Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1918 — A FEW SUGGESTIONS [ARTICLE]

A FEW SUGGESTIONS

Con the women of Rensselaer and Jasper county measure up, even a little more, to their responsibility in food conservation as a war measure? Wo are told that women control 8$ per cent of all the money of the United States and certainly it is true that in the matter of foods, almost every woman is a distributor. Appalling is this responsibility! We have promised food to the allies as well as our own boys and the supply is short and growing shorter. Will we respect this promise? The situation is most serious; grave; it becomes necessary for us, as thinking women, to carefully consider and' hear each call that is made to us, on this most important question; saving the food. Many demands have been made and will be made upon our nation and we must patiently, intelligently and conscientiously respond. Let us do it willingly, gladly, knowing that the combined effort of all the American people will mdans victory. Mr. Hoover said: “I cannot command you to save food, I can only request, leaving it to your conscience to obey.” Instructors sent out from Washington appeal to us to make the food question an individual one. To save, not that we may hoard, but that certain foods may be released which can be transported. And the women and children of France are hungry.

Can we manage our daily menus with a little more thrift, a little more skill? It is a question of brains as well as heart; it is our task; and there is no limit to the ability of an American woman —a patriot. Let us think intently about this. So much depends on our allies having food; they rely upon us and we have passed our word. We are not asked to make our diet one bit less nourishing, simply to change our methods of cooking a trifle to meet this war measure. Our food directors have requested us to serve only the customary three meals a day, exceptions to this rule being families where there are growing children, invalids and the aged. They ask us to eliminate all other “between meals” serving, to which we have long been accustomed, not only to save the food, but as a health measure as well. Perhaps one hundred and fifty women in Rensselaer alone are members of some organization which has dispensed good cheer and hospitality by the serving of light refreshments.

Our nation being in war, these women have counted the cost in food, time, strength and money and as might be expected of Jasper county have responded almost to a woman in observing the food conservation measures. The result is most gratifying: 1. Our churches have had very few, if any, dinners this winter. 2. Our schools have abandoned all serving at their various functions. 3. Refreshments at social gatherings are very light, when served at aD. 4. The Daughters of American Revolution do not serve. 5. The original Sew club ceased serving very soon after the United States entered the war. 6. Most of the lodges serve no food.

7. Many other organizations are loyally falling into line and abandoning refreshments. 8. Ladies’ Aids, composed of country women, serving at sales are adhering strictly to the requests of Mr. Hoover. The attitude of our women proclaim them to be patriots and their steady efforts are resulting in quantities of food saved. Yet, with all this, more is required of us. We must keep faith with our boys and the allies. Can we not, each one, discover new ways of thrift and more of them; exchange our knowledge, and be so united in this stupendous task that the result can be only the one thing—success? CONTRIBUTED.