The Influenza Epidemic in Halifax

From the Halifax Courier, November 2nd, 1918.

INFLUENZA.

Grave concern is being aroused throughout the country— and, indeed, in India, America, the Continent, and countries far and near—by the persistence and danger of the influenza epidemic.  In this district there is greater freedom from its ravages than in many places, and no drastic steps have yet been necessary to safeguard the public health by the general closing of schools and institutions where people meet in large numbers.  But there is every reason for care; during the week cases have become more numerous, and some very pitiable instances have occurred of families being stricken.  Government authorities are handling the matter in the hope that research will throw light upon the cause and the remedy, both of which seem very much in doubt.  The actual influenza is very like other visitations, but the secondary infections are of a more acute character than usual.  They are pneumococci and streptococci—terms which are not illuminating to most people but which being interpreted mean septic pneumonia—an affection of the lungs which is drastic and rapid in its action.  There is the official assurance that the food rations are not considered a direct cause of, the spread of the disease.  That is satisfactory, but it is mere common sense to say that the restricted diet and “war strain” (in all its forms of anxiety and overwork) must contribute to a lower vitality and that a condition is created in which influenza flourishes.  The moral is that each individual has a responsibility—not only for himself or herself, but for the community.  Where influenza exists the utmost care should be taken to limit infection; where there are “ordinary” colds, and especially if any temperature accompanies them, bed is the best place (many have caused havoc to themselves and others by struggling on with their work when obviously unfitted for it); and where there is no illness it can most surely be avoided by most careful attention to personal health, embracing cleanliness (not forgetting the frequent cleansing of the throat), adequate rest and plenty of fresh air.

-- -- -- -- 

SPREAD OF INFLUENZA.

600 HALIFAX SCHOOL CHILDREN AFFECTED.

During the week influenza has spread rapidly in Halifax and several cases of pneumonia have resulted.  Some of these have proved fatal, the most distressing case recorded locally being from Primrose-street, Claremount, where Mr. and Mrs. Ashworth and three children have all died.  Two children were buried last Saturday, the father and mother were buried on Wednesday, and the youngest child, aged four months, died on Thursday.  In several instances, where there was no one at home to look after the afflicted, the patients have been removed to the Gibbet-street hospital, where they have received every attention.  From Southowram Bank, a father, mother and child were attacked, and there have been cases in all parts of the town.  A man who lived by himself was suffering from influenza for two days before he could obtain assistance, and then it was too late.  Pneumonia had developed and he died yesterday.

It is estimated that about 600 school children in Halifax are suffering from the “flu,” and Portland-road School has been closed until Monday week.  In the case of the other schools the scholars will assemble as usual, but instead of going into the school buildings they will be given exercise in the open air.  Offices and mills are more or less affected by it, but it has not spread to the same extent as the epidemic of a few months ago.  The present disease, if not checked at the beginning, attacks the lungs with great severity.  It is therefore important that early symptoms—generally cold in the head and sore throat—should not be neglected.

[This seems a more realistic view of the influenza epidemic than that in the previous post.]

Woollies and Spanish Flu

From Illustrated London News, November 2nd 1918.

LADIES' NEWS.

A quest we are all on these days is for woollies—chiefly those to send to the men who are campaigning, for victories will not keep the dear things warm.  We can get the best for them if we can show that we want it for fighting men, for the chief output of the Wolsey manufacture is for the use of the Army and Navy.  A bellicose lady was arguing that her old man wanted it as badly as any soldier, because coal was so short and he could not fight to keep himself warm.  Another woman took up the challenge, and told her that but for the fighters, who had to be out in all weathers, her old man would have no grate to put coal in nor house to put a grate in.  This was conceded, and the pair proceeded to extol the merits of Wolsey; and finally some was found for the bellicose lady's old man. whereupon she was converted to peace, but neither a Hun nor a pro-Hun version of that blessing.

