HOW POOR LADIES LIVE, AND WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO
HELP THEM—A REJOINDER. (To THE EDITOR OF THE " SrECTAT011.."] SIE,—Two articles on the above subject have recently appeared, one in the Nineteenth Century, the other in the Spectator, both of which in the main appeal to our warmest sympathies. Neither Miss Low, however, nor the writer of the article in the Spectator, seems to be aware that in addition to the Societies mentioned by the former, the National Beneficent Society, and the Governesses' Association, there exists a Society managed by ladies and gentlemen solely for the relief of women of gentle birth who have fallen into dis- tress, and which, in addition to the charge of the aged and incurable, trains the young in various employments, sells their work, and keeps, as Miss Low suggests, a bureau for the work of such women, and a registry office for their employment.
The Working Ladies' Association, now called the Ladies' Working Guild, was founded by Lady Mary Feilding, in the
year 1876, as a Society or fraternity for mutual help, and the object proposed was "to link together persons connected with the institutions and centres of industry which already exist tor the benefit of ladies." At the end of two years nearly a thousand Associates had joined, two hundred and fifty-six ladies had been assisted in various ways, while three Funds bad been started :— (1) A Loan Fund for training ; (2) An Incurable Fund ; (3) A Guest-Chambers Fund. The latter was established at the Campden Houses, Campden Hill, where rooms can be obtained for 5e., and a flat from 12s. 6d. to 15s. At the present time twenty-seven ladies are there. In 1888 the Queen graciously consented to honour the Guild by giving her name as patroness, the previous year H.R.H. Princess Henry of Battenberg became President of the Departments, in 1891 H.R.H. Princess Mary Duchess of Teck became President of the Department for Chronic and Incurable Dis- tress, and H.R.H. Princess Frederica is President of the Groups, besides being President of the East Molesey and Hampton Court Branch. In 1889 the offices were transferred to 251 Brompton Road, and those who will visit the shop there will find a very pretty and workmanlike collection of furniture, embroidery, and other articles.
I might enlarge greatly on the work were it not for the limited space at my disposal. I have stated facts. Of the spirit in which the work is carried on I speak in the last words of its much-loved foundress : "As long as we feel that it (the Guild) is Christ's work, and pray to him as a body, he will guide and bless it. If we forget him in the work and trust to our own exertions, the Guild will lose life and become
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