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Following is a continuation of the report of the Triennial Conference. .-\.C.\\’.W., begun by Florence P. Eadie in the Fall Home and Country. Gay and delightful social affairs followed each day's busy conference sessionsâ€"receptions and parties by Foreign Embassies and Legations, High Commissioners, the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London, the Wor- shipful Company of Goldsmiths and Groceries, Women Journalists and many other organizations. Here we made friends with country women of the world. We never attempted to re- member their names, often couldn’t even pronounce them, but merely called them Finland, Latvia, Austra- lia, South Africa or India, and they called us Ontario. In London and in private homes in rural England and Scotlnad, we felt something of the in» teg‘ritv and dependability of the Britis people. Pleasant Week-ends An old friend, who has been abroad many times, said she envied me my first trip, as no later trips give such a. thrill. I know this must be true also of one’s first trip into Rural England if it happens on a perfect day in une and covers such places of interest and beauty as arranged for us by Essex County Institutes. Some twenty countries were repre- sented in the two buses which left London for the week-end. We drove first through the busy streets to Woodford reen and to Eppin For- est, an old ro al preserve t rown open to Ithe pubic by Queen Victoria and now a playground for North Lon- doners: then in and out throu h nar- row winding English lanes, is rough picturesque villages with quaint thatched cottages, pretty gardens, and pubs with such amusing names as “The Angel and Harp", "Fighting Cocks", “Jovial Sailor”. Hedges and roses were everywhere. Even where most humblc houses crowded the street, some flowers flounted their gay bloom and seemed to say, “I will grow and be beautiful even in this narrow space". Haw- thorne trees, white and rose, welcom- ed us along the way; huge ancient chestnut trees with gorgeous pink blossoms vied with laburnuni in beauty. Historical old buildings and churches. standing now a testa< ment to the workmanship and crafts- manship of men who lived hundreds 0; years ago, beckoned us to explore t em. We passed through the village of Bishop Siort‘ford where Cecil .Rhodes was born and on to Stansted and Ugley Where Institute women wel- comed us and gave us cofiee. What friendliness and hospitality was ex- tended to us here and later at Finch- ingfield and Langley. Oxford House and gardens, the estate of Mr. Ten- nant adjoining the Institute Hall, were open to us. The red brick house, originally a small post house belong- ing to King James I, was very lovely with beautiful old furniture, pictures, and cheery fireplaces. Rural Housing Scheme Already we were regretting the un- attractive modern houses creeping into Rural England and how happy we were when we arrived at Fincliingficld to see something of their Rural Housin§ Scheme. New cottages had been uilt, with mpd- ern conveniences, but preserVing the quaint English style in architec- ture. Cottage owners proudly showed us through their clean, attractive homes, with a garden spot for flowers and vegetables. Equally interesting were some of the rehabilitated cot- tacos, fresh with clean plaster, level- led floors and improved heating facili- ties. Even in June. tucked away in an accessible chest, were the gas masks for every member of the family. Blue and white signs on houses along the wav indicated the Air \Vnrdens’ head- quarters. All too soon we had to say good-love to Finchingfield, but I still can see from the bus on the bill the village green. the unobtrusive shops, 4 HOME AND COUNTRY . firsâ€"fl Delightful Entertainment for A. C. W. W. Delegates vine-covered and flower gardens. Finall we arrived at the Federa- tion of Essex Women’s Institute Folk Dance Festival at Langleys. Essex County Institute members gave us tea and directed us to such outstanding features of the Festival rogramme as the famous Morris ancers by Thaxted Morris men, and the play, “The Shoemaker’s Holiday". What a gala festival it was, out_ in the open with terraced lawn leading down to a huge expanse of green. Merrie England dancers in pictur~ esque garb, children in fairy tale frocks and players in Elizabethan costumes mingled with Essex County people and country women from many countries. What fun it Was to meet by chance Major and Mrs. Luard, cousins of Luards in my own home township. Our hostess, Mrs. Bull, of “The General Orchard" Little Baddou. located Miss Ingrid Osvald, Superin- tendent of the Swedish farmahouse management schools, and me, and soon we were passing through the holly-arched entrance of “The Gen- eral’s Orchard". Sunday began with a truly English walk through wood< land glen and country lanes, followed by a visit to a neighbouring farm house, a drive to a famous old Abbey, and tea with new acquaintances, the Luards. Refreshed, happy and in love with Rural England, we re- turned to London. Later, I enjoyed the Highlands of Bonnie Scotland with a truly Scotch host and hostess, on a farm, "Auc- hendune". near Culloden Moor. Here Campbell: are Campbells and McNabs are McNabs with tartan kilt and pride in old clan warfare. I Went to Dublin and Cork for real Irish hospitality and Irish smiles and tears. The Irish Country Women’s Association arranged entertainment and tours to places of interest in and about Dublin, while our hostess near Cork excelled in a real Irish way in giving a New Zealand delegate and myself a pleasant time. We attended a special regional meeting, with pro- gramme portraying some of their activities. Rural Hospitality. At the conclusion of the Confer~ ence, private homes throughout the land were open to us, and County Federations arranged special region- al, county and branch programmes. Regional Meetings Attended Cambridgeshire, Isle of Ely and Huntingdonshire Federations receiv- ed us at Ely where we visited Ely Cathedral, founded in 673 by the Lady Ethelreda, daughter of the King of the East Anglians, and wife of Ecg» frid, King of Northumbria. The Bishop of Ely challenged the women to be courageous, patient and respon- sible, and when building the nations’ homes to make family life strong and free He predicted that World Peace will come only when nations know each other and learn to respect and love each other as people. He consid ered the country women's internat- ional organization a tremendous force in buil ing for \Vorld Peace and urged them to greater effort and achievement. On the green in front of the Bisâ€" hop’s Palace in a beautiful and his- toric setting, the ladies of Ely Insti- tute portrayed in pageant some scenes from the life of Ethelrede. It was so stately and dignified, so realistic with historic costumes and suitable set- ting, that we found ourselves visual- izing the Isle of Ely with its first monastery, and Abbess Ethelreda. Back to Cambridge, the great University City of twenty-four Col- loses, the next day to attend Cani- bridgeshire Women’s Institute Coun- cil meeting which corresponds in many respects to our district annual. Here, as elsewhere, one mm'velled at the efficiency and precision of busiâ€" ness procedures and adherence to programme schedule. When ten min- was allotted to a report or address, everyone kept within the time limit, (Continued next col.) cottages Winter, 1939,1940 Reading Holds the Interest of Institute Members Ontario Institute reports to the Department (during 1937.33) Show that:â€" 31 Institutes in 13 counties own their own libraries. t'tutes own a lending library, . 10:11 IItrlisstlitutes uscd the travelling library'servrc‘e. 40 Institutes in 20 counties gave financial assistance to local lunar,“ I titutes urchosed books for libraries. 18?) Idztitutes Ideported a circulating library ' . 147 Institutes reported that there is no circulating library ' d the travelling library _is not used. ~ muniii’iri; Institutes have sent no information concermn These reports make us realize that the Institutes in the immediate community in the can, library Service. ave Just made a be. ' ' ‘ the use of library faci ties. There is much still to be done. glmg‘lfiaulnatitute News of Manitoba in August, 1938, gave the following excellent suggestions: “Reserve the whole of at least one Institute meeting a year for tho can. sideration of a good book, e.g.. Madam Curie, The House of E xile, Beyond sin t W ds and others. Have the book reviewed by a member or non-mam}, shreiianodr woman, whoever is best able to make the book a Vital experience {an}; the members. Ask that bits be read aloud, either by the person reviewing it or someone else as the book is reviewed. "Instead of reserving one _meeting, a book might be reviewed Chapter by chapter, reserving 10 or 15 minutes of each meeting for the review and to, reading aloud. “If a member knows and Inves poetry and reads well, why not ask her t, read a poem at each meeting and to tell, when she can, what moved the mum, to write it. “Foster among three or four or eight people with inclination [invafds reading “a reading group". Such important thin a group might read to ether and .1 chapter by chapter, such a book as "Madame Currie", or n pl 1 oud' is to get people beyond Just talkin ay or poem. about books to rwzidi'ri; them. I remem er hearing, on my visit to the Scan inavian countries, \ m, 0 men from the farms and rests of Sweden, with limited