New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-17

dertook the continuance Of produc-
ton Of food without delay. Many
aged women, whose advanced years
would naturally have earned foi
them complete rest, we're found TAX
ing an active share in the toughest
labor.
.. The aptitude and willingness
shown by women Of all ages IN IN
dertaking the the heavier forms OF
farm work. Though most Of the
French peasant women visited were
used TO assisting the men in the
lighter portions Of agricultural oper-
ations. many instances were found
Of women now carrying on work 20
which they were unaccustOmed be-
fore the war. One OF the most strlk-
ing of these instances was that OF
soldiers wife who had never touched
. plough until her husband and
brother were modified, but who,
after two days lessons from the
brother, had ploughed and sown some
fifty to seventy acres without assist
ance. This woman was engaged in
teaching her daughter of twelve
Years old to handle the plough and
manage two somewhat ill-tempered
horses.
3. That French women appear to
accept the carrying on Of extra agri-
cultural work as their natural and
proper share Of the hardships of
war. They are to-day fulfilling these
tasks without a murmur, and their
9ttitude in the matter forms val
liable lesson TO their English sisters.
4. The far wider resource and
greater economy shown by French
country women than is generally
practised in English villages. More
use is made of garden and wild vege-
table produce, not only for human
food, but also as nourishment for
animals. Domestic duties are moro
generally shared by the whole house
hold than left 10 one member Of the
family, as is often the case in Eng
land.
5. The remarkable productivity OF
the farms visited as regards the va
rious food commodities consumed by
the family and the consequent self
dependence of the French agrlcui-
tIral household was constantly no.
ticed. Though the English agricul-
tural worker cannot produce his own
-four and cheese as does the French
peasant proprietor, the latter's care
full storage Of dried beans and peas
and use of wild salads might well be
initiated in our own villages.
6. The large number Of domestic
animals reared by French women;
every house visited owned RABBIT
hutch and reared rabbits as well as
fowls in great quantities. The rab-
bits were fed almost entirely on wild
herbage gathered by the women and
children from the roadside, and
there would seem to be no adequate
reason why so useful and inexpen-
sive a form Of animal food should
not be more widely cultivated in
England. As one French woman
was heard to remark: of one has
rabbits and fowls one need never
lack a Sunday dinner"
T. The extreme simplicity Of fam
ilv life as witnessed in the villages
visited. The absence OF all display
Of luxury in furniture and food, and
the apparent contentment with
which the agriculturists live far re-
moved from town life with its at
tendant amusements, was often re-
marked by members of the mission.
There was good reason 10 believe
that a great many Of the families
seen were possessed Of comfortable
sums in the savings banks, but there
cppeared TO he no desire or intention
on the part of owners to spend such
money on the increase Of personal
Injury. or to relax the hard work
ard long hours spent daily through
out their lives in the performance Of
their household and agricultural du-
ties.
g. The custom in some districts OF
relieving the working mothers OF the
care of children of school age by ar
ranging for their superintendent at
the school for the entire day during
the busiest agricultural seasons was
interesting. 1t appears probable
that some such arrangement might
be introduced with advantage into
English villages during the present
emergency.
CTJppENCY STRINGENCY