8ditorial In her address at the Girl's Conference [or 4H Homemaking Club Members at the Uni- versity of Guelph, Dr. Ethel Chapman said, "Lile can be a many splendoured thing." I One very pleasant experience that is part of the work of the Editor of Home and Country is attending the Girls‘ Conference. Your Editor has this privilege so that she can report the activities of the Conference to the members of the \Vomen's Institutes and to record for the girls themselves some of the activities of the Conference. The members of the Women‘s Institutes have a stake in the Conference since 50 many of them are leaders of the Clubs. So the personal development of the girls lies to a larger extent than they may imagine in their hands. It has been said that the sponsoring and leadership given by the branches to 4H Homemaking Clubs is one of the most important things that the organi- zation has ever done. Certainly it would be an activity dear to the heart of Adelaide Hoodlcss. In these days when we hear so much about young people rejecting their home back- grounds, experimenting with drugs and sex, and discarding the rules of established behaviour and institutions, it is a refreshing and heartening experience to 35506.1(“: with and listen tn young women who recognize that they have problems but who are conscientiously seeking answers among the multitude of choices and masses of propaganda presented to them. The girls at this Conference and at previous Conferences that l have attended, were splendid young people. They were well dressed and well groomed (a result, perhaps, that can be attributed to their Club work). They were courteous and well behaved They were gay in the games, and music, and in between sessions, but they were serious and questioning when earnest speakers were presmting them with thought provoking ideas. The discussions indicated that they were seeking honest answers. Their questions reflected the fact that they were considering, questioning, accepting and rejecting patterns of behaviour to make their lives a. thing of value.’ Using her marvellous understanding of the problems of young people today Dr. Chapman suggested some interesting guide lines for the girls. From the way the girls Clustered around her after her address it could be deduced that these girls found in her a quality compounded of experience and wisdom on which they could rely. She had not minced words but told them frankly that although they had tobany had the privilege of good homes, access to educa- tional opportunities and other a vantages, they were now at an age where they must choose for themselves the pattern of their future lives. This pattern would include careers, behaviour, friendships and their lives as wives and mothers. Although only two hundred girls were at the Conference. it was an exciting thought that these girls represented over 15,000 girls in 4H Homemaking Club work. Sometimes it must be a difficult decision too, to decide who should go In the Conference from among the many girls who are eligible. We could then safely assume that most of the girls at home were as admirable as those attending the Conference. 50 despite the antics of some noisy, publicity seeking youth, who flaunt their independence. free thinking and weird clothes, obstreperous and objectionable behaviour. the ma ority of young people are deeply concerned abOut making their lives, “a many splendour thing." my. FALL 'I 969