics and the consequent high prices have compelled the designers to adopt----as, indeed, they were formally asked by the French Government to do—a new and narrow cut for skirts.  Unnecessary fulness and superfluous folds are abolished.  As to waists, they are like the snakes in Iceland---there are none.  A loose belt just indicates where the waist naturally must be, or the skirt part of a one-piece gown is run with a little line of fulness on to a closer-fitting bodice piece.  A dressy style is to have a very wide belt-piece passing round the figure from the hips to the bust, in a different material from the rest of the dress, not shaped in at all, but the necessary fulness to the skirt for the width of the hips gives a certain shapeliness to the silhouette; as nearly as possible, however, it is a straight line.  This very wide belt may be of satin, and is often decorated with a little embroidery or a bead motif.  Sleeves, still on the no-waste idea, are quite tight, buttoning close to the wrist in some cases.  Very deep collars, almost capes, on the other hand, are often seen, and would have difficulty in justifying their economy of material.  Coat-frocks are as fashionable as ever, and on these the collar is apt to be large.  Black and white checks are much used, and a big collar of plain cloth in a contrasting colour, such as pale tan, mastic, lime-green, putty, or pale fawn, is a pleasing contrast.  The collar is often pointed, the tips falling nearly to the waist, and it is then termed a "shawl collar."  Square sailor-collars are also used, but extra deep at the back.  Tunics, moderately full over tight skirts, often in two materials, the upper garment reaching nearly or quite to the knee, are much patronised.  Tailor-made gowns also show close-fitting skirts, with narrow but rather fuller coats nearly to the knees.  Some are made with a vest of a contrasting colour introduced.  Belts are put to tie or button loosely in some designs, but mostly the coat is cut to hang gracefully without an indication of waist-line, except, perhaps, by a slight in-curving cut, but often not even that—a mere sac-like, loose fall from the shoulder.

[The abrupt change from discussing the W.A.A.C.'s record in France to the latest fashions is very striking.]

A Competition for Wounded Soldiers

From Woman’s Weekly, April 20th 1918.

Tell Your Beads for Tommy.

A Suggestion for the Girl with a Small Purse and a Big Heart.

"PIP, dear!" 
I looked up suspiciously.  Pip is Noreen's pet name for me, and it usually heralds a request.  Noreen isn't Irish for nothing; her smile and coaxing voice could wheedle butter out of an empty churn.  So, being a mere Saxon, I was on my guard.
"What do you want?" I asked bluntly.  "I've not a sou left after interviewing our Tank.  You took last month what I had put by for a new hat, so as to send ‘smokes’ to—well, I forget which regiment holds your heart at the moment," I added spitefully.
Noreen laughed.
"Don't be horrid, Pip," she retorted.  "No, I have a splendid idea, and I don't want your pennies—unless, of course, you've a few you don't know what-to do with," she added, hopefully.

A NECKLACE COMPETITION. 
I SHOOK my head. firmly. She continued:
"You know the hospital for wounded soldiers at Letton Green?  Well, I've got two days a week there, and some of the cases are bed cases, and time does hang so heavily on their hands, poor lambs.  So I've been racking my brains for something to amuse them and occupy them, and this is what I've evolved.  A necklace competition!  Don't grin in that stupid way; I don't mean the men will wear the necklaces, silly girl; they will make them.  And the best will get prizes, and then the necklaces will be sold, and the money given—" 
"Yes, I know," I interrupted, "hospital funds." 
"No, you don't, Miss Wiseacre," said Noreen teasingly.  "My notions are never ‘stuffy’ ones like that.  The money will go to a fund for entertainments for the dear, patient men themselves. And what I want you to do—"
"I can't sing or play or do any sort of parlour tricks whatever, and you know it," I remarked hurriedly.  One never knows with Noreen where one will be landed.
"Don't want you to," she said, placidly; "all I ask you to do is to ‘tell your beads for Tommy’; that is, rout out every little old bead of any sort, shape, or size, and give it to me for the necklaces.  Now, do you see, you dear old Piplet?" 
Of course I did.  As it happens, I had strings of beads; it used to be a mania of mine to wear beads, and my friends remembered it on birthdays.  Really, I hardly knew how many I owned—lovely iridescent Venetian ones, gaudy Eastern strings, odd corals, stray scraps of amber— now so precious—and endless varieties of British manufacture.  Noreen's eyes glistened, and she allowed me no time for repentance; I don't own a single string now, beyond my amber necklet of childish days. 
I got the bead fever myself after that; I could not pass a shop where beads were displayed, and I persecuted my friends till in sheer desperation they gave me something or other. 
And I felt no shame when I saw the lovely work that the crippled heroes turned out, and heard of the big sums the sales brought in — "all to be spent on nice frivols," as Noreen said.
That, somehow or other, there was a consolation prize for every worker only added to our pleasure; any trifle did for a prize, by the way.

