Evening star., 1943-02-27
Two Groups Hear
Talks on Life
In Britain
Lady Sinclair and
DR.. Dorothy Sells
ADDRESS Meefiuqs


Address Meetings
Life in Britain under wartime con-
ditions was the subject Of talks
given before two women's organiza-
tions yesterday.
The monthly luncheon meeting Of
the Woman's National Farm. and
Garden Association at the YWCA
featured flrst-hand account of her
own experiences as volunteer
worker in England by Lady Sinclair.
wife Of Sir Robert Sinclair, British
member of the Combined Produc-
ton Resources Board.
In the evening, Dr. Dorothy M.
Sells Of the Once Of Defense Trans
portation, who recently returned
from a trip to England, addressed
dinner meeting Of the Washing
ton Branch, American Association
OF University Women.
Lauds little People"
Lady Sinclair, in her talk, Iauded
the little people" of Great Britain
the charwomen, railroad porters
and small farmers whose courage
and good, humor have withstood the
losses and terrors of the blitz.
Describing in detail the reactions
Of men rescued from Dunkerque, of
farm families sharing modest homes
with city evacuees and of residents
In London whose homes and rela-
tives have been lost in bombings.
Lady Sinclair said: "The spirit of
the people has remained calm and
outwardly cheerful throughout.
They are determined not to let
matters get them down."
She also told something of her
work as a volunteer, first in placing
evacuees from London in Somerset,
the small village where her home
Is located, and later at a canteen in
North London, where over 5000
servicemen are fed daily.
There is nothing so good for
trouble as to be at hard work." said
the speaker, who has known per-
sonal sorrow and losses during the
war. "One is helped through black
periods by helping Others"
Lady Sinclair was introduced by
Mrs. r. Winston Holt, president Of
the association.
Talk on Victory Gardens.
The program included a brief
talk on victory gardens by Mrs. c.
L. Forsling. chairman Of the Way
side Beautiflcation and Gardens
Committee. II hope you will stress
the victory and not the garden IN
your efforts" she said. Don't
waste fertilizer, seeds and energy
which might be put to better use. "
Mrs. Forsling suggested that
vegetables be planted where for
merly flowers have been grown. "A
red tomato will be a very pretty
sight by the end of next summer, !"
she predicted, land pole beans look
very well over trellis"
In her talk before the AAUW,
DR.. Sells stressed the part that
women Of Britain are playing In the
war effort.
They are not only doing their
part as nurses and In other tradi-
tional women's roles, but they are
taking the places Of men by the
thousands on the land, by the hun
dreds Of thousands in the forces
and by millions In industry" she
said. 'v>aa a4~ e0,57,fr,
DR.. Sells pointed out that under
the national service act women In
Britain between 20 and 80 years OF
age are subject to CONSUMPTION for
national service, but that thus far
only those from 20 to "a years OF
age actually have been called.
Choice Of Service.
"These women" she continued,
may choose between service with
the forces, civil defense work and
certain kinds Of industrial activity.
Women have rights of deferment,
conscientious objection and post
ponement for hardship similar to
the men. But they cannot be re-
qpired to use lethal weapons and
they receive about two-thirds Of the
pay Of men in the same rank"
More than 100000 British women
are now employed full or part time
in vital industrial jobs, she con-
tinued. and are paid on the principle
of the rate for the job"
Describing also the jobs held by
women in the armed forces and
praising the work of others who keep
their homes together under highly
dificult circumstances. DR.. Sells
concluded:
Through all that the women of
Britain have contributed to war,
however, even to laying aside CLAM
our in order to do Job, life has been
given bigger and more satisfying
purpose than it ever had before. For
women have been accepted as just
people who, like the many others
who have given much but asked lit
tie. are members Of that new human
fellowship which common danger,
common suffering and common ef-
fort seems to have brought to being
in Britain"