WOMEN IN WAR TIME.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 244, 18 November 1914, Page 4

WOMEN IN WAR TIME.

THE MODERN DAUGHTER AT HOME.

I meant my only daughter to have such a jnerry, frivolous time when she -left school (writes T.B. in the "Daily Mail' 5 ). I wanted her to. enjoy her youth to the utmost. I had planned a jreally glorious series of dances for her, of pleasant country-house visits and well-arranged little house 'parties of; our own. But the war lias shatter-ed-the best-laid plans. , The young girl is always sensitive "to new impressions. Her first year at home after the regular discipline of school life is usually a merry, rosetinged whirl of gaiety. It is her butterfly time. No one expects her to be very useful or helpful, although we are rather disappointed if she is not ornamental. Youth must be served, and sweet seventeen is offered a variety of pleasures and gaieties at the hands of her indulgent elders in the piping times of peace. ' But the girl who has just left school will suffer a rather wholesome neglect this autumn. Her parents' thoughts will be centred on their sons, and our daughters will be called upon to face some of the stern facts of life which are usually quite beyond their philosophy. , Less Selfish. » They will witness the patience which calmly waits for news as the days drag oin, will see mourning whieh allows itself no solace of outward signs, self-denial and self-sacrifice, lit up. with the great Virtue of cheerfulness.

Falling into line with the rest of Great Britain they will tuck away their personal inclinations for the present, while they cheerfully help others to the utmost of their power. And what will be the result?

The result will be good, I think. The girl of to-day will be less selfish and more domesticated than the girl of yesterday. There may be no one left to dance with her and play games with her; the pleasant pastimes which imagined would fill up all her time are suddenly taken from her. But, as if by magic, new occupations have sprung up. Plain sewing and knitting—she may have neglected those useful arts in the past, but she stitehes And knits away willingly enough today.

; Languages and history—two branches Of study whieh are far too often set

aside directly school , books . are put away—-will certainly be kept in good repair nowadays. Many girls will become Red Cross nurses and acquire a deftness and capability which will be useful all their lives. Housekeeping in all its branches will be- acquired.

And the less tangible, but' mor.e valuable, traits will develop none the less purely—such as self-restraint, a quiet courage, and a helpful sympathy for others. /

No; I do not pity my girl and the girls of her generation. They will be fine women.