A QUILT COMPETITION. 
AND things did not stop here; Noreen’s ideas inspired my slower wits, and I devised my modestly famous quilt competition for the same hospital.
What wonderful quilts we achieved; one of the favourite devices being to cut out (using an illustration as pattern) a horse or other creature, and appliqué it in coloured materials on to the quilt foundation of unbleached calico, as a border.  In the centre would be a large device, usually heraldic, worked in the same way.  As materials are now expensive, we used to suggest that the quilts should be a child's cot size only, or suitable for perambulator covers.  Besides, a sick man tires of holding a heavy bit of work, you know, and is apt to weary of the task itself if prolonged.
One man loved to trace humorous pictures through thin white material, such as lawn, and work them up in India ink.  He made a delightful set of dessert d'oyleys from an old Alice in Wonderland; yet he had no knowledge of art, and only possessed skilful fingers.  These mats found a ready sale.  If tracing-paper is used, the pattern can be transferred to jean or some such thicker stuff.
But, as I say, once on the track of these things, you will find your wits grow inventive enough; all you need to remember is to spend nothing on materials if possible, to see that the work is light to handle, and that it is quickly done—long concentration is not good for wounded men; and if an element of fun can be introduced, so much the better—mirth is a splendid tonic.

Meat Rations For All.

From the Abergavenny Chronicle, 12th April 1918.

MEAT RATIONS FOR ALL.

SCHEME OPERATING THROUGHOUT GREAT BRITAIN

Great Britain came as a whole on Sunday under the scope of the Meat Rationing Order, which has operated hitherto in London and the Home Counties.  In a few districts there may be a short delay, but, generally speaking, meat, whether bought cooked in restaurants or uncooked in shops, will have to be paid for with coupons as well as with money. 

Each coupon authorises the expenditure of 5d., and three of the four coupons per week may be used in the purchase of butchers' meat.  The fourth is for bacon, poultry, corned beef, rabbits, etc.  The three coupons which are allowed for butchers' meat may be used for bacon and other miscellaneous meats instead; but in no case must the allowance of three coupons for butchers' meat be exceeded.

On May 5, in London and the Home Counties at any rate, the butchers' meat coupons are to be reduced to two, another bacon coupon being substituted, in order that meat-eaters, may help to conserve the supply of cattle by eating more bacon, of which ample supplies are said to be available.  At the same time, boys between the ages of thirteen and eighteen (but not girls) will become entitled to an extra allowance of 5oz. of bacon with bone, or of meat which does not come under the heading of butchers' meat.

Persons engaged, upon heavy manual work will be entitled shortly to an extra ration, and large numbers of application forms from men and women in various kinds of employments have been issued. These applications will be considered separately by the local food committees.

The Food Value Of Carrots

From the North Wales Chronicle, 12th April 1918.

FOOD VALUE OF CARROTS.

The Food Survey Board of the Ministry of Food wishes to impress upon the public the food value of carrots. In food value 3lbs. of carrots would be approximately equal to 2lbs of potatoes, to 1lb. of veal, to ½lb. of bread, to 5lbs. of tomatoes, to 1lb. of chicken, or to seven or eight eggs.

[Presumably 'food value' here means calories.  It seems a bit misleading to suggest that these foods are interchangeable in other ways. A tomato diet, for instance, would be completely lacking in protein, as far as I know.]

My Life as a Lady Cook

From Woman’s Weekly, April 6th 1918.

“MY LIFE AS A LADY COOK”

By a Girl who Finds there is Always a Demand for Her Services.

MADGE looked up from the account book with flushed face and sparkling eyes. 
"No good, Mary," she said, "we can’t struggle on any longer.  Here we are at the end of the summer and only £20 to the good."
I looked round our cosy den with a feeling of regret. It was exactly five years since I had left my father's quiet vicarage, and my chum and I had started on our venture as boarding-house keepers. Five happy years they had been, taking all things into consideration.
Until the war started, that was.  But when I tell you that our boarding-house was on the East Coast, I need hardly say more.  As the aeroplanes grew greater in number, our guests grew appreciably fewer, until at last we found we could not count upon doing more than one fourth of our usual business.
"Of course," went on Madge, "that means we must both find something else to do.  I've a great mind to try working on the land, but there's not much doubt as to what you'll do!"
"Oh, isn't there?" I said. "Well, perhaps you'll tell me, because at the moment I haven't the faintest idea."
"Well, with your talent, I shouldn't hesitate a moment. You'd be snapped up as a lady cook to-morrow."
Why, of course!  It was a wonder I hadn't thought of it before.  If there was one thing upon which I prided myself, it was my cooking. I had always loved it.

