THE SOCIAL INSTITUTES UNION.
[To THE EDITOR. OP THE "SPECTATOR."] venture to ask for the interest of your readers on behalf of the above Union, which has now been carrying on its work vigorously, though modestly, for close upon sixteen years. It has steadily promoted the cause of temperance, has opened up healthy and educative recreations for its members, who are of the class that sorely need such recreations, and in all its varied branches of activity has aimed at building up the physique and intelligence of those members. The men's clubs affiliated to the Union number eighty. They are run on strictly temperance lines, with the hearty concurrence of their members. The value of the educational side of club life has been recognized by the education authorities, as has been shown by their readiness to make grants in aid of classes in social clubs and institutes, but further funds are most urgently needed. The clubs are, as they should be, almost entirely self- supporting, but the Social Institutes Union has to bear the expense of a central headquarters and the minor expenses of lectures, competitions, classes, outings, and indoor and out- door sports. Club members themselves have testified to the humanizing effect of such club life on their rougher comrades, and there can be no doubt about the advantage of this to the community at large. There are also thirty-four girls' clubs affiliated to the Social Institutes Union, and all the work in connexion with them is carried on by an honorary secretary and her helpers. The more prosperous girls' clubs use the Federation for the sake of the competitions, lectures, and outings ; the smaller ones appeal to the organization for advice and encouragement. The girls' dinner club, held in the central building, is a very great success. For girls and young women whose pay averages 14s. per week a good hot dinner for fourpence is a boon. For that 'sum excellent beef•
steak pudding and two vegetables, or a varied choice of other things, can be had;' sweet dishes at a penny and a cup of coffee for a halfpenny. Good and cheap restaurants abound, it may be said ; but what th ese girls so appreciate isthe quiet and privacy of their own dining-room. They want something to vary the monotony of their long • hours of work, and the flowers on the tables, the restful moments of leistire they can snatch over their crochet and knitting when the meal is over, chatting and listening to music (sometimes dancing), are worth a good deal to them. The cookery competitions of the girls' clubs are among the most important; they reveal some- times a curious want of elementary knowledge of proper diet. In one of these competitions a girl had to cook a dinner for a family, including little children and a baby. A dish of curry was prepared, of which the gravy was carefully set aside for the baby ! The Social Institutes Union has been the means of bringing many pleasant invitations to the girls to spend an afternoon and have tea at some country hduse within easy reach. The enjoyment thus 'given " is intense. "I never thought it could be so nice," said a girl to me after one of these outings. " Mr. and Mrs. — seemed, as if they liked having us." "It's so restful to see the green grass ; one's eyes get so tired of the pavement," said another. Another pleasure greatly valued by these workers in factories and workshops is the Holiday Camp, now an annual institution. Last summer fifty-seven girls camped out, and, in spite of daily downpours of rain, they enjoyed it exceedingly, and all derived benefit, one of them gaining four pounds in weight. Those who can attend the drawing-room meeting to be held at 108 Eaton Square on Thursday afternoon, March 6th, by the kind perniission of Lord and Lady Charnwood, will have an opportunity of hearing more details of the Social Institutes Union, and information can be had at any time from the Secretary at the Institute, 4 Portugal Street, and, as regards the Women's Branch, from Miss Elsie Micholls, 39 Albert Court, Knightsbridge.—I am, Sir, &c.,
HENRIETTA M. L. ARNOLD (Member of the Council).
4 Portugal Street, Eingsway.
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