No one has one good word for the latest scourge, the "Spanish flu."  Spain will, it is said, break her neutrality if we go on calling it so.  Women go about handkerchief to nose and reeking of antiseptic; the two pet pastimes are sneezing and skipping—the first not caused by flu, but by the use of Kruschen Salts to prevent it by getting rid of the germs; the second by way of keeping warm in the healthiest way.  An impromptu sneezing party proved rather a frolic; the guests passed round the salts, sniffed, and sneezed into properly disinfected handkies in a disinfected room.  There may be developments with competitions, the best sneezer to get a prize; or, if members of the minority sex are present, bets might enliven the proceedings, which would certainly often become hilarious.  Jokes apart, there is no better preventive of the prevailing malady than a good sneezing fit once or twice a day.  It is not for the good of the community that it should be done at large...... discreet sneezing properly environed is to be encouraged, and no one need fear enemy influence in the Kruschen Salts ..... — it has been all British for 160 years, and continues to be so.

[This seems a remarkably flippant view of Spanish flu, given the huge number of people that died, world-wide.  Wikipedia suggests that in the countries involved in the war, reports in 1918 minimized the effects of the epidemic.  In Spain, which was neutral, reports were more accurate. and hence it seemed to be more virulent and deadly there - hence the name.]

Economising on Fuel

From the Sheffield Independent, 28th October 1918.

WEIGH YOUR COAL RATIONS.

How Lady Leitrim Practises Economy.

One of the simplest and best ways that householders can adopt to ensure that their coal rations will not be exceeded is to weigh them out every day.  This is the coal-saving plan adopted by the Countess of Leitrim.

"Each day's fuel ration," she explained to a Press representative, "is carefully weighed, and may in no circumstances be exceeded.  It works out at 49lb. a day in summer and 56lb. in winter."

The Countess manages to limit herself to that small ration by the greatest household economy at her home in Cadogan square.  "The hot water system is for the most part suspended," she states, "and cans of water are carried to the bedrooms from the kitchen.  One gas-fire lit for three hours daily and one coal-fire started in time for tea in one small room, where all meals and recreation are taken, constitutes the entire heating of the living rooms.  The hot water pipes for central heating are cut off, and a small stove in the hall substituted.  All unnecessary electric bulbs have been removed from passages and staircases—an economy which is being adopted by many of my friends.  Instead of 26 tons of fuel, 70,000 feet of gas or 450 units of electricity hitherto considered the minimum possible for running the house, 17 tons of fuel and 420 units of electricity and very little gas are being managed with this year."

[I can't help thinking of the servants at the Cadogan Square house.  They would undoubtedly be the ones to do the carrying of cans of water to the bedrooms, and if there were only two fires allowed in the entire house, it sounds as though the servants' areas were entirely unheated.] 

Feeding Tommy

From Woman’s Weekly, 3rd August 1918.

HOW I HELPED TO FEED TOMMY.

All About the Work and Pay of the Girl Who Joins under the Navy and Army Canteen Board.

HERE I am home again after a year's war work.  I have just got my seven days’ leave.  I have had—oh, such an interesting time!  I am so glad I joined up under the Navy and Army Canteen Board and am one of those helping to feed Tommy.  Of course, I know my other girl friends in different corps are doing splendid work, but I always think “comparisons are odious,” and as long as we are engaged on war work that is the chief point.  We are not all stouthearted enough for hospital work, or physically fit for the land; but my work is all right for a girl who has just ordinary health and strength, and there is no sad side to it.

We all like wearing uniform.  It is so nice not to have to trouble about thinking “What shall I wear?”  Indoors we wear khaki overalls and little “Sister Dora” caps.  For outdoors we wear a tunic or coat of khaki, buttoned up at the throat like the soldier’s tunic.  I go on duty at 7.30 a.m., and I go off at 9.30 p.m., and there is no time wasted changing frocks at all.

During the afternoon I get two hours’ leave, and once a week I get a half day off, and I can assure you I manage to have a fine time then.