COOKS ARE ALWAYS IN DEMAND. 
WELL do I remember the advice given me by the old chef from whom I took my finishing lessons before starting my boarding-house career.
"It's a splendid thing to have at one's finger-ends," he said, "for it always ensures one a good livelihood. So long as man must eat food, food must be cooked, and so long will the services of the cook be in demand.
"But there are two things which those who would make good cooks must remember," he went on; "they must take a pleasure in their work, and they must be thoroughly trained.  They can then demand a good salary and be always sure of a post."
How fervently I hoped that I might prove his words to be right, now that the opportunity had come!
A month later saw the winding-up of our affairs at "Moorside—select boarding establishment"—completed, and ourselves on our way to London, where we were to put up with a married sister of mine until we were settled. 
Meaning to lose no time, the very next morning I went to my old friend the chef, who, when he learnt of my mission, hailed me with joy. 
"Well," he cried, "if this is not lucky!  Only to-day I have heard of the very post to suit you.  The wages are good, £35, and I know you will be comfortable."
"It seems like Providence!" I exclaimed.

NO DRUDGERY FOR ME! 
MY friend gave me the address, and, armed with this and a written recommendation from him, I set off for B——.
On my way down in the train I made up my mind that, if taking the position merely meant becoming someone's drudge, I should refuse it at once.  "No working from 6.30 in the morning until 10 o'clock at night for me," I thought.
By the time I reached my destination I had worked myself into such a nervous state that I was more than half inclined to throw the whole thing up. How often I have had reason to be thankful that I did not.
I was taken at once to Mrs. R——, and I must admit that I was charmed with her straight away. 
"It is a responsible position for one so young," she said, eyeing me doubtfully.  "But a trial can do neither of us any harm.
"You will be required to take over the entire household management.  That is to say, I shall leave the arrangement of all meals to you.
"Of course, you will have plenty of assistance, and should you require more you must let me know.
"You will have your own rooms—a bed-room, and a sitting-room, in which your meals will be served."
It sounded attractive enough, and before I left I had agreed to start my duties upon the following Monday.

PLENTY OF RESPONSIBILITY. 
I FOUND that Mrs. R—— had in no wise overstated the case when she said that the entire household management would devolve upon me.
I was expected to purchase and provide the food for the house upon my own initiative.  The more responsibility I undertook the more I was appreciated.
I had a kitchen-maid for my own especial use, and she did all the rough work, such as lighting fires, cleaning and scouring, and preparation.
As I said before, my heart was in my work, and I took a delight in concocting attractive menus—no easy task in these days of rations!  I am sure the dishes I sent up made my reputation.
When Mrs. R—— was entertaining upon a large scale I found the work both arduous and heavy.  But this was not by any means frequent, and at other times my work was congenial and reasonably light.
I found that by planning my work methodically I could get three hours to myself after lunch.  Besides this, I had every Sunday afternoon and evening off, as the family always had cold supper instead of dinner on this day.
Mrs. R—— had two children—Jack and Jill. Twins they were, and great favourites of mine.  They often came to tea with me in my pleasant little sitting-room.  Their mother did not mind, and to me it made all the difference.
To those with a talent and a liking for cooking, who think a similar post would suit them, I would end with a word of advice

HOW TO OBTAIN A POST. 
THERE are two ways of obtaining a post.  First, you can choose a good agency—but be sure it is a good one; place your name upon the books and await developments.  Or you can place an advertisement in any thoroughly reliable paper.
You will probably find that you have a choice of several different kinds of work.  For instance, I had not been with Mrs. R—— many months before I was offered a post as lady cook and steward to a large West End club at a salary of £80 per annum.  This I refused, as a home life had always held an attraction for me.  And again, when my mother was ill and it was necessary for me to sleep at home, I found it quite an easy matter to obtain evening engagements.  These, I may mention, were very well paid.
Personally, I think that my profession compares very favourably with many of those where the woman worker is employed.

[The wages quoted (£35 and £80) were for a whole year - but board and lodging were obviously provided too.] 

Woman’s Weekly price increase

From Woman’s Weekly, April 6th 1918.

THIS IS A PERSONAL QUESTION FOR YOU. 

MY DEAR READERS,—
NEXT week our little book will cost 2d. Fresh paper restrictions make it absolutely necessary that the price shall be raised, and I am very sad at the necessity.

