"THE LATE MRS. NASSAU SENIOR'S WORK."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") SIR,—I beg the favour of a small space to say a few words in reference to the Society mentioned in your article of last week, on "The late Mrs. Nassau Senior's Work." Some of your readers may be now anxious to assist in giving effect to that part of Mrs. Senior's plans which, even under present circumstances, it is pos- sible to carry out, and I am able to place before them a favourable opportunity for doing so at the present moment.
A very advantageous offer has been made to the Committee of a house every way suited for a Central Home, the only difficulty in taking it being that although donations towards the current expenses of the work have been most liberal from several private sources, the public support of the Society by annual subscriptions does not at present justify the Committee in pledging itself to a large annual responsibility. On the other hand, the fact that through the efforts of this Society not one of several hundred young girls can now fall into trouble without coming under the notice of the Committee renders a further step almost necessary. The evil consequences of many of the faults of these poor girls can only be met by the influences of a Home such as it is proposed to establish, where they may, in case of neces- sity, be received for longer or shorter periods, and whence they may be placed again in service with better hope of their doing well. On this subject, I will only add that if the house now offered for this purpose can be taken, and the Home adequately supported, the objects for which this Society was originally formed will be in large measure "furthered."
One word in justice to the schools. Much more is done by most of the schools to keep a hold over the girls placed in service than would appear from the bare regulations referred to in your article, and it ought also to be stated that through the continued
interest felt in the girls by the officials, and the watchfulness which is exercised, the Society has been enabled to help many girls whose circumstances might not otherwise have come to the- knowledge of the Committee.—I am, Sir, &C.,
SARAH W. STEPHEN.
7 Great College Street, Westminster, April 10.
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