Dear Editor and Friends: Letters from Rural Women of the North-West, 1900-1920

Contents

Contents List of Illustrations xiii Acknowledgments xv "The West Is Calling," by Mary Fraser xvi Introduction 1 LETTERS FROM RURAL WOMEN OF THE NORTH-WEST, 1900-1920 1899 Icelander 21 1900 Tom Boy 21 Pearl 22 Alberta Fawn 23 Emma Rose 24 East Wind 25 E.M.T. 25 Late Comer 26 1901 Sour Grapes 27 1902 Cowgirl 28 1903 Maid o'the Mist 29 A Bereaved Mother 30 Nil Desperadum 31 1904 Frank's Mother 32 Bluebird 32 Still Hopeful 33 1905 Sage-Brush: From a Dry Climate 34 Butter and Eggs: Land for Single Women 35 B.S.: Room for a Change 36 T. Lynch: Teachers Wanted in B.C 37 A Wrathy Spinster: A Spinster Who Knows 38 B.C.: Young Wives 39 J.W: A Man among the Amazons 40 A Clerk: A Good Place for Women 41 Mother 42 IX Dear Editor and Friends A Mother 43 1906 Western Teacher: A Western Teacher's Advice 44 Young Schoolma'am: A Word for Widowers 45 B.A.M.: A Happy Western Teacher 47 Poor but Hopeful: On Mining Speculation 48 Big Mike: BigMike Wants a Working Wife 50 1907 Marie 50 Meadow Rue 52 Imogen: Teaching in the West 59 Hazel Eyes: Desires to Help 61 Wild Rose: A Brave Woman 63 Sunset: Diana of the Pacific 64 Bess: Fond of Horses and Hunting 65 1908 Barrie: Helpful and Amusing 65 Cricket of Paradise Valley: Life and Love 67 A Marriageable Woman: A Chance for a Bachelor 68 Breadwinner: A Sad Story 68 1909 Teresa: An Englishwoman's View 70 Lord Ullin's Daughter: The Wife's Dower 72 Mere Man: The Dower Question 73 Brightness: Pretty and Useful Seat 74 Justice of the Peace: The Dower Law 75 Mrs. J.A.K.: Baby for Adoption 76 Nawitka: A Strong Plea for Women 76 A Wife and Mother: The Franchise 85 1910 Addariah: A Vexed Question 86 Farmer's Wife (Slave): A Real Grievance 87 Farmer's Wife: Story of a Maternity Nurse 88 One Who Knows: Why Young People Leave the Farm 90 In-the-Depths: Comfort Wanted 92 Temperance Worker: Local Option 94 Old Maids 95 1911 Settler: Graham Island 96 1912 Tired: Tired's Letter of Thanks 98 Christina: A Helpful Letter 98 Penelope: Her Heart's Desire 100 Flynn Valley: Children Need a Home 101 Rosebush: A Prairie Christmas Tree 102 Betty: Things Look Black 102 Morning Albertan: A Christmas Tree 104 x Contents 1913 Beacon: Matrimonial Laws in Saskatchewan 105 1914 Sweet Idaho: Children Given Away 106 Grandmother: Methods in Child Raising 107 A Mother: Health and Morality 108 Worker: What Do YouThink? 115 Residential Teacher: School Problems 117 A Broken-Hearted Wife: A "Bacher's" Wife 118 1915 Brother Bachelor: A Voice from Vancouver 118 Hope: Women Need to Get Out 119 Francis Marion Beynon: Who'll Help This Baby? 121 F.M.B.: Many Homes for Baby 121 A Homesteader's Wife: Four Lean Years in Five 122 Aloha Twin: Valuable Fur 122 An English Soldier's Wife 123 1916 Farmer: A Pitiful Heart 124 Evangeline: When a Man Enlists 125 Determination: Can't Alter Circumstances 126 Saskatchewan Rose: The Question of Population 129 A Loving Wife 129 No Occupation: Wake Up! Farm Women 130 The Mother of a Soldier: The Grandmother Speaks 131 A Soldier's Mother: Advice for Expectant Mothers 134 1917 New Country-Woman: Query? 135 Maternity: On Midwives 136 Saskatchewan Nancy: The Sensible Age 137 1918 Prairie Maid: Brave Little Girl 138 Discouraged Woman: Another Tragedy 139 H.M. Mc.: Municipal Hospitals 140 Ileen: Labor Problem 141 Young Old Benedict: Champions Married Women 143 1919 Rosie Cheeked English Girl: Takes Issue With Frenchy 144 A War Bride: Definition of a War Bride 145 Isabelle: Calls Attention to Laws 146 1920 Peggie: To Can Beef and Pork for Summer 147 Conclusion: Was It Worth the Journey? 149 Appendix: Papers, Clubs, and Editors 155 Additional Readings 159 Index 163 XI This page intentionally left blank ...