188 WOMEN IN CANADA 



able and warm for the use of members . On week- 

 days it was open from 9 a.m. until 10.30 p.m. and 

 on Sundays for a shorter time. Each member was 

 asked to contribute one piece of furniture, and so 

 gradually it was made home-like, and rugs, pictures, 

 a writing-desk, sewing machine, piano, and many 

 other things were procured. People in larger 

 houses sent their papers down in the afternoon and 

 other literature was provided by Government. 



One of the problems of country life is how to 

 keep young people amused, and a Village Hall is 

 a great help in making them satisfied with their 

 quiet surroundings. Concerts can be given, old folk- 

 songs revived ; then, too, demonstration lectures 

 upon Food Values, Cooking, and Sewing are so easily 

 arranged for if there is a room available. In Eng- 

 land we are only now commencing this work of 

 instruction in Domestic Science, and until we can 

 teach people to help themselves and inspire women 

 with a wish to make a real study, in short a pro- 

 fession of housekeeping, we shall continue to have 

 that dearth of good plain cooks, which becomes 

 increasingly noticeable each year. Lady Chance, 

 the principal organiser of the National Food 

 Economy League, a society which was started in 

 London at the outbreak of war, has been endeavour- 

 ing to remedy this. She is publishing admirable 

 booklets to be obtained for id. each, in which are 

 given recipes for simple dishes, suggestions for 

 utilising vegetables, and hints as to how waste can 

 be avoided. If this society had for its support 

 some local organisations similar to the Women's 

 Institutes, it would make rapid progress, but often 



