11-th HOME OF REST FOR HORSES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
you have often kindly opened your columns to my appeals on behalf of the above Society, I think it only fair to make known to my kind supporters, through the same channel, that I have resigned my seat on the committee of this Society, which was founded by me three years ago, and for the benefit of which I have since then laboured almost incessantly. I find, however, we differ so frequently on the subject of management, that it seems far better I should resign, than continue to contest points on which we differ so hopelessly. Who can say whether I am in the right or wrong? Naturally, since the commencement, there have been changes in the com- mittee, owing to absence from town, &c., and I have thus lost some of my earliest and warmest supporters. Still, though I retire from personal management, I do not relinquish my'
interest in the twofold objects I have always had in view,— viz., to hold out a helping hand in time of need to honest, hard-working men, temporarily debarred from earning their own living through the failure of the horse, the bread-winner of the home, and also to give the over-taxed animal of the poor man those few weeks of rest, good feeding, and fresh air, so necessary to set him on his legs again. These objects I trust the Home may still continue to carry out ; but in order to enable the poor man to accept the aid it offers, something more is required,—viz., a loan stud more capable than the present very limited one of meeting the calls made upon it, so few poor men being able to afford to spare their horses for a rest, unless able temporarily to replace them, as otherwise their means of livelihood is at an end. Since my retirement from the committee, this loan stud, in which I took a special interest, appears to have dwindled down, and become utterly inadequate to meet the calls made upon it, and I have been repeatedly appealed to by the men to supply the deficiency. In one or two cases I have responded to their appeals by purchasing horses to loan out to them, one of which has been working the last four months in a hansom-cab, being brought every week for my inspection ; and I have met with so much courtesy and gratitude from those I have had the pleasure of assisting, that I feel justified in appealing to your readers for their kind help towards providing funds to enable me to continue and enlarge my operations. This new undertaking ought to be of considerable value to the Home of Rest also, as when I have animals unemployed, I shall be happy to supply their men also. 0 my friends ! lend a kindly ear to my appeal ! If you could but take a glimpse behind the scenes, and thus realise the hard, ceaseless struggle for bread that is always going on among the class for which I plead, my task would indeed prove an easy one, for the picture is so sad.
All through the bitter winter months, wet or dry, ill or well, the cabman and his horse must wend their weary way, re- turning too often, after a long day's toil, hungry and exhausted, without having earned enough to warrant the purchase of anything but the barest necessaries for the evening meal, and not always even a sufficiency of these. I am fully aware of the difficulties of this undertaking, especially for a lady; but if I can only obtain funds to make a fair start, I believe I shall succeed in proving the truth of the old adage; "Where there's a will, there's a way." It would be a great help to me if any friends having grazing-land near London would give me permission to send down one or two of the loan stud in succession free of charge, as, till funds become abundant, I cannot afford to keep horses in London when unemployed, and it seems a pity to part with a good one when you have got him.
Also I should feel grateful for the kind assistance of an honorary solicitor, in case of any possible difficulties arising, though I do not anticipate being called upon to act on any but the most friendly terms with those I may have the privilege of assisting, as their characters will have been so thoroughly inquired into at the outset. I shall also feel much obliged to any subscribers who can spare me their patients' letters to the Home of Rest, as applications are often very numerous.
Kind contributions to the loan stud may be sent direct to Miss Lindb, 20 Westbourne Park, Bayswater, W.; or to the National Bank, 68 Gloucester Gardens, W. The following kind donations have already been received, viz. :—Miss Vincent, £5; Mr. W. Chetwynd, £5; Mrs. Cross, 21 is.; Miss Russell, 10s. ; Mr. R. Pratt, 10s. ; Mrs. Shiffness, 10s.; col- lected by Miss Lindo, 220.-1 am, Sir, &c., ANNA LINDO.
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