THE YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION THROUGHOUT THE EMPIRE.
[To TRE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
Sra,—May we crave a corner of your valuable space to appeal for funds to found Homes and Institutes abroad for girls leaving the United Kingdom ? Every year numberless women at the most critical age in life quit safe and honoured homes in order to secure a livelihood in remote and dangerous lands. The temptations which besiege lonely women in alien cities require no comment here; the point we urge is that these temptations crowd up at a time when the absence of friends and relatives leaves a woman's powers of defence weakened and inadequate. Englishmen are considered a chivalrous race. It has been said that no appeal to English honour as regards women ever passed unheeded. To-day we make our bid for its support in protecting innocence which through force of circumstances has wandered without the zone of safety.
Hostels and Homes have already been established by us in India, at Cape Town, Johannesburg, and most of the cities in South Africa, and all have met great needs, as well as those which we have founded in the Far East. But appeals con- tinue to pour in for similar help in other places, and our efforts are crippled for want of money. We require £3,500 more to fulfil instant obligations.
In this age of prodigal philanthropy we pray that our peti- tion may not be overlooked. In such a year as this, when thousands of pounds are being lavished in the interests of the nation and Empire, it may indeed seem difficult to arrest attention for so unostentatious a work as ours. Yet it is a. work which crowns other efforts to perpetuate the Imperial heritage and solidify " Englands" beyond the seas. How can any Empire prosper unless its women are cared for P And just when huge sums are being expended to promote adult colonization and emigration, we ask the generous not to forget that frail cargo of girlhood which yearly sets forth to carry the flag, the speech, and the religion of the old country to distant lands.
Will the public help us ? We need at this moment £1,000 to adequately staff our present work in South Africa, £2,000 for India, as well as R.500 to open up new centres.
HELENA.
N. MINT°.
MAUD SELBOENE.
EDITH PICTON-WARLOW, National Head, Foreign Department. JOHN MONCRIEFN DICK,
26 George Street, Hanover Square, W., Hon. Treasurer, to whom donations may be sent.
[Anything which makes it safer, and therefore easier, for girls and young women to go to the oversea portions of the Empire, and prevents emigration being largely male emigration, deserves widespread support. We sincerely trust this appeal will be successful.—En. Spectator.]
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