Mother portrayed as Goddess of Wisdom in 1900 advertisement for some healthy baby food. If British, this baby would grow up likely to die in WWI. A mother’s job is to raise good citizens, unless they are needed for other things.
When looking up info on the 1908 Olympics in the Montreal Gazette, I found another intersting headline: A War in Europe would be a Bloodbath.
In this instance, the word ‘bloodbath’ is a bit of an understatment. Blood Tsunami better describes what followed in 1914 to 1918.
Here’s an interesting newspaper clipping I found in the Nicholson collection. It is likely from the Montreal Witness.
How this War Concerns Canada
It is said that the native-born Canadian is not volunteering readily for overseas service. Neither the French Canadians nor the English Canadians are coming forward in anything like the proportion which is represented by the tide of volunteers in the Old Country.
Some, with narrow vision, are inclined to say: “Oh this is England’s battle. Canada is not concerned.”
It is very apparent that such do not understand the situation. There is very good reason to believe that Canadians in France are fighting Canada’s battle.
They have gone to fight the enemy where the enemy is.
It has been stated upon authority that Germany’s great aim in this war is to possess Canada, the greatest country in the world for colonialization purposes. The British navy is all that lies in the way of direct German attack on these shores, teh capture of Halifax, St. John, Quebec, Montreal and a serious attempt to subjugate the country.
The men of Canada who talk of this being only England’s battle should ponder these things.
The soldiers of Canada who are going forth form these shores to fight the enemy in Flanders are just as surely defending their Canadian homes from German attack as they would be if they were volunteering only upon the sound of guns on the St. Lawrence.
The invitation is to every man of good health, of military age, who loves his country.
…..Well, then they put in a draft. Very controversial. But it was easy to get around the draft in Canada.
The letters of http://www.tighsolas.ca/ discuss the war of course. Dr. Moffatt, in BC writes to to Norman that the Britishers are indeed signing up for service, but he feels it is only to get a free ride home. There’s a kind of depression going on there in 1915. Marion writes about how angry her mother-in-law is over the coming draft. “She acts as if she is the only one with sons to lose.”
