Women on the Prairie 



where such arrangement is out of the question. 

 In case of war involving what may be called a 

 civilized nation, the people are aroused, and great 

 efforts are put forth to mitigate suffering; but 

 it may well be questioned whether, in the settling 

 up of the Prairie Provinces, there has not been 

 far more suffering entailed, especially on women 

 and children, than that of a great war ; and, alas ! 

 is still going on, and will continue for many years, 

 unless a determined effort is put forth to stop it. 

 The settlers themselves are, for the most part, 

 well aware of the evil, and willing to make sacri- 

 fices, but they are usually very short of ready 

 money, and as yet have little political power, 

 as Eastern Canada and the financial interests 

 dominate the situation at present. 



I am aware that many worthy efforts have 

 been made to improve the existing state of things ; 

 there is the Victorian Order of Nurses, with its 

 i headquarters at Ottawa, and the authorities of 

 the Archbishops' fund have at least one cottage 

 hospital, and as examples of what might be done 

 they are doubtless excellent, but it is to be feared 

 that the vast majority of settlers have never 

 heard of them. 



Though the predominant population is com- 

 posed of young men " baching " it, yet a 

 considerable number of what may be described as 



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