PERSONAL SERVICE AMONG LONDON POOR.
[To THE EDITOR OF THX " SPECTATOR."] SIR,--Referring to the letter in your issue of November 14th on this subject, perhaps you are not aware that an experiment on these lines has been going on for the last ten months in one of the poorest districts in Glasgow under the name of "The Glasgow Civic League—Cowcaddens No. 1." A block _containing twenty tenements, or closes, covering two hundred houses, is being regularly visited, each tenement being in the charge of a "Captain," and each Captain having under him helpers—ladies and gentlemen—who undertake to visit once a fortnight two or three families. We helpers, or visitors, are not permitted to give money or money's worth to any of our "friends," but where there is disteess we report the case to one of the many existing benevolent societies for relief by them. Otherwise our duties are to make friends with the people, and, when we can with tact, help them with advice in any way. Our ultimate aim is, after an experience sufficiently long, to bring the results under the notice of the municipality, to induce the Corporation of Glasgow and other cities to bring . the matter before Parliament, and so introduce the Elherfeld _system into our country; with such amendment as would suit betterthe temperament of the British people. Instead of, or in addition to the pamphlet you vecoinmend, I beg to suggest _what has been put into our hands,—viz., " The Report of the Scottish Christian Social Union Commission to Germany re Elberfeld System and Labour Colonies, June-July, 1905," of which I enclose a copy, to be obtained at the headquarters of the Union, 102 Bath Street, Glasgow, price 3d. The president of the Glasgow Civic League is Mr. Edward Scott, 32 Jamaica Street, who would be glad to give any information by word or pen about this very interesting experiment.—I am, Sir, &a,
22 Bowan Road, Bellahouston, Glasgow.
GEC. M. FRANCE.
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