Mexico Missouri message., 1918-06-27

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long way toward proficiency. And the
code, and everything you learn about
electricity, would be of use TO you
should an opportunity come your way
later to learn wireless telegraphy--a
work which is peculiarly adapted to
the sensitive woman.
The government has already opened
the motor transport service to women.
If this appeals to you, begin to fit your
self for II now.
There area great many varieties Of
motor transport service. but even IL
none of the more dramatic opportuni-
ties come to you, there is an impor-
tant service ahead of women in driv-
ing tractors.
If n woman has any gift for It at all,
mechanical craftsmanship is very
much worth while. Government con-
structIon plants employ many drafts
men, and you would be surprised to
find how much of this you can learn
from your local architect or frem any
manufacturing plant near your town.
Long before technical schools were
established men learned all they
needed to know by apprenticeship, and
the plan propose to you Is simply to
revert to the earlier, simple method.
Apprentice yourself to your chosen
trade In the person of the most skilled
workman you know. If you do not
know how to choose, make census of
the skills Of your town. Find out the
most valuable skill and save that for
your country.
One of the terrible things about war
Is the loss Of this accumulated skill.
Men spend years in school and years
more in practice, and then at their
most useful time are cut Off. Make 1t
your business to capture and retain
some of the things that men have
learned. Nobody will refuse to teach
you. A man owes his knowledge and
skill to his country as much as he
owes his life; all the more If he loses
his life.
Can Learn at Home.
Women are the natural conservers Of
civilization. 1t is our duty to gather
up and hold fast every bit of gain.
Women are only just learning what 1t
costs men to be proficient, and even if
there is no definite objective In view,
we could not go far wrong in attempt-
ing to save something of the proficient
mans purchase. have spoken of these
particular occupations as being direct
ly connected with the government ma
chine, realizing something of the hun
ger of women to be identified with It
as men are. There is a sense In which
any work which releases q man for
the front is government service; but
have particularly wished to point out
how women may fit themselves for ma
tional service In their own homes.
There are other things than these, new
openings every week, things which can
be mastered on the farm or In the
smallest village. You do not, for ex-
ample, have to go out Of your own
town to learn how to be a postal clerk.
There is in every town a good job
for somebody in keeping In touch with
the needs Of the government machine.
If you can do nothing else, be the CO.
herer; find out from Xour state officials
and from Washington all about the
| qualifications, the dates and places Of
civil service examinations, the Jobs for
which no examination but merely
certificate of fitness is required. See
to 1t that your circulating library has
such books as are needed by students.
If your state has a travelling library,
know what helps it can give. There is
no real reason why any American
should not be able to learn anything
he-or she-puts her mind to.
There is another branch of patriotic
service which, though it has not been
departmentally opened to women here
as in England, is open through COM
munities and committees to American
women. This is the branch of the COM
missary. 1t includes all sorts of knowl-
edge supposed to be native to the
genius of women, of food buying and
storing and cooking on large scale.
The basis of commissary work is a
natural aptitude for it and a knowl-
edge of food values. This you can
teach yourself at home, making lab
oratory of your kitchen. The rest you
can learn through community actlvi-
ties in your town, community store
houses, community kitchens, COM
munity canning clubs and buying clubs.
Demand Exceeds Supply.
The department of agriculture can
supply you with information on the
conduct Of all these enterprises. Al
ready the demand for instructors in
these branches exceeds the supply.
And II the war should surprise us by
the years 1t holds out, there is nc
doubt many of them will be made
part of the government machine, just
as they have been abroad. In that
case the women who will be chosen are
the women who had the initiative to
prepare themselves long in advance of
the necessity.
Food production Is as important as
food conservation, but It can be
learned only by those who have a GER