THE UNIFORM IS FREE.
NOW I am sure you want to hear just what my work is.  I suppose it is because I am a woman that I start by telling you about mv frock—I beg its pardon, I mean my uniform—and then about my holidays.  Well, I am cooking.  This Board only started just over a year ago.  Now we are 8,000 workers, all women, and we have about 2,000 canteens.  We are for home service only, and wo do not have to bind ourselves for any special period of time.  If you are accepted as a worker by the Canteen Board, you have your uniform given you, and then, according to what work you are going to do, you are either sent to a school to train or else you go direct to your job.  The cooks and manageresses are trained, but the waitresses are untrained.  The Board will only take women who have had experience as the two former.  Fortunately for me, I have had a good bit of experience in cooking.  Mother always said every woman should know how to.  I spent a month (that is the training period) at one of the two schools in London.  There are several in the provinces as well.  Here we learnt, first, all about canteen cooking.  It means often working on a large scale, and frequently at great speed, for at busy times it just seems as if the whole British Army came tumbling into the canteen all at once, and, of course, everyone wanted to be served immediately.  Sometimes I wish some of the girls in the London tea-rooms could see how we serve our customers.  I always have coffee ready and plenty of hot water for tea.

Ours is cooking of light refreshments only.  Our light suppers are our strong point.  Thank goodness we dispense unrationed food only, so we have no brain trouble over whole or half coupons.  We have to be very economical, and no waste is allowed.  Woe betide you if an inspector came along and found waste in your canteen.

We cooks sometimes turn out new recipes—war-time economy ones.  It is quite wonderful what one can do with even the present-day food if trouble is taken.

PAY IS ACCORDING TO THE WORK. 
WE live either in hostels or in quarters behind the canteen.  Where I have been for some months we are at the canteen.  I cook for the other girls, and I get plenty of teasing over my “war recipes.”  Once a new recipe fell flat, and the result was we were rather supperless that night and had to content ourselves with bread; and, of course, it was all over the camp next day, and now they all call me “the chef.”  I just love my work, and I like to think out a nice, new little supper dish for the men.  I have a specially warm spot in my heart for the men just called up, and who have only just left their comfortable homes and perhaps a pretty little wife and children.  It must take some time for them to really get used to their new life. The girls who wait tell me they like their work so much, but I always think mine is more important. The manageress keeps all the accounts, and is responsible for the “housekeeping” for our large family.  It is necessary in such a big undertaking to have “red tape,” but it is not drawn too tightly, and we all like the life and the work very much.

Our pay is quite good.  We none of us wish for a fancy wage.  Our board and lodging is provided, and our pay is according to the work we do.  No girl is taken under eighteen.  There is no other age limit except for the manageresses; they are not taken over forty-five.  A reduction is, of course, made from our pay to cover our keep, as is the rule with all forms of war work.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP? 
THE Navy and Army Canteen Board have quite a large welfare side, so the comfort and care of the workers is well looked after.  They are suitably housed, well fed, and there is no side of their welfare that is neglected; but them is no undue restraint.  No father or mother need fear their girls joining up, although the work is situated in our camps all over the country.

I am in a camp “somewhere in England” just a few miles from one of our delightful old cathedral towns.

If you want to come and work for Tommy, too, send in your name to the
Navy and Army Canteen Board,
Imperial Court, Knightsbridge,
or go to your nearest Employment Bureau.

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.]

Saving Daylight

From the Halifax Courier, 23rd March 1918.

SAVING DAYLIGHT AND COAL

Summer-time arrangements:--
1916 – May 21 to October 1.
1917 – April 8 to September 17.
1918 – March 24 to September 29.

Most people in the light of experience, will advance their watches and clocks this evening (rather than at two o’clock to-morrow morning) and sacrifice an hour (which shall be repaid without interest at the end of September) of relaxation or of peaceful sleep.  There will be a few who will not welcome the change.  For a little time the early-morning workers will be inconvenienced, for the light at five or six a.m. will be similar to the conditions of late February or early March, but the long evenings will be appreciated at once.  No class will relish them more than those who are busy with the soil, for up to now it has been impossible to use the spade after the normal work of the day, and the weeks immediately upon us are of vital importance in preparing the ground for the crops which are to do so much to relieve the food situation this year.

Apart from what may be termed the social benefits of Summer-time, it has been proved conclusively that the arrangements effect a great saving in the national coal bill.  But the Coal Controller asks for more.  On his behalf Sir Albert Stanley, President of the Board of Trade, has forecasted many drastic changes which will have a far-reaching effect throughout the country.  For the present, the Southern part of England (the line is drawn from the Wash to the Bristol Channel) is most affected, this area being most distant from the coal fields and the combing-out of the mines and transport difficulties on land and sea having increased.  Gas and electricity users will be restricted to two-thirds of the quantities used last year, and the power stations supplying tramways and electric railways will be rationed. 

