A MOTHER'S SCORN OF PEACE
NEW WAR IF AVE GAVE "WAY NOW. M. Gustavo Horve, in "La Victoiro," prints the following letter written him by tho wife of a working man—perhaps a country labourer—states tfio Paris correspondent of the "Daily Mail":— December 23, 1916. Sir,—l don't know if I shall dare 1 send you this letter, but if you do got it pleaso read it, though you don't know me. It's nbout your articles on this peace. But, of course, sir, we mustn't mako peace. You say that if tho working men that are at the front or tho women that aro left behind were to be asked they'd bo quite pleased at it. That shows that vou're writing for people that haven't got any children.
Sir, I've lost a brother of twenty-fivo and my husband was called up at the beginning o£ the war, and he's at the front, where the fighting is; and since he's been gone wo're not often able to keep very warm, and' we've not always got enough to eat when we're hungry. But, sir, we don't want peace, though it would mean that we should have more money again; we've got children, and though we're only working people, wo don't want them to have to fight in ten or fifteen years; and that's what would be sure to happen. And there's my husband, and he's had enough of this war, but he'll go on fighting_ as long as we've got to, so as to give those Germans a good thrashing and make them have the kind of peace that we won't have to worry about the children. ■ And it isn't only my husband that feels like that, sir, ho says all the others arc just the same. Of course, theiio's grumbling sometimes, and people aren't quite satisfied witli things, but, sir, you mustn't think that -we want pcaco because of that: indeed we don't.
When we saw in tho papers that they , were talking about peace my next-door I neighbour, who has three children, | she said to mo "Thoso dirty Huns, they are trying to hare us." And after that, we didn't so much as mentionit'again, we thought it was so stupid. And then there come people who have got education who seem to be taking it seriously. Sir, thev haven't got any children or else they don't love them, because they would sooner their children had to fight than them. Sir, you needn't worry, the soldiers who've got children, and tho women who aro left behind and who are working to tako the father's place, they'll hold out as long as is wanted, a vear moro or oven two, so that the little children won't have to see this sort* of thing later on. I am, Scar sir, your' very respectfully, MRS. H . M. Herve added:—
Here wo are, a lot of politicians, and writing is our business; .we aro trying to find answers to the bleat of tho pacifists. Wo aro combating the American Note. Wo go over the guarantees wo shall have to demand. This working woman has found the proper answer, tho sensible answer, tlie answer that comcs straight from the heart.
, Littlo Margorie Wiggs, whose danc- ' Jn g gave so much pleasure in Miss Beero's recont recitals,_ has accepted an engagement with the firm of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and will appear aB a toe-dancer in the forthcoming pantomime, "The House -that Jack Built," at His Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, »A Easter. Mrs. R. V. C. Harris, of Napier, had her leg broken yesterday morning 'owing to the back firing of a motor, the starting handle of which struck .her just above the ankle. ■ Tho Rod Cross Shop, Otaki, in chargo of Miss Best'and Mrs. Witchell, assisted by Misses Booth and O'Rourko,' did good business last Saturday, taking over £10. On Saturday, March 24, tho shop will be in charge of the bachelors and benedicts, and all takings, are to go to the billiard-table fund for tho Sanatorium. Mesdamcs Damm and Clark also sold flowers during the week, and made £6 15s. An entertainment will bo given by members of the Specialist of the 26th Reinforcements on Saturday evening next at 7.30, in tho Sydney Stieet Soldiers' Club. It is hoped that all members of tho Club Committee, hostesses and their helpers, will attend. Tho programme will be given entirely by tho soldiers, who aro desirous of showing their appreciation of the hospitality which js always extended to them at the club in Sydney Street. Contributors to tho Melanesian Tuck Box are asked to send in their gifts to Miss Mestayer; 139 Sydney Street, no later than March 31-f'a little later this year than on former occasions. Should any further suggestions be needed as to what would be greatly appreciated, it might be mentioned that all forms of concentrated food are welcome, and in addition to these hooks and magazines. Th'eso have not been given in so plentifully this year, owing to the demands' that have been made upon everyone's reading matter for the use 'of the soldiers. Mrs. Don. of Dunedn, Dominion President of tho W.C.T.U., will arrive in Wellington on Saturday on her way through to Auckland to attend the annual convention, which takes place there next week. Mrs. Poryman, odi- . tor of the "White Ribbon," is also expected to arrive from Port Chalmers on 1 tho samo mission. Miss Una Carter gave her weekly demonstration of cooking by gas yes-, t.erday afternoon in the Wellington Gas Company's rooms, Courtenay Place, and so largo was tho attendance that many ladies wero unable to find accommodation. The following dishes were made by Miss Carter: Brittle peanuts, coconut and chocolate fudgo, short pastry, creamota loaf, dripping pastry, mock chicken, littlo mutton pies, and some very attractive pasties. Needless to say, the demonstration was followed with much interest by her audience.
The committee of tho Patriotic Cake Room acknowledge with thanks gifts of home-mado cakes, sweets, subscriptions, etc., from the following donors: —Mr. and-Mrs. Firth, Mesdames Smitten, Holmes, Kirker, Findlay. Badham, Young, G. Fulton, Tate, Colin, R. Wilson, _ Isaacs, Hurst, Misses Macintosh, Nation, Saunders, Cameron, J. Seed, -Kane. Wheeler (2). M'Menanien, P. Ward, MTCellar, Kirkcaldie, C!a>ton, Richardson, Von Dadclszen, Carter, Ottcrson, Chalmers.
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3028, 15 March 1917, Page 3
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1,041A MOTHER'S SCORN OF PEACE Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3028, 15 March 1917, Page 3
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