Subiaco Skits...(1922).
So what were ordinary women and children's lives like in the suburbs of Perth and country towns around Western Australia over a hundred years ago ?
Details of those lives can be found in the social pages of the local newspapers like The Mirror. From 1922 to 1924 The Mirror wrote and published a section that contained a collection of snippets of gossip and local happenings from the suburbs in and around Perth for example, 'Belmont Babble', 'Maylands Moans', 'Queen's Park Quacks", 'Leederville Lingo' and 'Subiaco Skits'. They also included country towns in Western Australia.
The snippets of gossip and local happenings from Subiaco, 'Subiaco Skits' by 'The Bad Boy of the Village' provide a wonderful insight into the public and private world of women and children in 1922. Women were single, got married, had families, went on vacations and grew old. Women had many interests like shopping, were talented musicians and performers, keen gardeners and interested in groups like the Women's Service Guild. Women also ran businesses like millinery and a high school for juveniles at a motor garage. The role of women in the home were also clearly defined. They were expected to cook their husband's meals and discipline their children.
Of particular interest was that women over a hundred years ago wanted to play football. "Some of the local girleen are anxious to start a female football team. "They do it over East, why not here." chortled one fair maiden. We think it a good idea. If hockey can prosper as a girls' game, why not footy ? There would be a good captain in, say E - I?" (The Mirror, 1 July 1922).
The articles are from Trove, the database at the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Mrs. Percy Pickering has a welcome visitor from Collie in the person of Mrs. Hicks. Mrs P. is preparing a wardrobe in readiness for an expected trip with her husband over East in June (The Mirror, 29 April 1922).
Citizens of Subiaco were please to hear lately of the nuptial know of Miss Gladys Martin, of Heytesbury-road, to Mr. Cecil Banks, now bank manager at Mingenew, but recently of Melbourne. A pleasant honeymoon was spent down Sou'-West (The Mirror, 29 April 1922).
A promising pupil of Madame Berry shows great aptitude for the pianoforte. Little Dorothy Wenban is her name. With only four years' tuition, she can tickle the ivories as if she had studied double the time. Dorothy has only passed into the adolescent age, but in few years great things will be expected of her (The Mirror, 29 April 1922).
Conductor Jacoby is away holidaying-a well deserved rest. Mrs. Bagshaw has taken his place at the piano (The Mirror, 6 May 1922).
"Perils of thunder Mountain" shown at West's is a wonderful treat for the kiddies. It is just as well the pictures are silent and not of the "talkies" species, for it so we would not be able to hear them for the thunderous waves of emotion expressed by the enthusiastic juvenile audience (The Mirror, 6 May 1922).
The fair girl was very wild being left out of the theatre party, but says she will get even (The Mirror, 13 May 1922).
The local elite were in the crush at Ahern's last Monday, and hubby was home cooking his own dinner (The Mirror, 20 May 1922).
Mrs. Hamilton and family, of Thomas-street, have moved their quarters to Cottesloe (the Mirror, 27 May 1922).
Mrs. Farmer, the Doctor's wife, is a keen horticulturalist and can often be seen clapping her hands rapturously over some new flower or plant she has introduced into garden (The Mirror, 27 May 1922).
We had an orchestral treat during the week at the King's Hall. Mrs. Foote's Leederville Town Orchestra gave the renditions. What about resurrecting our own orchestra. Now then musicians (The Mirror, 27 May 1922).
Who has seen Miss Rita Brehant at the piano? She's some star at the Virtuoso tricks (The Mirror, 3 June 1922).
Who was your girl on Tuesday night, Mac? The fairhaired one, we mean. All the boys were jealous (The Mirror, 3 June 1922).
Doris Melville announce have her classes held in King's Hall (The Mirror, 3 June 1922).
The fair girl previously mentioned in these columns has the most winning smile one could wish for. But she doesn't vamp (The Mirror, 3 June 1922).
Roast beef for six. Now Ladies here's your chance. A butcher in Nicholson-road is giving six chances a week to win a sirloin of roast (The Mirror, 3 June 1922).
Mrs. Allen, of Heytesbury-road, has returned from Gooseberry Hill after spending a delightful vacation (The Mirror, 17 June 1922).
Miss Nellie Godfrey was tendered last week a wonderful 21st birthday party. Great "high jinks" were in progress during the festival and all participants were made happy (The Mirror, 17 June 1922).
Last Wednesday afternoon at the King's Hall a bright programme afforded a pleasurable afternoon to those interested in the Women's Service Guild (The Mirror, 17 June 1922).
Some of the local girleen are anxious to start a female football team. "They do it over East, why not here." chortled one fair maiden. We think it a good idea. If hockey can prosper as a girls' game, why not footy ? There would be a good captain in, say E - I? (The Mirror, 1 July 1922).
The Women's Service Guild held an enjoyable evening on Thursday last, and more members were enrolled (The Mirror, 29 July 1922).
