WOMAN'S PART IN THE WORK 331 



qualified helper in the movement towards the desired change. She 

 may well claim support in such help from an institution with which 

 she has for some centuries past maintained close touch. The 

 Americans also — with Mr. Roosevelt at their head — appeal to " the 

 Church " to take up the promotion of country life. And the country 

 Life Commission has heartily backed up that admonition. 



The main pillar, however, upon which we have to rest our hope 

 for the establishment of a healthy country and community life such 

 as modern circumstances demand, will have, after all, to be woman. 

 To her it is that we must mainly look for the secure establishment 

 of a widespread " country " and " community " life, which will keep a 

 sufficient portion of rural young folk on their native rural soil, under 

 a mother's influence, devoted to rural occupations and bound to the 

 country by love of its freedom, its healthiness, its simplicity, all 

 which should be so made to eclipse in the youthful rural mind the 

 deceptive " rainbow " glitter of the town, with by its more or less 

 unhealthy conditions and occupations, its turmoil and its rapid 

 exhaustion of human strength artificially kept up for a time by the 

 stimulants of pleasure which wear out those who trust to them as 

 certainly as does excessive toil. " Realising that the success of 

 country life depends in very large degree on the women's part," the 

 American Country Life Commission urges women to exert them- 

 selves to use their power and make the cause which is essentially 

 theirs succeed. There is great need among country women them- 

 selves of a strong organising force. Such organisation, we may hope, 

 will come about through the agency of women's institutes which, 

 as observed, British Columbia has taught us how to form. The 

 kernel of the whole matter, the seed from which the social improve- 

 ment desired alone can spring, is the home. That is woman's own 

 particular province. And, as " homes " in the material sense come 

 to be provided, which a family will be able to call its own, and other- 

 wise old shackles come to be thrown off, and provision comes to be 

 made, be it in the form of sufficient wages, be it in the shape of 

 independent possession or occupation of land which will yield its 

 increase, for a sufficient income, to the upbuilding and steady 

 improvement of " home," in a higher sense — a home which will 

 raise character, and attract those whom it harbours to its sacred 

 hearth by cherished associations and enduring affections, ought 

 the exertions of country women to be directed. And in the work 

 so assigned to them — a work than which there could be none 

 more entitling to the hearty thanks of the community — every help 

 should be given that seems called for to ensure its accomplishment . 



