The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-11-20
BRO0KE'S MISSION.
She Has Given Practical Help to
the Needy in London-Her
Sewing Schools.


Lady Brooke, of Easton Lodge,
London, is an angel, il there is one in
the British Isles. A few years ago she
wearied of the drawing room and I'M
dertook some charity work among the
poor of the village. In going through
| Great and Little Easton she found
that the houses we're not only miser-
ably poor, but the parents were alone
and destitute. The daughters had been
| sent out to service at the age OF eight
years, receiving but twenty-five cents
a week.
The boys followed them to the city,
| and after a few years the children
| drifted further from home and the old
| people were left alone and unprovided
for. Lady Brooke studied the matter
for several months, and finally decided
on a scheme of her own. She had q
tin sign tackled on the door of the
lodge notifying the passerby that any
girl could learn ~needlework by apply
ing to Lady Brooke.
Thirty-five applied in one week.
They were seated in O room impro-
vised for the occasion with chairs,
foot rests, cutting boards and
machines, and the gentle woman
gave the first lesson. Later she was
assisted by friends, and in q short
time experts were hired to do the
work. The little sewers came at nine
O'Clock and remained until four,
Lady Brooke providing a lunch at
noon and bearing all the expenses Of
the school. The first piece of work
was the making of long crash aprons
with bibs and pockets that covered
the ragged dresses of the small needle
women.
A start proved the success of the
experiment. the school was removed
to Lower Easton. and a galvanized
iron house leased suitable for the re-
quirements of the work. A room was
devoted to each class and special
teachers were hired to instruct them.
After attaining the necessary profici-
ency Lady Brook secured orders from
her friends for doilies, drawn work,
baby dresses, bed linen. aprons, under
wear and the like, which she gave the
little girls to do, paying them accord
ing to the quality of their work. Al
though in no sense a pecuniary
success the patroness opened a
salesroom in New Bond street, where
today the school work Is offered for
sale and where orders are received for
plain and ornamental needlework.
Lady Brooke bears the entire expense
OF the shop and school. absolutely no
profit accruing from either, her object
being purely phiianthropic.
The school now has an average at
tendance of fifty poor girls. They are
instructed in all kinds of sewing; they
come at nine and leave at six; they
get their lunch and tea from the
manager, and, aside from being
taught, are paid for their work. The
workers are drawn from all classes,
varying from eight to twenty-three
years of age.
The girls On completing the course
of instruction are provided with en-
ployment in private families or shops
where they at one become self-sus-
taining.-London Letter.
when You Visit.
Before you make a visit send word
to your friends where and with whom
you are to stay, so that there may be
no idea that you are in a boarding
house, and therefore mistress of your
time and surroundings. Constant
Difference to your hostess should lead
o TO order all letters and packages
to be addressed to her care.
As to the disposal of your time,
when you are visiting, no etiquette
requires you TO accept all the plans of
your hostess, if you feel unable to do
so; but ARE is needed to show that
refusal means lack of strength, not
lack of interest and inclination.
With a little tact on both sides you
Will have many hours for your own.
Indeed, a skillful hostess will man
age to secure you this privilege and
not make the mistake of working too
hard to amuse you, and so absorb
every moment OF your visit into her
idea OF what is pleasure for you.
No greater compliment is possible
than the quiet acceptance OF your
presence in the intimacy of family
life.- Youths Companion.
A Pretty Christmas GIFT.
The melon m%ouchoir case is a
change from the fiat, square ones SO
long in use. Six pieces of satin rib
bon, eighteen inches in length and
about three inches wide, in alternat-
ing colors, r neatly stitched to-
gether lengthwise, sloping TO a point
at each end. A fiat lining of cotton
wadding filed with sachet powder
violet, heliotrope, or the new '.peau
d'Espange"-is fastened around the
edges, where one seam is left open at
the upper side, and a pocket of soft
silk is then put in. The ends are
drawn closely and fastened with full
bows Of satin ribbon. Any number
OF dainty cambria handkerchiefs can
be tucked away in the heart of this