The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-06 00:00:00

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING TBE EMPLOYMENT

OF WOMEN.

The committee of the above society (in ennnec-
tion with the National Association for the Promotion of
Social Scienos,l9,Langham-place, London,W., anablished
A.D. 1859.) desires to call attention to the distress now
existing among women, and to the necessity of opening
out new branches of industry for them. Many thousands
of women of the educated classes have to earn their
daily bread ; and as most of these devote themselves to
teaching, Mis profession is extravagantly overcrowded.
Many ladies are quite unable to obtain situations, while
many more accept situations in which they are ea wretch-
edly underpaid that the best years of their lives are passed
in continuous and exhausting labour, which yet does not
enable them to make any provision for sickness or old age.
The introduction of the sewing machine is rapidly dimi-
nishieg the demand for needlewomen, and, though a con-
siderable number of women are employed in machine
work, they form but a very small proportion to those who
before the introduction of machines supported themselves
by the needle. Hospital nursing affords employment for
' some, but only women of thoroughly good constitutions
I and in sound health are eligible for this occupation. The
1 work is hard, and to many persons peculiarly trying. It
I should be remembered also that the demand for nurses is
always limited, the sick being happily few in proportion to
the healthy. It seems desirable, then, to open up fresh
branches of industry to women, and the committee
have constant evidence that, while the demand for
trained labour is ever increasing, those who have re-
ceived no spatial training are unable to obtain remune-
rative employment. Those who have received only the
education given at girls' schools cannot take up a profes-
sion or trade when the necessity comes upon them, and it
is of the utmost importance that girls should receive
such specific training in early life as will enable them to
maintain themselves with self-respect in their own rank
should they be thrown on their own resources. The com-
mittee wish it to be clearly understood that it is not their
intention to encourage such employment as will draw
Inine away from their homes, or to promote the introdue-
lion of wpm!? it trade, which proper)?hf;long to mem.
i •
It is worthy of particular notice that the mosi aisiahaftli:
cases which come under the cognisance of the society
are those of married women. Of these, some
jhave become widows, others have been deserted by their
1 husbands, or aro involved in their misfortunes. They
often have a family of helpless children dependent on
. them—sometimes even a husband incapacitated by sick.
ness of body or mind. The main object of the society
I then is to introduce respectable girls to suitable profes-
sions and trades. This can be done efficiently only by
apprenticing them ; but in all desirable businesses pre-
miums are required with apprentices, and perenta are
often unwilling, often unable to pay premiums for their
daughters. Many facilities are offered to parents in needy
circumstances for apprenticing their eons, but very
little help is given for daughters, and it is
the desire of the committee to establish an appren-
ticing fund, for the assistance of those girls
whose friends cannot provide premiums fur them. They
feel that this will be the surest way of rescuing girls, now
growing up, from the trials and privations endured by so
many hundreds of women at the present time. The
society does not, however, confine its operations to this
department only. A register is kept at the office, from
which can be obtained female secretaries, clerks, book-
keepers, matrons, photographic colourers, saleswomen,
Am Orders are also received for the copying of manu-
scripts and law papers, directing envelopes, writiug circu-
lars, and various kinds of miscellaneous weak. Specimens
of fern-printing are shown, and orders received for screens,
wardrobes, and boxes thus ornamented. Effectually to
carry out the objects of the society considerable funds are
needed, and the committee have confidence in soliciting
the assistance of all who desire to further the welfare of
the community by cultivating a spirit of helpfulness and
self-respect among women.

POLYGRAEIIII: H A LL. —A new company of black
comedians, Ethiopian serenaders, or American minstrels,
made their first appearance in London last night at this
ball, with a full and varied prof amme of comic and sen-
timental songs, concerted pieces, burlesque scenes, and
step dances. The performers are eleven in number, and
they possess one good stolid comedian, Mr. Hassey, and
one accomplished clog-dancer, Mr. Mudge. Most of the
American comic songs, descriptive of life in the flowery
and elsewhere, have had an English colouring given to
them, and the conundrums and anecaotes that fill up the
intervals between the singing are outrageous and amusing,
This kind of entertainment is very popular in London,
and the " American Minstrels," as they style themselves,
will tkubtless get their fair share of patronage.
SA/ 'ILED HARMONIC SOCIETY, lix ETER- HA LL.
Mozart's Ikquion and Handel's Dttlinfon Ti Mont will be
performed to-morrow evening. Principal vocalists—
Madame Lemmens-Sherrington, Madame Sainton-Dolby,
Mr. Montem Smith, and Mr. Weiss. Solo trumpet—Mr.

Harper.
UNioN SOCIETY.—It is reported that MT. Char
f les
Neste, M.l'. for Oxford City, has removed his name rom
the books of the Union, of which he was an honorary
member, in order to mark his disapproval of the motion
brought forward this term, attacking Mr. Bright's public
and private character.
LEGAL" OPINIONS" ON RITrALISM.—Four emi-
nent counsel, including Lord Justice Cairns, the late
Attorney-General. and `fr. Mellish, were consulted, some
six months ago, on behalf of several Archbishops and
Bishops as to the legality of certain vestments, of incense,
altar-lights and some other disputed points of ecclesiastical
ritual. Of all these the four eminent conned pronounced
a sweeping condemnation. The English Church Union,
who were disinclined to accept the conclusions thus ob.
tained, have proceeded tostrin themselves with the opinionshief
of nine eminent counsel, including the present C
Baron and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, the
Queens Advocate, Mr. Coleridge, and Mr. W. M. James.
The nine counsel, with remarkable unanimity, reject that
construction of the Rubric which was adopted by the
four counsel, and agree in holding that the use of the vest-
ments mentioned in the First l'myer-book of Edward VI.
is now lawful. As to altar-lights, wafer-bread, the mixed
chalice, and the use of anthems, hymns, or introits before
and after the Communion service, they are not agreed ;
Sir W. Bovill and Mr. Coleridge holding all these things
unlawful, the rest allowing some, and differing among
themselves as to others. liyulus during the Communion
, service and incense are disallowed by all. Sir F. Kelly
' answers the first question only, being one upon which he
had expressed his opinion in consultation before he was
- raised to the bench.
A meeting of the oaths inquiry commissioners
was held yesterday, at 2, Victoria-street, Westminster.
Present :—The Due of Richmond, Lord Lyveden, Bishop
of Oxford, Right Hon. Russell Gurney, Q.C., M.P. ;
Right Hon. Robert Lowe, M.P. Riht Hon. H. Wad-
dington, and Mr. J. H. Patti:eon,; secretary of the can-
_

,
missi A
correspondent of the Bristol Times says that
" two Sundays ago a notice was sent in to the incumbent
of a very ritualistic church in Bristol requesting the
prayers of the congregation for the souls of and
who had committed mortal sin." The names given lIETO
these of a male and female member of the local Berke-