These restrictions are in addition to those applying to the whole country.  Thus there is to be no shop-window lighting.  With Summer-time at hand, that will not be a very serious matter, for early closing is very general, but it would be a serious proposition in the winter months.  Places of amusement are not to open before 1.30 and must close by 10.30.  In these parts that will make little difference.  Nor will the ban on hot meals in public eating places before 5 a.m. or after 9.30 p.m.  It is London that will feel these restrictions — London, which more than any other place in Britain, is a city of late nights.  Here, the great majority of people get to work early and are home in good time; there, the day begins later and ends correspondingly.  It would seem, then, that London will have to make some daylight saving rules for itself in addition to the enforcements of the Summer-time Act. 

It is through the threat of coal rationing for “a great part of England” and through a reduced train service “in the very near future” that the country as a whole will be most affected. The coal system would be based upon what London has been experiencing for a considerable time, whilst in the Provinces we have suffered little.  The reduction of domestic supplies by 25 per cent. is forecasted.  As for the trains, the passenger traffic is to be curtailed, and the running is likely to be slower.  Thus the prospects of holiday travel are gloomy.

All these things point clearly enough to the shortage of labour and to the growing scarcity of essential materials.  Considering the length of the war we still have a wonderful degree of comfort, but 1918 is obviously to be a severe test of patience and nerves.

[The 'combing-out' in the coal mines was the reduction in the number of miners because they were needed for military service instead.] 

A London Air Raid

From the Illustrated London News, 9th February 1918.

LADIES’ PAGE.

Here is a quotation from a private letter, written with no thought of publication, and therefore giving a faithful, unvarnished picture of London during an air-raid.  The writer is Miss Irene Miller, known both as a novelist and journalist.  She says:—

"I couldn't send you a card last night to say we were all right, for long before the 'All Clear' signal was given we were all in bed and sound asleep.  The 'All Clear' bugles just aroused me slightly, but only for half-a-second.  I was dining at the Club when it commenced.  The guns sounded very close, but nobody took any notice—nobody does now!  The diners went on dining, the waitresses went on waiting, and when it came to the speechifying, the speakers went on speaking—though I do think it must have been a bit of an ordeal to make a speech with that hubbub outside. 

"It was a very nice little meal.  First soup, and then an entrée,  something 'à la belle Otero,' which was baked potato with the top cut off, the contents mashed and mixed with cut-up oysters, and put back again and re-baked for a few minutes.  Then turkey—plenty of it, with potatoes and sprouts; then what they called Italian pudding, made of a thin sort of macaroni with preserved cherries, very nice; and dessert.  On the back of the toast-list was reproduced the cartoon from this week's Punch (Jan. 23)—one of Bernard Partridge's beautiful figures, attired as a knight-ess, on the top of a height, holding a banner marked 'Woman's Franchise,' and entitled, 'At last!’  It was said he was there: but I didn't see him.

"It was a bit of a job to get home afterwards, for the raid was not officially over, though we had heard nothing of it for about an hour (it was twenty to twelve now).  So I went in the Tube.  There were a lot of people taking shelter there, sitting about on the steps and platforms, but hundreds more were just going home in the ordinary way.  The trains came along packed full, and they seemed running quite frequently.  Lots of those taking shelter weren't really terrified.  I know, for they were loving couples, making it a sort of Hampstead Heath on Bank Holiday.  Each soldier and his girl spread a newspaper on the platform, sat down, and leant against the wall, with their arms around each other's necks and their heads on each other's shoulders (so to speak).  There were little groups of such, on the giggle, and enjoying themselves immensely; and, of course, Mother couldn't scold if one stayed out with one's best boy, and explained that it was all the Air-Raid, could she?  The firing recommenced very noisily after a while; and there were quite a lot of people out, but nobody took any notice, and when I got home the family were all comfortably in bed."

