Mexborough and Swinton Times November 4, 1927
An Englishwoman in Canada
Mrs. R. Malcolm, of Thornley House, Thurnscoe, who has just returned from a tour of Northern America, has some interesting comments and comparisons to make on domestic affairs in Canada, and pays enthusiastic tribute to the management of Canadian households. During the holiday she visited the suburbs and residential quarters of several of the largest towns, and was struck most particularly with the arrangement of the houses.
The architecture is, of course, entirely modern and extremely picturesque; each house stands in its own garden, which, unfenced, runs down to the roadway. The larger buildings are of stone, but many outside the towns are simple frame structures, fitted to stand the severe winter cold by a special process; the walls are double; and the space between them is packed with a prepared paper. All the doors and windows are covered with wire gauze screens for protection against mosquitoes and dust, and the windows open inwards—a great boon, at cleaning-times.
A feature of every house is its verandah and sun-room, which in summer are in general use. The interior of the houses is planned with an amazing regard for laboursaving detail, which the extensive employment of electricity makes possible. Most of the public rooms open one into the other, with sliding doors between that can be pushed back to form one long apartment when desired. The rooms are fitted with every necessary cupboard and shelf accommodation, and. the use of electricity has been brought to a really fine art. Central heating is universal, and is in many cases automatically controlled; with oil furnaces regulated, usually from the hall, by means Of a small instrument like a thermometer, which can be set to the desired heat. Washing, mangling, cooking, sweeping, are all. electrically assisted, by devices almost human in their action. The cooking, for example, is done on electric stoves, which can be set to the required heat and time, and left absolutely unattended. Washing can be done, and the clothes dried, in the cellar where the furnace is, without upsetting any other part of the house; even the soiled linen has not to be collected, for in each bedroom is a small chute, down which the clothes are propelled to the basement, as Mrs Malcolm said, “simply asking to be washed.”
Even in summer, when the central heating is turned off, a plentiful supply of hot water can be obtained from a cylinder which, by means of an encasement of electric wires covered with asbestos sheeting. retains the water at the heat required. Every house, of course, has its ice-box or refrigerator, and in the larger establishments these also are worked by electricity. Ice is an important part of all Canadian menus, and is delivered every morning like the daily paper. Too many of these devices which are in everyday use in Canada seem almost impossible to us, and would be, of course, in a country where electric power has not been developed to such an extent; “but,” said Mrs. Malcolm, “I think our own architects might copy many of their ideas, and particularly the use of the sun-parlour and verandah.”
In spite of these wonderful labour-saving arrangements. however—and probably the cause for their invention–is the undoubted fact that Canadian housewives are suffering from the shortage of domestic servants in our own country. “There is,” said Mrs. Malcolm. “a real opportunity in Canada for the willing domestic worker. The girls are taken out, and their passage assisted by the Government and in Canada are received into hostels, where they may stay until a situation is found for them, and with which they may keep in touch throughout their residence in the country. so that they need never feel alone or friendless.”
The ease with which Canadian households can be run has a decided effect upon the ‘ social life of each town. Even in the remote mining and lumbering camps, every little village, however far from town, has its own social club, to whose welfare the women can and do devote their leisure time. “The Canadians.” Mrs. Malcolm remarked, “seem always willing to do their share to support and help any worthy object: and throughout our tour we found them unfailingly generous and hospitable.” This was true even in lonely settlements like Cadomin, a mining town shut away among the hills without a road to it. 200 miles from any other village, with a train and a post every other day: yet the women were as smart and up-to-date as town dwellers, and were able to receive the party with a beautifully prepared and served tea and banquet.
It was at Cadomin also that the party had an opportunity of inspecting the village school, and Dr. Malcolm was struck by the efficiency of the education given and the methods employed. An excellent system of education, indeed, prevails throughout the country, where the scattered population offers a peculiar difficulty. “The educational facilities.” said Mrs. Malcolm. “are surprisingly modern and efficient. In Saskatchewan alone, a province of 251.700 square miles of prairie, water and rock, with a population of only 821.010, there are 471 school districts. and nearly 800 teachers are employed, the Majority of them women from our own training colleges. Teaching is one of the principal .occupation open to women who settle in Canada.”
These figures are typical of the general organisation of schooling, in the dominion. The equipment of the schools is modern, and the spirit- in which the education is given and received is one of real interest and ambition. An excellent system is in operation between this country and Canada. whereby interchanges of teachers for a year or so are effected, and the schools given the benefit of the ideas of the other country.
Canada. of course, is a comparatively new country, and a very progressive one, but it remains unfailingly loyal to England. It offers tremendous possibilities for emigrants, women and men, who are able-bodied and willing to work and is ready to pay well for their services..