GERMAN WOMAN'S DIARY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 281, 1 June 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

GERMAN WOMAN'S DIARY.

WEEKS RECORD OF HARD, COLD FACTS. HOW CAN WE ENDURE:?'

A vivid glimpse into internal conditions in Germany as they appeal' to the mind of a cultured woman is to be found in extracts from the diary of Fraulein Gertrude Baumer published m " Die H'lfe" for February 15, copies of which have just reached this country: Sunday, Feb. 4.—While for a couple of hours on Sunday ouo enters into a spiritual world whence the soul Is fed from an ultimate and secret well-spring of strength, the question keeps on coming up in one's mind, how it is possible for human beings to endure this time if they are not accustomed to draw their life from a spiritual world, which remains steadast when all outward joys and goods fad. Monday, Feb. 5. —One wakes up e?ery morning in the hope of milder weather, and every morning the frozen street shme-s as hard as ever, and in tho winter sky, growing white to dawn, a couple of green stars shine with a frosty clearness. Tho sun arises without its veil of brilliance, like a polished shield, out of tho frosty mists hanging over the Elbe; and the tram is full of talk about the cold and about coals.

The -way the people upon whom these circumstances come hardest adapt themselves to them astounds one over and over again. The acceptance of the fact, as a matter of course, that fate is hard, that there aro powers against which it ig no good to struggle—what a life do they point to in the background ! There is a notion that war and cold belong together. Every one can tell you that it was always so. In 1864 you could drive a laden wagon across tho Elbe, and in 1870 it was just the same. A woman in a thin cloak, her hands raw with tho cold, sitting next to me, sums up the facts of the situation and her inward attitude in the words: "All! yes, it's a very different world now." With people of this kind Wilson's declaration to-day counts for little. It dcl?s not suggest any of thoughts to them, and the immediate need close at hand, the sense of being cold, is something more real than "a breaking off of diplomatic relations. . . Tuesday, Feb. 6.—The public and private disposal of turnips is at present the food problem wlrch holds the field. All turnips must lie consumed, dried, or stored before the end of March, after which they become unfit for food. There ;\ro no potatoes this week in Hamburg, lustead an extra quantity of bread and meal is given out. We get our food in the War Bureau of Altona during the general working hours from the war kitchen officers, civilian advisers, and office assistants, all equally furnished with a plate and spoon! Turnips almost every day, only each day swimming in a different element, and every ono learns to divest himself of his last relics of materialism. But one has, at the same time, a clear conscience, knowing that what one gets oneself every one else can get.

Tho crowds resorting to the mass feeding have vwy mticli increased recently. Tlio ideal, every one fed from a common pot, will soon be automatically realised. ' Wednesday, Feb. 7.—A new distribution of iiiUk' in Hamburg gives to children between seven and fourteen years cards for skimmed milk only in tho future. For children betfeeu two and six years the rations of lull-cream milk will"probably have to be reduced. For those the system which makes it obligatory to deal at one. particular shop (das Kunden-system) is being universally introduced and regulations are framed with regard to skimmed milk.

These new regulations necessitate a Government order of sixty-nine paragraphs, in order that all detail,* may bo embraced. Milk presents an exacting and difficult object to bureaucratic administration ...

Thursday, February S— A fairly lively controversy is going on a.s to the possibility of increasing agricultural production. The President of tho War Food Bureau is of the opinion that activity should bo restricted to concenrating seed, labour, and manure upon the ground already under cultivation. Others, for instance the burgomaster of I'lm (well known for g<wd and efficient measures in connection with the food supply), believe that it would ho possible to associate the towns to •! very largo extent in stock-keeping and tho cultivation of vegetables. fn any case, one gets tho impression that-tho utilising of refuse in the towns is still far from being carried as far as it might be. Only one. must admit that here, too. the difficulties of transport mnstitute hindrances which are, for the meat part, insurmountable. The charge of moon has brought no change in the weather, in spite of the promising rise* in the temperature. It only it were not for food shortage and need of i oal, which never leave one free, how one would be able to enjoy th'-i winter mood ! The mornings, with their hear frost, the white birches before the dark yellow facade of a line, farmhouse, the beautiful --hur.il of Otten-en wth the white, delicately pencilled silho i ette- of tho trees on their red ba.ek-

ground. Friday, Fob. !>.—The War Food Bur pan is "joing to nominate in larger numbers cominiwarios fur the 10-al rovis'on of various drportments- rtf tlio i'ond supplv«ystom. Such export commissaries i»ro already working in fairly largo numbers in tin l Imperial Fat Bureau, ihe Imperial Meat Bureau, and Potato Hnioau. Discussions i'ii the question, How 11 the vuppl.v of the necessities o!' life to working women to be made easier? This problem is one very difficult to O olvo by any organisation in a large city. When the svstcm of de-ding at one particular slu.'i has be n inroducod. it w'll he possible th'Uigh very difficult, to introdu<!c an alignment tn various shops wlrch will be kept open lor working women at definite hours. Nothing is Ui be considered im|x~«i- |,| . and Him ■■ wav or other must be found in order to prevent the unhoard- , f (1 üblo burden now laid upon the wi men! who, afte/ their da-vV work, nir-t'i i'l stswl about for hours m orler t» -e, MioT food. S-!t.urdi.V. Feb. 10 - Tb-viivr' On (be ear-! 11 paths Mi" ur .■.:> "arih s'"JW = fhroin'h the snow, and the green tiirl nn tb* border*. There i* a dripping frcm all i«iff and tr w. Von walk