The Clever Competition (1919). Part Two.
This blog post is a continuation of the previous blog post "The Clever Competition (1919) Part One about the essays of children published in the children's corner called 'Childland' in the W.A. Family Sphere newspaper. The newspaper was published from 1919 to 1920.
The essay competition titled "The "Clever" Competition" asked the question "Are boys cleverer than girls, or are girls cleverer than boys?" The winning essays were published on the previous post. These essays did not win but were awarded consolation prizes and published.
Although the newspaper was published a year after the World War One finished they provide a wonderful insight into changes in the roles of women such as this one from Arthur Mell...
"...The boys may become such as engineers, statesmen, and lawyers, while the girls do not fill such places, but while the war has been on the girls in England have taken the soldiers' positions, and have proved themselves clever; it shows that girls can do it. Girls are now trained to be doctors and lawyers. In some cases the money for training cannot be afforded so in many naming are unable to be what they wish.
The boys are also clever and good, but in both cases for girls and boys alike, unless they can afford to wait for years to be what they want must do something else because of the returning soldiers..."(Arthur Mell...age and addresss unknown).
The articles are from Trove, the national database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement.
W.A. Family Sphere, 5 September 1919.
The "Clever" Competition.
Special Prizes.
"Here are some of the interesting entries:—
From Dudley Myers, 49 Aberdeen-street, Perth: —
"Are boys cleverer than girls, or are girls cleverer than boys? What answer do I give to the above question? Why, boys ! For I think that God has gifted them with more intellect than girls, because on the average the boys (when they reach maturity) have to be the breadwinners.
Let us take, for instance, the case of James Watt. Even in his tender years he saw the necessity of making ships independent of the tides. His aunt would bully him gently for sitting wasting his time watching the steam puff out of the kettle lid. "You lazy boy, James Watt," she would say, "have you nothing better to do than sit for hours looking at that kettle?" But James Watt was fighting the moon (the moon influences tides), and winning, for ten years later he brought steam power into the modern world.
Regarding the self same question, some people say: 'There's much to be said on both sides (quoted by Sir Roger de Coverly at the Assizes), but I do not, for I think that boys are the cleverest.
If you are not convinced take another instance — that of Edison, the world-famous inventor (gramophones, etc.). In his youth he gained his liveliliood by selling papers. He must have had a gigantic brain then, for look what it has developed into now, probably the largest inventive power in the world." P.S. — My reference to Sir Roger de Coverly is from the Autobiography, by Addison, in the London "Sphere."
From Barbare Ritchie, 114 Broome-street, Cottesloe :
"Which are the more clever, boys or girls?". In my opinion it is a difficult task to decide which are the more clever, girls or boys, for on both sides there has been great mental power and intelligence shown.
Boys, comparatively speaking, are born to rule the world's affairs, and girls to rule the household. However, there have been exceptions, and clever girls have grown up to be renowned women, as well as boys to be great men. So, Tiggie, my opinion is that, in their own way, girls are just as clever as boys."
From Hazel Campbell, age 10 years 3 months, of "Canberra," 71 Grant-street Cottesloe :
"Are boys cleverer and better than girls, or are girls cleverer and better than boys? Tom and Mavis were twins, and they lived with their mother and father, in a house in Mount Lawley, which over looked the Swan River. The children often played on its banks. Their mother and father loved them both dearly, for they were the only children they had.
One day the twins came running home from school, as they were both very anxious and excited to tell their mother what their teacher had asked them. Mavis reached her mother first, and kissed her and then exclaimed: "Oh! mother, teacher asked us which did we think were the cleverer, girls or boys?" Before mother had time to answer Tom said, 'Boys are, of course.' Their mother said she would see, so she took them into the garden at the side of the house, and gave them each a small piece of ground, and said she would experiment and see which were the cleverer, boys or girls. She told them to go into the summer house and get an equal number of seeds to plant in each of their little plots of ground, and in a month's time she would see which plot of ground had the strongest and best plants.
