LAND AND WATER 
November 7, 19 14 
THROUGH THE EYES 
OF A WOMAN 
Notes by a Feminine Pencil 
WITH the afternoon came a visitor, and \yith 
the visitor much indignation. She had just 
heard from the hps of her austerely respect- 
able maid a long tale of the delinquencies 
of two soldiers' wives who apparently had 
done little save drink since their husbands left for the front. 
And what was worse, they showed no tendency to change, 
but erry intention of continuing to waste their substance 
in the same manner. Both these women were in receipt of 
dlowances. making them far better off than they had ever 
KHn all their lives before. Both, moreover, had married 
immediately after the outbreak of war, and had never started 
Thome, but were living in lodgings with no work to do 
It can hardly be wondered at if time hangs heavily on their 
hands and the temptations of the drinking bar are powerful 
So it comes to pass that day after day we see the statement 
that drinking amongst women is on the increase, with many 
incontrovertible facts added in support of the charge. 
It is really hardly fair on the women themselves that 
they should have this weight of unoccupied days in addition 
to their other burdens. Every one whose man is on active 
service knows how the agony of suspense is relieved only by 
steady occupation. Then the mind is forced, often in spite 
of itself to concern itself with other things, and it takes a 
healthier point of view involuntarily. It is very certain that 
many soldiers' and sailors' wives cannot find sane dis- 
traction when thrown completely upon their own resources. 
It is equally certain that other resources can be forthcoming. 
Clubs started for these women in each of our big towns woilld 
go far towards solving the problem. They could be worked 
upon the most attractive lines, so that the members would 
find it a pleasure to belong and count hours spent there as 
happy ones. Plenty of occupation could be given. Working 
parties could be formed to sew for some of the many schemes 
to provide our soldiers and sailors with creature comforts. 
The women forming these work parties would feel of some 
use in the general disposition of things, and it would provide 
interests for them— those most important possessions. 
Games could also be played, such as draughts, chess, and 
halma, and the winter days would lose half their dreariness 
to many women such as those described by the Afternoon 
Visitor with such virtuous wrath and disapproval. 
The Blue Cross 
Several little leaflets decorated in the corner by a broad 
blue cross have found their way into the letter box, together 
with sundry other missives. They show that Our Dumb 
Friends League has not forgotten our dumb friends on the 
battlefields abroad, and will be eagerly scanned by many an 
animal lover. The Blue Cross Fund has been formed by 
this League to help horses in war time, and it has been 
officially recognised by the French Government. Captain 
Claremont has been working ceaselessly on its behalf, and it 
is mainly owing to him that this has come about. All goes 
very well now, however, for he has been deputed by the 
French Minister of War to form base hospitals for the wounded 
horses ; and here the life of many a valuable animal will be 
saved. It is good to think that such an idea has been started 
and is being energetically carried out. The Blue Cross Fund 
makes its appeal above Mr. Arthur J. Coke's well-known 
signature from 58 Victoria Street, Westminster. It asks for 
wither pads, embrocations, and bandages, amongst many 
other things of veterinary requirements. Already the fund 
has supplied several ambulances for the use of horses at the 
different Army camps in this country. When the base 
hospitals are in working order abroad Captain Claremont will 
have, it is hoped, many ambulances over there, too, so that 
the wounded horse, like his master, can be transported with 
all possible speed from the battlefield. Needless to say, 
such activities will need help from the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer's Silver Bullet. The sufferings of dumb animals, 
however, make a powerful lever for unlocking the pocket, 
and several people have a personal interest in horses at the 
front. Recently there was a mepting at Claridge's Hotel 
at which Lady Smith-Dorrien presided, and the aims of 
the fund were explained to a very sympathetic audience. 
The badge of the fund is a blue and white enamel 
cross, and it is so pretty that it is well worth buying for 
itself alone. 
A Mission to Servia 
The last accounts from Servia show that she is in 
desperate plight. There has been an almost complete lack 
of medical stores, and doctors and nurses working there 
have done so under terrible disadvantages. A warning was 
actually issued by the Servian Government urging the 
strictest economy with all medical stores, and the sick and 
wounded have had extra but unavoidable suffering in conse- 
quence. Lady Paget has been working at the Servian 
Legation for the last few weeks collecting medicine and 
surgical stores, and her hospital unit has just left for Servia. 
Accompanying it were eight surgeons, twenty nurses, and a 
staff of ward maids and orderlies. Lady Paget hopes to 
form a hospital of two hundred and fifty beds, and she and 
her helpers at the Legation have spent a busy time sending 
off the equipment to Southampton, from whence it was 
shipped. Though the mission has already set off upon its 
work of mercy, contributions towards its upkeep will no 
doubt still be welcome. Sir Edward Boyle is the honorary 
treasurer to the Servian Relief Fund, and his address is 
22 Berners Street. To know Servia and the Servians is to 
sympathise with them. They are a brave people, very 
industrious and hardworking, and have suffered so cruelly 
during the past months that to describe Servia as the Belgium 
of the East is no exaggeration. In addition to medical 
stores. Lady Paget took with her also a store of clothing for 
the Servian refugees from Bosnia and neighbouring provinces. 
And, as a passing thought, why do we not show the Servian 
flag in common with those of the Alhes ? A quintette of 
flags is displayed in many instances : and where space can 
be found for five there is surely room for a sixth. It is 
quite amusing to note how the flag-carrying brigade flourish. 
People who a short while ago would have considered such 
ornaments as the worst form of Jingoism now fall victims 
to the wily tradesman and his neat series of small silk flags 
for motor car or bicycle. Take them from every point of 
view the flags of the Allies are a well-assorted lot, and those 
of us who have no possessions to beflag, and would not beflag 
them if we had, none the less feel their significance in our 
hearts each time we see them. 
The Personal Column 
It has been quoted as typical of the Englishman that he 
still looks at the announcement page of his morning paper 
before opening it and reading the news of the day. As a 
matter of fact, however, there is no page showing forth more 
clearly the conditions under which we are living at present. 
Almost the whole history of the war can be gleaned, for 
example, from the announcements appearing day by day in 
the personal columns. They make interesting if sometimes 
very sad reading. Many of them are in Flemish or French, 
asking for news of some Belgian relatives or friends, who it 
is believed have arrived in England, but about whom there 
is no certainty. Then there are some, which are far more 
cheerfully worded, conveying thanks to people who have 
supplied the eagerly desired information. Further down the 
column a well-known author advertises for officers' diaries of 
the war, or asks for a personal interview with men who have 
returned from the front. Evidently another book of thrilling 
adventure is on the high road to preparation. Offers of 
hospitality are given to wounded soldiers or refugees in 
distress. Numerous officers' wives appeal for clothing, 
tobacco, and several small luxuries for the men in their 
husbands' regiments. An application is made for a revolver 
and sword by a subaltern who has just joined the New Army 
and is evidently not overburdened with this world's goods. 
An adventurous soul asks for a motor ambulance, which he 
is prepared to drive for the Red Cross abroad. A wonderful 
study is the personal column, and sufficiently engrossing to 
warrant attention. Erica. 
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