[An opening paragraph has been omitted, saying that although the 'hideous Germans' thought that Londoners were being cowed and terrified by the air-raids, it wasn't true.

La Belle Otero was a famous Spanish actress, dancer and courtesan.  She was in her 40s at this time, and lived to be 96.  According to Wikipedia, she had many aristocratic and royal lovers, including both the Kaiser and Edward VII.  It doesn't say whether she was particularly find of potatoes and oysters.] 

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.]

Ladies’ Football

From the Lancashire Evening Post, 10th November 1917.

NOT A SERIOUS MOVEMENT.

I am old enough in the game to remember the touring teams that were run by a few enterprising people somewhere about the mid nineties, a venture which fizzled out owing to the split which occurred in it and the action of the F.A. in prohibiting the use of grounds for the commercial exploitation of women players.  Ladies' football was a novelty then, as it is now, and as a novelty there were plenty of people ready to patronise it for an odd time.  The time has not yet arrived when women can enter into masculine sports and gave spectacular interest to them except that which arises from their sex, and one has only to go back to the ladies' cricket campaign that was on exhibition about the time when the football ladies were going about to realise the limitations of their sex in field games.  There were one or two fair bats and bowlers, especially in the "Reds" team, I remember, but they would have cut a poor figure against any average club side, and physically, of course, women were not able to compete with men on level terms in these things.  But if they themselves can find enjoyment in their own games, and incidentally tickle the public fancy for the moment in the interests of a deserving object I do not see why they should not be encouraged.  Of one thing we may be certain—any attempt to establish ladies' football as a regular and recognised pursuit would very quickly fail, and there is no reason, apart from the sentimental dislike that many people have to see girls and women taking part in masculine pastimes, why the tendency of the moment should be frowned down.  The vagaries of the weather, the knocks and falls incidental to strenuous football, and the physical disabilities of the participants are quite sufficient barriers to any degree of seriousness being attached to the craze.

[We have come a long way in 100 years.  Though not far enough.]

We Must Eat Less Bread

From Woman’s Weekly, May 1917.

WE MUST EAT LESS BREAD. 

Unless we ration ourselves carefully at once, there will come days when there may be no bread at the bakers’.

The Food Controller appeals to every housewife to do her utmost to save on the bread allowance. This can be done if the best substitutes are used, and with little loss in food value. The following recipes are to be highly recommended, and it will be found that the food made with meal, etc., is both palatable and good.

MAIZE MEAL CAKES. 

These are quite fitted to take the place of potatoes and bread at dinner, while for breakfast and tea they are nourishing and appetising in place of bread.
One cupful of maize meal, boiling milk, a pinch of salt, a little cooking butter, one small egg, a little standard flour. 
Put two cupfuls of milk on to heat; when boiling pour it over the meal and stir well with a wooden spoon till it thickens. Add a pinch of salt and about half an ounce of cooking butter, still stirring the mixture over a good heat. When the butter is well mixed in take the pan from the fire, let the meal cool a little, then mix in the well-beaten egg, and enough wheaten flour to stiffen the mixture to a paste. Turn it on to a floured board, roll it evenly to not more than half an inch in thickness. Mark out the paste with round cutters or a tumbler, put them on a well-floured tin and bake in a fairly hot oven until nicely firm.

Here is another much simpler recipe.

 FLAKED MAIZE SHAPES. 

These should be served as the vegetable with meat, vegetarian, and fish dishes, and will be found quite as nourishing. Bread, of course, will not be needed either.
Half a pound of flaked maize, about a pint and a half of water, salt, dripping for frying.
Put the water on to boil, with half a level teaspoonful of salt. When quite boiling sprinkle in the maize and stir with a wooden spoon all the time. Cook steadily till the mixture is thick and solid enough to turn on to a plate. Allow it to cool; it can then be cut in small rounds for frying in the dripping.
The maize can be cooked and cooled in fairly large quantities, sufficient to make cakes for several days.
Many have already given up using maize, as they cannot get used to the flavour, others have persevered and now have taken a real liking to it, and are learning the most practical methods of using it as a substitute.

BARLEY FLOUR BREAD. 

