The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-31 00:00:00

Blackheath Common.

The little plain of Blackheath, connected so fre-
quently with historical reminiscences, is to be pre-
served as an open space, if opposing action on the
part of the inhabitants is sufficient to grapple with
the devouring disposition of the Metropolitan Board
of Works. It was almost unanimously resolved at a
meeting on Saturday, that the scheme proposed by the
Board for " planting and beautifying portions
of the Heath " should be repelled to the utmost, and
that the common should only be surrendered to the
management of a local board, who would undertake
to keep it unenclosed, and in good order. A letter
from Mr. Gladstone (who as member for Greenwich
was invited) was read at the meeting. In it he said
he cordially subscribed to the necessity of preserving
open grounds for the recreation of the people.
Going, Going, but not Gone.

The ratepayers of St. Pancras ought to be
thankful that they have been spared an additional
scandal in the sale of the parish " goods and chattels,"
under the auctioneer's hammer. Under theguidance
of the " man in possession" preliminary arrangements
had been made for the sale, and much fun
was anticipated by many of the parishioners
who had not the dignity of the board in their minds.
On arriving at the place announced for the sale, how-
ever, it was found that the lawyer's bill, which
had been run up by the old board in de-
fending themselves and one of their medical men from
charges which they were bOund to answer, had, under
judicious advice, been settled. Many of the trades-
men who attended were - irate, and expressed
their intention of suing for loss of time ;
but a little reflection will perhaps alter their
determination, and induce a belief that a continua-
tion of proceedings, such as have for a long time past
distinguished the parish of St. Pancras, is equally a
disgrace to the guardians and the ratepayers.
The Extirpation of Beggars.

It has long been an acknowledged truth that the
beggars who so piteously intreat our assistance in
the streets are generally the very last class who either
require or deserve it. It is only lately, however, that
any serious general effort has been made to check an
extensive evil, one that injures the really-deserving
poor as well as defrauds the giver and encourages the
worthless. The fifty-second annual meeting of the
society for the Suppression of Mendicity pro-
duced some valuable statistics, from whiCh
it appeared that the begging-letter system
is largely on the increase, and the numbers may be
guessed from the fact that the society received, in
the course of the year, 3,100 letters for investiga-
tion, compared with 2,444 of the previous year. The
number of vagrants apprehended was 5742 of whom
300 were committed to prison, and the remainder dis-
charged. These, again, have increased in number since
last year, so there is ample need for vigorous action.
There is a new mendicity society, with which the
old association proposes to coalesce, in order to pre-
vent their interests clashing. The system adopted
is in every case to give tickets to applicants for relief
instead of money or food. These tickets must be taken
to one of the society's offices, where inquiry is made.
Meals, money, and clothing are given if the case proves
deserving. V Vagrants, as we have seen, are prose-
cuted, and every case is treated on its merits. Mr.
Martyr Hart writes a letter to the Times on this
subject, giving us the results of the famous Black-
heath experiment. In eighteen months the
beggars have been got rid of, while a similar method.
in Dorsetshire has produced similar effects, the work-
house vagrant returns sheaving a decrease of two-fifths
in the worst quarter of the year. In Bristol £16,000
a year is bestowed upon beggars. Mr. Hart very
justly asks how many emigrant passages this would
pay, and how many deserving poor would it send upon
their way of life rejoicing ?
Women's Rights in India.

Bengal is not exactly the place in which we should
look for an energetic movement in favour of Women's
Rights. Yet we find the Hindoo ladies actually
inaugurating careers which even their enterprising
feminine contemporaries in the great Western con-
tinent have not yet thought of. We learn
from the Times of India that a vernacular
paper has been started under the name of Bungo
Mohila, or the "Girl of Bengal," and this Girl of
Bengal is, wonderful to relate, edited by a Hindoo
lady ! While we were all deploring the deficiency of
female education in India, and the uselessness and
vacuity of feminine life in Bengal, here is incontrover-
tible evidence that some at least of the fair Bengalese
can see through their veils. Still more remarkable
is the ambition of another Hindoo dame, who, find-
ing the monotony of ordinary life insupportable, has
turned Dacoit or highwayman. At the head of a
gang, whose movements she directed personally,
she has acquired considerable property in
the Soonderbunds, and taught the country people to
fear her name. Evidently there is a spare field for
feminine energies, which has not yet been properly
explored. It is much to be regretted, in the cause
of progress, that the Bengal police have put a stop
to so interesting and useful an experiment.