Then she said that Mavis could have the cat which they called 'Smut,' and that Tom could have 'Rover,' the dog. She said she would then see which one was the kindest to dumb animals. She said as their grand ma was getting very old she would like someone to wind her wool and read to her. Then, for the last thing, she said that she would see who kept their bed room the tidiest. Their mother and father were always watching them, but they did not know it.
When the month was up their mother and father went and had a look at the plots of ground. They found that Mavis' plot had not been dug up enough, and that it had not had sufficient water, though Tom's was not perfect, and that Mavis did not always feed 'Smut,' because she liked 'Rover' the best, and Tom had not wound up grandma's wool or read to her for he liked playing with 'Rover' And friend, Albert. But they found that Mavis bedroom was the tidiest, for "Tom, "when he took any thing out of his wardrobe, he threw them back anyhow, instead of putting them where he found them.
Their mother and father were greatly puzzled, for they could not choose which were the clever, so they decided in their opinion that boys are as clever as girls, and girls are as clever as boys."
From Arthur Mell:
"I think that it is wiser not to say that the girls are better and cleverer than the boys, or the bovs are better and cleverer than the girls, because wherever you go you nearly always find both clever and good boys and girls. The child may not be both clever and good. For boys there are many more offices than for the girls.
The boys may become such as engineers, statesmen, and lawyers, while the girls do not fill such places, but while the war has been on the girls in England have taken the soldiers' positions, and have proved themselves clever; it shows that girls can do it. Girls are now trained to be doctors and lawyers. In some cases the money for training cannot be afforded so in many naming. are unable to be what they wish.
The boys are also clever and good, but in both cases for girls and boys alike, unless they can afford to wait for years to be what they want must do something else because of the returning soldiers."
From Phoebe Groom, age 9 years 11 months, of Railway-street, Osborne:
"Down by a shady stream lived two children, who were twins, aged ten, called Betty and Billy. They ran past their Grandmamma to wash their hands at the stream, that ran close by, for they were going to have dinner of sandwiches, fancy cakes, and pies.
They were running merrily along, and when they reached their grandma they were surprised to see the look of concern in their grandma's face. 'Explain to us, granny, dear,' exclaimed they both at once, 'has a telegram come that was depressing?' 'No, dears, I have had a message to say that your teacher was exceedingly sorry that you did not come to-day, for there came a letter from the editor of 'Childland Times' to say that he is giving a prize for the best essay on : Are boys cleverer than girls, or are girls cleverer than boys?
I want you to try for the prize, and you can try some experiments, and we will start homewards now and start immediately. First of all, you had better see who can keep poultry the best.' They both had four fowls and four ducks for a for night, but Betty neglected hers, while Billy looked after them and cared for them.
The next one was who could look after the animals and care for them. Betty had 'Rover' the Collie dog, and Billy had 'Nugget,' the cat; but Billie liked 'Rover' best and didn't mind 'Nugget,' and so Betty won that time. The next was who could clean father's boots the best for a week, but Betty was not at all clever at this, and every second morning there wasn't a very nice shine on father's boots, so that Billy won that time.
The next was who could look after mother, who had recently got better, for she had been very ill. Now, Betty was very fond of her mother, not to say that Billy wasn't fond of his mother ; but Betty knew better how to be a nurse than Billy, so Betty won in that one. So that grandma said one was as good as the other, and I think so too."
From Gwen Higgs, age 11 years 9 months, of Brassey-street, Osborne:
"My opinion is that girls and boys are similar. A woman sat on the verandah of a house watching the birds flit to and fro in the tall gum trees that grew around her home. She was thinking how delightful the bush was in spring. Her thoughts were aroused after a few moments, for there was the patter of feet on the garden path, and her twins, Madge and Rats came on the verandah. They were ten years of age, but were not at all alike.