education, minding together lays by Strindberg and Ibsen. They represented characters hm}, as they rea , unconsciously became the people they represented. It was ill] very simple and alive and real. “Work toward a community gathering once a year that will brim: the people both young and old together to consider "books in the life of the people". The program for such a meeting can be worked out in mam ways and may include a book review, reading aloud and talks on books and 7.1.0 de- velopment of libraries." One of the big problems is to make books available at reasonable r it in rural districts where there is no library service. The facilities of the ’1‘: Mel- ling Library Service are outlined in The Handbook, pp. 28-29. The Institute might. have a book exchange. Members could bring . l the meeting one or more books which they have read to exchange with : hers. 0r, each member might buy one book during the year to exchange with i ‘he The Women’s Institutes in Beeton in Simcoe County aided the libr an interesting way by holding a book tea. Tables were arranged to 1‘ sent periods and authors, both old and modern. The menu was planned lo re: present a list of books by the various authors. a new book as the award. We shall be glad to hear how you sup A competition was held with port reading in your Ins lute. Please send the information to The Superintendent of Women’s Inst 'utes, Parliament Buildings, Toronto. \â€" and how I quaked on various occa- sions for fear I might infringe on this commendable rule The businessâ€"like presentation and discussion of their 1939 budget was most interesting. They urged bran< ches to draft a budget and to be cautious and wise in their financial obligations, donations and undertak» ings. “Institute Branches are not money-making organizations” recalled a similar statement I have heard re- peated often in Ontario. Committee chairmen reported that 5,000 children had been reached through health and social welfare activities, rural lious» lng projects had been undertaken, litter baskets had been placed where necessary in an effort to keep the countryside neat and tidy (counâ€" cils had financed the clearinpr of these baskets), schools had been conducted for leaders and judges in home-crafts, agricultural produce, music and drama and free nutrition and gardening lectures had been available. After listenincr to their discussion on the feasibility of organizing a Produce Guild and making inquiries regarding their Guild of Learners of Home Crafts, I realized these Learn- er‘s Guilds parallel in some respects the educational programme available to Ontario women through the coâ€" operative programme. The Produce Guild, for instance. helps members to become proficient in the subjects in which they are interested by the ar- rangement of conferences, classes. schoolsntests and by giving practical instruction and technical advice. In order to receive the privileges of the Gmld. members pay a membership fee of one shilling. Institute Visited Early in the afternoon I returned to an Orwell Institute meeting in Mrs. King's garden. a representative from the Wwion Voluntary Services for Civil l" explain various fields of wm work in civil defense. She cluded with, vision the people teen workers, cyclists and mos- senxzers, creche workers, dom ic workers, respiration assemblers, ele- phonists and volunteers for dot“ in connection with the care and wter- tninment of billetted children are some of the occupations cited. ii’llS. in June, was only one more evi-‘vnrc of preparation for war and the num- ber of busy members alreaili lyn- rolled was an indication of the NW ingncss, calmness and intelli‘ we with which English women to i to the call to service. This Inst HIKL‘ had been reviving folk dances in the school and the children mwvil)‘ danced the May Pole Dances an ill" green during the programme A Profound Experience From the very first day to the Hm] service at Canterbury, and the lflfii bit of hospitality, it was a most 1‘1’0' founrl and enriching experlel listening to addresses, partic in discussions, chatting over a ten HIV at the Italian Embassy, dancin': 3' an Irish Ceilihe (party), enjoy-m2 3 reception at Mrs. Chamberlain’s lv-mi'v No. 10 Downing Street and visdinc rural homes. Everywhere one 1"“ the significance, possibilities and "V" Portance of the organizations TEN?" sented by these delegates. While “'4' may speak different languages. “PM difierent type of clothing, live on 3 large or small farm in the North ar South hemisphere, our fundamental interests and needs are the same F“? world over. Yes, we are all worka for better homes, healthier children. happier home life, and thrumghwt the world, Peace. There 1 Mord y r lim- "Where there v nu perish". “zin-