The Ordway new era., 1918-05-17

Outdoor Life Appeals
Strongly 10 Girls From
Factories and Shops
BY HELEN H. HOFFMAN.

by HELEN n. HUI r MAN.
London.-"Are your girls working
on the land. tor"
This is familiar question put by
the girl farmer of England, whenever
she chances to meet visitor from the
States.
The question is n natural one, too,
for the English girl will tell you that
she has heard much of the American
woman's enterprises and that when
the American woman undertakes
piece of work she is certain to make
success of 1t, and therefore she is In
terested in following her progress.
All over England today members of
the Woman's Land army are busy
plowing up the land, putting in crops
and getting ready for the seasons
drive for increased food production.
This work has met with growing
popularity among women, as the
workers become better acquainted
with the many phases of their new oc-
cupation, until this year, it is estimat-
ed, the number of women employed in
farming, dairying and gardening will
be almost twice that of last year.
Women engaged in farm work today
in England are drawn from all walks
of life, from the woman of wealth and
title TO the former factory girl. The
latter likes the change of occupation
and insists upon ever remaining
farmer.
win the American woman take up
this life with serious intention of
continuing it as many English girls
H.. ,-tr
utilization of forces to meet war
time demand?
These are frequent questions put by
the English women.
Perhaps the American girl can tell
better after she has experienced one
or two seasons on the land, us her
English sisters have done.
To those who have watched the
progress of women farmers in Eng
land one fact stands out prominently.
OF the innumerable occupations IN
which women have engaged in the
warning countries, particularly in Eng
land, none make for healthier, hap
pier life than that of the woman farm
hand. There are statistics abundant
to prove this. For thousands of these
always farmer"
Most common are such remarks
from the girls who have been living
healthful, out-of-door lives: "Oh,
could never live within the close walls
of factory or shop again."
Here in the beautiful English coun-
try there are change. independence
and n wholesome environment, which
make a mighty appeal to the normal
woman.
Not only has gardening been taken
up by thousands of girls for the livell-
hood it gives them, but hundreds Of
women of small homes are. for the
first time in their lives, this spring
turning over the earth and planting
gardens. Where their own homes do
not furnish enough land for the pur-
pose, these women have leased small
strips of land from the government for
a very small amount and are enjoying
their first experience in country life.
Offers of land from large land own
ers to the government have been ac-
cepted in many instances, and these
large tracts have been divided into
small plots. Scores of others have
turned over large vacant plots to the
government to be parcelled out to fam
llies.
As n result women of all classes and
degrees are taking advantage of these
arrangements to have gardens of their
own this year. Among the most en-
thusiastic women workers are the
owners of large estates, who are not
only carrying on intensive farming on
their vast cares but are serving on
various county and district commit
tees of the board of agriculture in as
sisting women employed on the farms
in their neighborhoods.
These committees have done splen-
did work in trying to make the life of
the farm girl more attractive, and fur
nishing a bit of social diversion. In
many cases these women of wealth,
who employ large numbers of girls.
have fitted up beautiful clubhouses on
their estates, where dances and enter
tainments are given at intervals. They