Equal parts of barley and wheat flour give an excellent loaf. The meal can be bought at several of the large stores, but at present it is not plentiful. When you can get it, use it as follows:
Half a pound of barley flour, half a pound of wheat flour, half to one ounce of yeast, a teaspoonful of salt, a teaspoonful of sugar, warm water to mix. 
Rub the yeast and sugar together; add a tablespoonful of tepid water, cover it and set to rise in a warm place. Mix the flour; when the yeast has frothed pour it into a well in the centre of the flour, sprinkle a little flour over it, and the salt round the edges. Put in a warm place. When the yeast has cracked through the flour, mix in enough tepid water to make a dough. Knead this well till it is smooth and elastic, then place the basin in a warm place, cover it, and leave till the dough is double the size. Knead again, make into loaves, let these stand again in the warm for about twenty minutes. Bake in a very quick oven at first, then finish in a cooler part. The loaves are done when they sound hollow on being tapped.

SIMPLE OAT ROUNDS.

The egg here gives additional nourishment; it can be left out for a plainer make that can appear at each meal to save the bread.
Three and a half ounces of medium oatmeal, two ounces of lard or cooking butter, a quarter of a teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda, two and a half ounces of wheat flour, one small egg, half an ounce of sugar, if liked.
Put the flour, meal, and sugar into a basin. Mix them well. Melt the butter or lard, and stir it into the flour, etc., with the slightly beaten egg, and just a little water to bring the mixture to a stiff paste. Turn it on to a floured board, roll it out thinly, cut into rounds, and bake on a greased tin for ten minutes in a hot oven.

PLAIN OATEN BUNS. 

Four ounces of fine oatmeal, two ounces of cooking butter, lard or dripping, four ounces of wheat flour, one ounce of sugar, one small egg, one teaspoonful of baking powder, milk to mix. 
Rub the fat into the meal and flour, mixing these two together thoroughly. Beat up the egg, stir in the sugar and a pinch of salt. Add the egg and enough milk to form a stiff dough. Turn this on to the board, sifted with meal. Roll it out and cut in eight pieces. Form these into balls and bake on a greased tin for ten minutes. A quick oven will be needed.

IT IS A CRIME TO WASTE A SLICE OF BREAD. Save it in every possible way. Do not have it brought to your table in slices; the slice that is left often goes to the dustbin. Have the loaf on the table, then each can cut as much as he or she needs and no more. If the well-to-do and the sedentary worker will REDUCE THEIR CONSUMPTION OF WHEAT-BREAD BY 1 LB. PER HEAD PER WEEK, the food problem is well on the way to solution.

The “Flashlight” Habit

From the Dundee People’s Journal, 2nd December 1916.

The "flashlight" habit seems to have been acquired by the majority of Dundee folk, but unfortunately a number of these seem unable to use a flashlight properly.  Evening after evening girls are observed walking along with a lamp held straight in front of them, and the consequence is that any one approaching from the opposite direction is momentarily blinded.

When this happens the person who is approaching, not being able to see in front of him, generally collides with the owner of the lamp, to the no small indignation of that individual.  Just the other night I witnessed this happen, and heard an elderly gentleman receive abuse which he certainly had not earned from two young women. 

All this unpleasantness could quite well be avoided if those who carry torches would, instead of holding the light straight out, let it strike downwards against the wall at their side.  In this way the rays are cast on to the pavement, and act as a guide for both those who carry the lamp and those who are approaching. so that both parties can clearly see each other.

[Pedestrians were carrying flashlights because the street lights had been turned off for fear of air-raids, I assume.]

War Names for Babies

From the Halifax Courier, 26th February 1916. 

War Names for Babies. 

The war name fever shows no signs of abatement.  At Liverpool three infant girls were christened "Dardanella" on the same day; in the Potteries an unhappy baby was burdened with the name of "Suvla Gallipoli," and a Glasgow boy will go through life as "Charleroi McVittie."

[I met someone recently who told me of a baby born during the war (I think it was his father or his uncle) who had been named John Ypres.  When the mother wrote to her husband in France to tell him of the birth, he wrote back saying "Call him John. Ypres."   She was supposed to notice the full stop and realise that he was trying to tell her where he was, and get the information past the censor, but she misunderstood.  So he went through life saddled with a name that many British people can't pronounce - during the war, the British soldiers called the town "Wipers".]      