Miss Nellie Godfrey and her mother are spending six weeks in Cottesloe at the home of Mrs. S. Thomas, who is at present in York (The Mirror, 29 July 1922).
Over the back yard fences the scandal mongers were well in their element during the week discussing the recent married woman tragedy (The Mirror, 29 July 1922).
Mrs. Holland (nee Des Farrow) recently tied in the nuptial knot, is living out Vic. Park way. Docky finds it very unpleasant being left alone when her hubby departs for business. But absence makes the heart grow fonder, Doc (The Mirror, 29 July 1922).
The smiling girleen who toils at a leading drapers in the city and twangs on the mandolin as a diversion, can often be seen boarding the tram in Hay-street, and a sweet smile plays always on her lips. But mind bhoys, she declares herse-- a hater of men (The Mirror, 5 August 1922).
The Cottesloe girls and Boomergangs boomed big during the week. Come again (The Mirror, 7 October, 1922).
Queenie Petrie has sold up shop and has become nuptial knotted. Congratulations for our little milliner (The Mirror, 7 October 1922). 
Mrs. Bagshaw, of pianistic fame, has had to vacate her residential quarters at the corner of Nicholson and Rokeby-roads owing to the selling of the house. Mrs. Bagshaw has been an occupant of this residence for over 18 years. No wonder the tears of regret at leaving (The Mirror, 7 October 1922).
The High School for juveniles has vacated the motor garage and taken up more prepossessing quarters at the corner of Rokeby and Nicholson roads. Mrs. Young, who has the administration of this Seminary, is the right party for the job, and we wish her success in her new enterprise (The Mirror, 14 October 1922).
Lexie Burns is having a great run as songstress at Fremantle, Miss Burns is the happy possessor of a rich, deep contralto, and has created quite a stir in musical circles since her return from Melba's Conservatorium, Melbourne, where she obtained her training (The Mirror, 14 October 1922).
Will Sheehan has been presented with a bonny baby girl. Congrats to those concerned (The Mirror, 11 November 1922).
Mrs. Jacoby, of Thomas-street, is a keen horticulturist, and loves to nurture her lovely blooms (The Mirror, 11 November 1922).
Mrs. Holland (nee Miss Hope) says that the married state will always do her. Take note, those intending to enter the arena (The Mirror, 11 November 1922).
The dear old lady residing in Churchill Avenue has go bystander puzzled in the wayy she appears so young in her old age. "Don't worry. is her slogan" (The Mirror, 11 November 1922).
The children's ball held in the drill hall recently drew a packed house. The kiddies enjoyed themselves immensely, especially when the bags of cakes and raspberry vinegar came on the programme. The impressive figure of Barber Fogarty was in attendance and officiated as M.C. Our Parents and Teachers Association were rewarded for their efforts in witnessing such as happy gathering (The Mirror, 11 November 1922).
A fashionable lady near the Park was terrified during the period when the lunatic escaped from the Asylum. She though he was rummaging around the back one day, but it turned out to be only the bottle-o (The Mirror, 18 November 1922).
The conglomeration of youths around the street corner is always an eyesore, but we see that some of our flapperleens are starting the congregating stunt. Their mothers should take 'em home and spank 'em hard (The Mirror, 18 November 1922).
The girls whom Phil called children on Monday night ought to be ashamed of themselves. Next time a thing like this happens we will mention names (The Mirror, 2 December 1922).
The 25 th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Weston took place on Monday last at the King's Hall, and happy gathering enjoyed themselves tree bon. Noticed among the guests was Col. Battye. A feature of the evening was the musical programme which was delightfully rendered (The Mirror, 16 December 1922).
Our late Mayor poked his beak into a women's meeting one night last and he quickly withdrew as if it had been a beehive. Mr. R -- knows when to quit (The Mirror, 16 December 1922).
"Widows are wonderful," but, ah ! she comes for Nedlands, and we are encroaching other people's news. But Sooby sees her a lot! Now down. Ha ! but no, we'll wait for something spicy (The Mirror, 16 December 1922).
Little girl at W--'s, you're far too young to be giving the gladsome (The Mirror, 30 December 1922).
The Misses C---- have many male admirers. Now just who are they ? (The Mirror, 30 December 1922).
The young lady 'cellist at the Shenton's Pictures is too interested in her music to be giving attention to the musings of the bhoys ! (The Mirror, 30 December 1922).
The amiable lady at the Coliseum has a smile for everyone: even the wicked flappers that haunt that part (The Mirror, 30 December 1922).
Miss Lexit Burns' talents are quite in demand nowadays. Shows that her Conservatorium schooling was not in vain (The Mirror, 30 December 1922).
What lovely duet singers Betty and Bonnie would make, with an appropriate song in "We've got a long way to go." (The Mirror, 30 December 1922).