But I have found consolation in this thought: Even though the price of WOMAN'S WEEKLY is increased another halfpenny, the articles inside help our readers to save dozens of halfpennies all the year round.

I am quite sure that our little hints about making things for your personal use and for about the house must have suggested economies to many mothers and daughters.

And where else can readers get such a regular supply of pretty crochet patterns?  No, I am not going to be down-hearted. I feel perfectly certain that you will all agree that our little WOMAN'S WEEKLY earns its keep.

“What about all those readers who have obtained some war employment through reading our articles,” I say to myself, “and those who write and tell me what a boon they have found our gardening advice?”

And next I have a valuable new feature in store for you.  For years Florence Stacpoole has written a page of advice on health matters in “Mother and Home,” and now that our little sister paper is being suspended until the end of the war you will find her helpful advice in WOMAN'S WEEKLY each Tuesday.  There are hundreds of women in these days who are facing life entirely alone, and many of them hold a little child in their arms.  These are the women who will find a real friend in Florence Stacpoole.  Her advice will save them many doctor's bills.

So to-day, as a personal favour, I ask all my readers and friends, if you think that 2d. seems a lot of money for our paper, just to say to yourself:
“What has WOMAN'S WEEKLY done for me since I began taking it?”

I think, in your heart of hearts, you will all feel that the little book has helped you at some time or other.  Maybe there was a time when a little message in our pages brightened your dark hour.  If so, I am well repaid.

I don’t want to lose touch with one of you; for so many years there has been a bond of friendship between us.  So I ask you, every one, to stand by me, now and always. With best wishes,

Your sincere friend, 

THE EDITRESS.

[Paper shortages and increases in cost meant that other magazines and newspapers also increased their prices during the war.  For instance,  the cover price of Fancy Needlework Illustrated had increased from 1d to 2d from the September 1917 issue, due to the increase in the cost of paper.  The price of The Lady's World Fancy Work Book increased from 3d to 4d in April 1917, and again to 6d in April 1918.]

The Wounded Soldier’s Treasure Bag

From the Carmarthen Journal, 5th April 1918.

The Wounded Soldier's Treasure Bag.

Hospital bags are most urgently needed in view of the heavy casualties which our forces are suffering in the battles at present raging.  The entire reserve of such bags, of which vast quantities have been made by readers of "The Times," has been requisitioned.  Surgeon-General Goodwin, Chief Medical Officer at the War Office, telephoned to Lady Smith-Dorrien early yesterday asking her to send every available bag at once to the Department of Medical Stores in France.  In the afternoon bales containing 45,000 were packed and sent off, and now there is not a spare bag in the head depot.

“The demands are overwhelming,” Lady Smith-Dorrien said on Monday, “and we have nothing to meet them. The men being brought into the casualty stations will have nothing to put their little possessions into —their pay-book and letters and the trifles they value so much and keep with them when fighting—unless your readers will help us again.  Our hospital bags are so well known to the men now that they ask for them when they are wounded, as they know their treasures will not get lost if placed in them when their pockets are emptied out or their clothing has to be cut away.  We don't want to fail them now.  It should be a help to many anxious women to know that they are providing something that can reach the men who are doing so much for us all, within a day or two of the making.  We want those who have helped us already to do so again, and we want new helpers.  People going away for Easter, or who have a little leisure this week, might do this small thing for the fighting men.  We want thousands of bags, and money for material.  The bags should be 12in. by 14in. when finished, made of unbleached calico or any washing material.  Cretonne is preferred by the men, as it is more cheerful-looking.  White linen labels should be attached two inches from the bottom and sewn all round.  Two tapes should be run in separately at the top.  I could send material for 27 bags, with a sample bag, for 8s. 3d.  This is the quickest way of getting them made.  We have about 100,000 yards of cretonne at the depot, which we have bought wholesale, and this we can sell at 8d. a yard.  Tape is 1s. 9d. per 100 yards, and the labels 7½d. per 100, post free.”

The ordinary demand from the hospitals and clearing stations is 120,000 per month, and readers of "The Times" who have helped Lady Smith-Dorrien so promptly and so generously in the past should remember that the present need is over and above the normal requirements.  The address of Lady Smith-Dorrien's Hospital Bag Fund is 26, Pont-street, W.1, and there all money and requests for material should be addressed.  Anyone who has seen the wounded arriving at Charing Cross must have noticed how the men cling to their little cretonne bags, no matter how badly wounded they may be.  Each contains the very few things from which the fighting man will not be parted, whatever may happen to him.