WOMEN AND THE WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4004, 10 August 1915, Page 6

WOMEN AND THE WAR.

INTERE-STiNO LETTF.it FROM MRS WEST. TITLED LADIES WORK IN A laundry. 3TOW THE RESPIRATOR HELMETS ARE MADE. \ very interesting letter has been rc Vived Tiv Mrs Rees from her daughter (Mrs West.) who resides in London : „ , . 1 am living in a sort oi dream at present as I sleep by day and spend the night working at- the laundry. When I wrote to yon last 1 was goJpcr there in the day time, but now onTv paid working women go in too day and wo voluntary workers go on from 10 p.in, to 6 n.m. About 00 to 00 go every night—ruid nil sorts and conditions* from titled ladies down. There are crowds of artists, autooi■-> and noted people and altogether it i-> very interesting. The work is so important and the pa id workers come on the moment wo stop and wo take up the running directly they leave in.the evening. We did 10,000 last night and there are numerous processes for them to go through and wo alj_ take turns at the different work. First a party of us “censor” —that is _ look over- —tho helmets to see there is no hole or missed stitches. HI. 1 1 0 helmetsare of flannel with a tail piece seven in whore the eyes come. The helmet goes over the head and tucks into the tunic collar so that not a scrap or air gets in except through the medicated flannel. Aiter'Mensoring, the helmets are soaked in the tubs of socta chemical, then hung on nails to dram, and from there go into the diying room and are pegged on the horses in the ovens. When dry, they are taken to the packing room and we wash the tail, and again look to see t-iat there are no holes, then fold_ them a certain way and put them in little hags and tie them up. They are then packed in big cases and sent off to the War Office and then to the Front. Such old ladies with white hair go, and many young ones. too. A on would laugh to see dignified aristocrats ami famous writers with their sleeves ro.led up and huge clogs and wateipioor aprons on, standing busy at the big wash tubs. We have a spell at 1-.30 and another at 4- a.m. when somebody makes tea. 1 am standing the nightwork quite well as I don't attempt to do anything else. I get home about 7.30, have some tea, and go straightto bed and sleep without- waking tu about- 3 o’clock when I get up and lmvo i\ inoill and just potter rouiKl. Ac 8 1 have as big a meal as I can eat to keefi me going througli the ni<d,t and at 9-1 start off for work again. I went Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights, then took Tuesday oft and had a good night's rest. I am trying to go for six nights now and will then have one off and can only ido three more before Archie comes home. Un Wednesday night 1 am going to sell roses as it is Alexandra Day. So in my spare moments 1 am trying to make a white dress and then a white hat.