CHILDREN AND THEIR DINNERS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—My attention has just been called to the letter of your correspondent " J. G. F.," in last week's issue, in which it seems that those of us who are engaged in the work of supplying free dinners to some of the poorest Board-School children are given very little credit for any judgment in the matter. I think it is right that your readers should know that this movement has not been commenced without all "definite and right principles," as is suggested by this writer. It is unfortunately too true, as stated, that "there is nothing exceptional in the condition of Lisson Grove, or in the prospect of the coming winter ;" but is not this the best of reasons why some effort should be made to remedy an evil which is admitted to be general and chronic ? Exception also appears to be taken to our dealing with this question otherwise than by a fully comprehensive scheme, in- cluding all elementary public schools in every district. Nothing would give us more pleasure than to see the " giving of gra- tuitous meals" to children on this "large scale." We await only the growth of public opinion, to make our operations all- embracing ; but, meanwhile, should it not rather be some con- solation to your alarmed correspondent that what he designates our " somewhat perilous experiment" is at present on a limited scale.
In commencing this movement, let me also state, we were anxious, though it was a work entirely outside its functions, to have the approval of the School Board ; and on our plans being laid before the members of the Board for our district, in the informal way which was alone possible, we received, in two cases at least, the. most hearty encouragement. The distribution of the tickets for thedinners, I am happy to state, is based on the "very full and accurate knowledge of the circumstances of the parents," that your correspondent was anxious should not be wanting. This is gained, not from the hard-worked masters— who, however, most kindly assist us in distributing the passes to the table, and in giving us the benefit of their advice—but from personal visitation of the homes of the children by ladies of our committee, who investigate the cases individually, and decide res; acting their degrees of necessity. Much valu-
able information is also afforded by the zealous CAT missionaries who labour in this district,. The " pleasure• and gratitude of the little ones," it is certainly our good- fortune to see; but we also see the squalid home, the de- moralising surroundings, the apology for meals, the beneficial' effects of a little well-timed help, and the efforts made by the parents to do their part in the work. Nor is the much-dreaded possibility of pauperising the poor sufficient to frighten us from the path we have taken. Actual contact with these classes shows that this danger is not so great as it looks theoretically.- Cases come to our notice of parents who, while expressing them- selves as thankful for past help given their children, state that they are now in work, and ought no longer to avail themselves of the help of others. And if there is a danger of some occa- sional undeserving parent deriving a little advantage from the- help given by others to a half-fed child, we are prepared to rim. it, in order to giie a chance to the future generation of rising,. through an education duly profited by, to higher things. These, then, are some of our "definite," if not "right principles,"— personal investigation into cases of suffering childhood by- voluntary workers, direct help to the child in its educational' work, and immediate action in a sphere limited only by the number and means at the disposal of the workers.
With regard to the publication of the accounts of our Society,. I am rather at a loss to understand whether your correspondent is of opinion that our honorary secretary was remiss in not- including a balance-sheet in the brief letter in which she drew- attention to our existence. Such a course would have been somewhat novel, and perhaps premature, as the end of the .financial year has not yet come. The full accounts, duly audited, will undoubtedly be published at the proper time, to- gether with a Report of our doings, which I trust will have the widest possible circulation.
As to the composition of our Committee, it is not for me to.' attempt to show either that it is " thoroughly representative,' or that it consists of " responsible persons who possess the public confidence."
The doubt suggested as to our responsibility by "J. G. F." comes somewhat oddly, surely, from one writing under the cover- of initials. Some of our names you have been furnished with already, and in answer to this suggestion, I fear I must ask you to publish the names of the full Committee, as appended. And this, especially, as we are about to open a third dining-room (and,we hope, a fourth) in the neighbourhood of the Strand, for which we shall be thankful for further proofs of the public confidence in the shape of subscriptions.—I am, Sir, &C., HENRY E. ALLEN, - Treasurer of the Board-School Children's Free Dinner Fund'. 41 Marlborough Hill, N. IY., November 8th,
P.S.—The Committee consists of Mrs. H. E. Allen, 4.4 Marl:- borough Hill, N.W.; Mrs. Bruce, 6 Harewood Square, N.W.; Mrs. E. A. M. Gow, 27 Birchington Road, Kilburn, N.W.; Miss Packe, 20 Upper Berkeley Street, W.; Mrs. Pennington, 52 Loudoun Road, N.W.; Elliot Stock, Esq., Millfield Lane, Highgate Rise, N. ; Mrs. Stock, Millfield Lane, Highgate Rise,. N.; and H. E. Allen, LL.B.
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