Madge was tall and dark, while Rats (of course, that was only his nickname) was, on the other hand, plump and fair. Madge ran along the verandah to where her mother was sitting. 'Oh ! mumsey,' she ex claimed, 'teacher asked us to-day if girls were cleverer and better than boys, or boys cleverer and better than girls? Of course I took the girls' part, and Rats the boys' part.' Her mother was thoughtful for a while, then she said 'We will have some experiments.'
First she said we will see who keeps their ponies in order; secondly, who keeps their books in order and the tidiest and who does the neatest homework ; thirdly, if Madge- keeps her canaries' cage clean, and Rats keeps his rabbit hutch clean ; lastly, who keeps their room the tidiest. These experiments shall all last for a month, and at the end of that month your father and I shall choose.
For the first Rats scored on keeping his pony the tidiest, for Madge's favorite pet was a large Collie dog named 'Rover.' Then the next time Madge scored for the books and homework. Rats, after he had read his books, left them on the table, and as for his homework, Why ! there were blots and smudges in plenty.
The next time Rats scored again, for Madge often forgot to clean her birds' cage. And the last time Madge scored for Rats just 'slung' his clothes into his wardrobe and never cared whether his drawer was tidy or not."
From Rose Hoare, age 10 years 2 months:
"One sunny day in summer a lady sat on the verandah of a large house, situated on a hill overlooking the sea. The garden was gay with roses, jonquils, snowdrops, fresias, and other beautiful flowers. She was thinking deeply, but suddenly her meditations were interrupted by the shouts and laughter of the merry twins, whose names were Philip and Phyllis. Phyllis ran up the steps, and exclaimed: 'Oh! mother, what do you think?
Teacher asked us this morning: Are girls cleverer and better than boys, or boys cleverer and better than girls?' 'Suppose we have some experiments,' said Mrs. O'Connor, 'and try to find out about it.' Their mother was pleased with the delighted exclamations of the twins. 'Then we will start directly,' said their mother. 'First we will see who is the best gardener.
Secondly, we will see who can save the most money for the Orphans' Home. Thirdly, we will see who can be the kindest to animals or birds. Down in the shed, Philip, are some rabbits, Snowy and Darky, and you , Phyllis, can look after Polly, the parrot ; and, last of all, we will see who can afford to give up their own pleasures to help grandma.'
After a month had passed the children were called in from the garden by nurse, who informed them that, they were urgently wanted by Mrs. O'Connor. They were told to bring a lettuce from their garden. Phillip's was the biggest, and Mrs. O'Connor discovered that Philip's garden was more tidy, the plants upright, and in straight rows. Phyllis' was not. So Philip scored in that, one. They were equal in saving money, both had 8s. 6d. Philip was more frequently observed feeding his rabbits, so he won again. In the last one Phyllis scored.
Women have proved themselves equal to men in making ammunition, being tram conductors, women police, motor drivers, and aeroplane aviators. It is women that have helped to win this war. They have raised subscriptions for trench comforts, knitted socks, scarfs, and mittens, to give warmth to our soldiers.Some of our men have been soldiers, sailors and aeroplane aviators, and have performed many glorious deeds.
From this little story you will perceive that girls and boys are equally good and clever, in my opinion, only both are cut out for different spheres of life."
From Jack Castledine, of William-street. :
"I am writing an essay on : Are boys cleverer and better than girls, or are girls cleverer and better than boys ? It is not very long, but I hope it will do. My opinion is that girls are as clever as boys, and boys as clever as girls.
In school subjects girls are better than boys in reading, writing, spelling, and poetry. They are both as good as one another in drawing and games; girls are better in tidy books. In some subjects boys are the cleverer such as his tory, mental arithmetic, geography, and gardening.
Working at home girls are better at helping mother wash up, iron, minding baby, and sweeping the floor, while the boys are better at chopping the wood, making the fire, going messages, keeping the yard clean and mowing the lawn. Boys are best at playing some games, such as football, marbles, and making kites; girls are best at basket ball, tennis, hockey, croquet, hop scotch, and skipping." 