Useful Work By Halifax Automobile Club

From the Halifax Courier, 26th February 1916.

AUTOMOBILE CLUB.

A RECORD OF USEFUL WAR WORK.

The annual meeting was held at the White Swan Hotel.  Commenting upon the balance sheet, the President remarked they would notice that the balance in hand was £16 less than last year.  This, however, was accounted for by the fact that about £60 had been paid out for the equipment of the motor ambulances.  Besides this, the generosity of members had provided medical outfits for the 10 cars which formed our section of the voluntary aid transport scheme, which was provided to assist the army in the event of any North Sea battle, or raid upon the East Coast.  The motor ambulances which had been presented to the town, they would be pleased to know, had done very good work, and was one of the best efforts the club had done for the town.

Attention was drawn to the good work done by Mr: F. Bentley in meeting, every Sunday morning, the night trains from London arriving in Bradford, and conveying the soldiers travelling by them, to their homes in Halifax, thus obviating a five hours' wait in Bradford before the Sunday morning trains commenced running.

Acknowledgment was made of the grand help rendered by the Huddersfield Club, and the private motor ambulance from Todmorden, in coming to our aid when trains of wounded soldiers had arrived in the town.  Arrangements had been made for Huddersfield to help Halifax, and vice versa.  Fears had been expressed, however, that should wounded arrive at both towns simultaneously, much delay might occur.  To obviate this the club had induced Messrs. Mackintosh and Co, Ltd., the Economic Stores, Ltd., and Mr. Wainwright, confectioner, to have their vans fitted up as ambulances.  These will provide 10 stretchers extra, thus making, apart from any horse ambulances, 14 stretchers with which it is felt, they would be able to cope with any trains that might arrive in the town.

.... Dr. Hughes, Danecourt, who is abroad with the Army, the esteemed treasurer of the club, and other members who are with the Army, remain honorary members during the continuance of the war.  Much satisfaction was expressed that so many officers and members of the club were holding responsible positions in the Army.

[Nothing to do with what women were doing (or at least women are not mentioned) but I have included this because it illustrates the range of voluntary work that was going on all over the country. 

Mackintosh's made toffee in Halifax.  The company merged with Rowntree's, to form Rowntree-Mackintosh in 1969, and were eventually taken over by Nestlé.]   

Air Raid Precautions

From The Halifax Courier, 12th February 1916.

IN CASE OF AN AIR RAID.

HINTS TO LOCAL RESIDENTS.

We are officially informed that householders and shopkeepers in Halifax are not observing the Lighting Restriction Order as they ought to do, and the provisions of the Order are now going to be more strictly enforced.  Many shopkeepers are still, despite warnings, showing too much light on the footpaths, whilst householders in many cases are ignoring instructions to cover up fanlights and skylights.  In many attics and ordinary bedrooms, it is said, no efforts are made to conceal the light when occupants are retiring for the night.  After the numerous warnings given, the police state, other measures will have to be taken if the requirements continue to be ignored.

Inquiring-as to the arrangements now in vogue in case of warning being received of danger of a raid, a representative was informed that no alteration had yet been made in the original plans.  Immediately on receipt of such warning buzzers will give the alarm, consisting of long and short blasts, all electricity will be promptly cut off, and gas lighting will be reduced.

Mr. W. B. McLusky, the Halifax gas engineer and manager has made arrangements by which there will be an immediate reduction of pressure to all the area of supply, except high pressure lamps and the latter will be promptly extinguished.  This plan was broached in Halifax a year ago and has been adopted since in many places.  The reduction of the gas supply in every house will be very pronounced and unmistakable, and should be accepted by every gas consumer as a sequel [signal?] to turn off the gas at every tap in the house, and afterwards take the further precaution of shutting off the gas at the main tap near the meter.  It is also important that every consumer should ascertain now that the main tap is in working order.  It is advisable that all the taps at the various burners should be turned off before turn-off at the meter.

