Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-09-28
THE SOLDIER-wOMAN
Letters From a Washington Woman to
Her Sister In Michigan
Mashinpfnn n n

washington, u Y.
Edith dear:
/ was never so mistaken in my life
as have been about the Food Pledge
which the Food Administration has
asked every housekeeper to sign. l
did not get a card ! did not see a
card l did not want to see card.
| had a notion that it demanded all
kinds of skimping.
I'VE skimp enough as it is / told
Jack
He did not answer me at once
Billy. clamoring for his morning kiss,
was excuse enough.
They stand in line with their little
cans, over there in Belgium, waiting
hours upon hours for their small por-
ton of milk-tiny dodgers like Billy
he reminded me quietly.
That settled it, / got ready right
after breakfast and went down 10 the
headquarters of the Food Admins
card. And when / had read il my
shame deepened 1t asks nothing
that any American woman would not
be proud to do
The pledge reads: Il am glad TO
join you in the service of Food Con-
servation for our nation and l here
by accept membership in the U. S.
Food Administration, pledging myself
to carry out the directions and advice
of the Food Administrator in my
home, insofar as my circumstances
permit"
Following that is room for the sig
nature and address with questions
asked concerning occupation; number
in households; occupation of bread
winner; if you have a garden. and if
you are willing to take part in au-
thorized neighborhood movements
for food conservation.
The card further states: There
are no dues or fees to be paid The
Food Administration wishes to have
as members all of those actually
handling food in the home. All
women over sixteen are eligible"
rs that all?" l asked, ashamed of
the ideas | had had about it. I sign
Gu IL NlluOuJ more duO.
Whereupon l was given the Home
Card" designed to be hung in the kit
chen. 1t tells clearly and in few
words just how every woman can do
her Bit in winning this war. | find
that the program is not one of skimp-
ing in any sense of the word. 1t is
merely a request that we substitute
foodstuff that cannot be sent to the
soldiers for the foodstuffs that Gan
and must be sent.
l showed it to Jack when he came
home and told him that | had become
a Soldier Woman.
For there is nothing in the Food
Pledge that is not necessary if
America is to be the bread-basket of
the world"
Moreover, it asks no hardship of
anyone ! said in honest confession
of my fault of the morning.
Your letter telling me that you had
not had a Food Pledge reached me to-
day and clinched my decision of find
ing out about it, l am enclosing one
for your signature Tell anyone you
know who has any such idea about
it as / had just what | have found
out Also tell them to drop a card
to the Food Administration at Wash
ington for the Food Pledge and sign
it today or course, there are going
to be Food Administration headquar-
tiers in every State after a bit, where
the Pledge Card NAV be gotten at
nearer range But why wait for that
when they can be had for the asking
in Washington today?
The IT, S. Food Administration will
send you the Home Card, when your
signed pledge is received. In the
meantime, dear Edy, I'll write to you
more about mine later.
Love to you all from
(Signed) FRANCES.