THE WORK OF THE TRAVELLERS' AID SOCIETY.
[To THE EDITOR 05 TEE " SPECTATOR."'
Sin,—May I be permitted to reply in a few words to your correspondent " E. F. B.," whose letter appears in your last issue ? The question of putting warnings in the railway trains has been occupying the attention of the Travellers' Aid Society Committee for some time, but there are many difficulties into which I need not enter here except to say that the annual outlay which it would involve is not the least. The Travellers' Aid Society Committee does not believe in a deficit at the end of the year. But, although we have not at present placed warnings in the railway carriages, we have from the very commencement of the work issued warning placards, &o. By the courtesy and willing co-operation of the directors of the railway companies and some of the advertisement con- tractors the placards are exhibited, free of charge, in the waiting-rooms, booking-balls, and even on the platforms, both in the large terminal stations and those of small country villages. Our agents at Southampton and Liver- pool and our local worker at Tilbury distribute cards of warning to girls travelling alone as they go on board, and
these contain addresses of the Travellers' Aid Society repre- sentatives at the various ports where the vessels call, so that the girls know where to go for advice in any difficulty. In consequence of a request from Australia we have prepared a special card to be given to girls emigrating to that continent, and on that card the various denominations in all the principal cities are represented and addresses given where girls may apply. We have lately prepared a new edition of warning placards, printed in English, French, and German, so as to reach the maids and business hands who flock to London and other parts of England in order to learn the language and command higher wages on their return to the Continent. The clergy of all denominations are accepting these for exhibition in their Sunday-schools, club-rooms, &c., and business people are exhibiting them in their offices and workrooms. In many instances the cost is defrayed by those who ask for them but we are glad to send them free to any who cannot afford to pay for them. These addressee on cards and placards have been of untold value to girls who have made a note of them In one case a girl was in distress in Florida, and, looking at a card which she had received at Southampton, she found the name of a lady in New York, to whom she applied, and she soon obtained a good situation through her. In another case a girl was miserably situated in Paris, and she had noted the address of the Travellers' Aid Society representative at Earls- wood just before leaving England. She wrote to her, told her her troubles, and was commended to our worker in Paris, who helped her out of them. Many more instances might be given, but these two are cited as proof that we are effectively warn- ing girls, and have been doing so ever since the work was started in 1885.
With apology for so long a letter, I am, Sir, &c.,
JESSIE GORDON, Sec.
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