[This article was a follow-up to this one, published in January, when the lighting restrictions had only just been introduced in Halifax. ]

Blackout in Halifax

From The Halifax Courier, 15th January 1916.

BLOTTING OUT THE LIGHTS.

NEW ORDERS IN FORCE.

THE DARKNESS OF HALIFAX.

Monday night was not, naturally, an evening of inky blackness.  Under the stringent new lighting regulations, however, Halifax presented a dismal spectacle, and considerable caution had to be exercised by pedestrians in traversing the streets.  The conditions encountered when the blackness of nature combines with the restricted artificial illumination can only be conjectured.  Generally speaking, the new regulations, whatever views may be held as to their necessity, were loyally observed.  Dealers in green blinds must within the past few days have done a roaring trade, for in every direction in the town, both at shops and at private houses, they were found installed very largely, though not universally.  It was noticed that householders in a number of instances, whilst thus re-arranging their windows, made no effort to darken the fanlights.  This, we understand, is a precaution that is required.  Some shopkeepers, instead of adopting blinds for their windows, took the step of having only the back lights illuminated, and thus prevented any reflation on the pavement in that way.  There were some few who, taking no precautions at all, had their windows ablaze as usual, and of these the policemen took due note, with a view to prosecutions, should the defiance be persisted in.  The general blackness was, in this or that direction, relieved by the flares from foundry furnaces.  Under the Order, however, some elasticity is allowed as to these, where Government work is in the course of execution.  Factories observed the relaxations conceded to them on closing somewhat earlier.  Tram cars that it had been found impossible to equip with green curtains had the front, rear and side windows darkened by green or blue paper adhesions, pending the introduction of curtained screening.  The outside reflector lamps, too, were subdued.

What with the darkened houses and shops, the dimmed tram cars, and the street lights reduced to a minimum, the town presented indeed a strange spectacle.  In the central streets, like Commercial-street, it was more impressive than in the suburbs, as the latter, being more in the open, had the advantage of the natural light, whilst the coloured globular electric lights in the main thoroughfares, as compared with the shaded gas lamps in the outskirts, emphasised the sombreness.  It is "an ill wind that brings nobody good,” and the new regulation has brought grist to the mill, not only of the green blind vendors, but of dealers in flashlights.  Thousands of these, we are told, have been sold to townspeople during the past few days, and large numbers of pedestrians were this week noticed to be making use of them to assist them in crossing streets and in locating their whereabouts in especially dark corners.

The Order affecting the lighting of vehicles also came in on Monday.  The regulations are of a most stringent character, and those who can avoid using the roads at night will, for their own safety and that of the public, unhesitatingly do so.  It is a peculiar sight to observe a little handcart gravely showing its light as the lad trundles it along.  It is such little humours as this that help us to be philosophical about some of the official regulations,

[In World War 2, this would be called 'the blackout'.  In 1916, it was presumably a defence against Zeppelin raids - hundreds of civilians were killed in Britain in air-raids during the war.  Interesting that the blinds are specifically green, and not black. My Dad used to call an electric torch a 'flashlight' - evidently the original term in the U.K., and still used in the U.S., apparently.]

Zeppelins in London

From the Derbyshire Courier, 27th November 1915.

LONDON'S SOCIAL LIFE

Matinees and Pantomimes.

London is normally a world containing many worlds, but the war has had a considerable levelling influence on its social and domestic life.  At first the metropolis took the war almost lightly, but the awakening came with the Zeppelin raids, the stringent regulations as to darkened streets, and the present and final recruiting campaign, all of which are palpable and unavoidable evidences of the seriousness of the war.  City and west end workers are anxious to get to their homes in the suburbs early in the evening, lest the appearance of Zeppelins may hold up the train services, and theatre-land is inevitably suffering from this apprehension.  London managers scarcely know how to meet the situation.  Matinees are the rule, and at some theatres the evening performance commences at 5.30.  Some of the Christmas pantomimes will be given at noon and 4.30, thus reversing the old order of things -- dinner first and theatre afterwards.  Many of the professional and well-to-do families are, however, giving up late dinner, and substituting a light repast that involves little, if any, special cooking.  Early hours, servant difficulties, and the need for economy are all having a marked influence on social life in London.