Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-08-11

Mrs. Margaret Park, late mayoress Of
Wigan. Her husband, deceased in Novem-
Der, 1890, was a leading iron merchant
there, and perhaps the most popular indi-
vidual in Lancashire, the one exception be-
ing his wife. He was elected to the may
orslty for FIVE successive terms between
1872 and lS3s, the same being counted an
extraordinary hoi.Sr, as Wigan is the old
est borough in Lancashire, having a mu-
nielpai history dating from the days of
chivalry and the crusades. The city Is the
center Of the Lancashire coal and iron
trade. IL is a district Of collieTies and col
hers
Mrs. Park is Lancashire lady by birth,
and had all her life striven for the better
ment Of the lowly She is a shining exam
pie Of thoroughly cultured woman Of
wealth making use Of her gif1s and means
in her own neighborhoOd. She conse-
quently knew these Lancashire folk in
their everyday toll and in their homes.
Naturally she was beloved and almost
idOlized. And she knew, too, possibly be-
cause a woman and because of intelligent
studies and practical ministrations, the
merits Of the pit brow woman question
perhaps better than any other living man
or woman.
fender. She instantly became one BY
clear and truthful presentations Of their
morality, their healthfulness, their need
and that Of those dependent upon them,
and the injustice Of the proposed depriva-
ton Of their only means Of subsistence.
With her ringing urgency upon the infiu-
ential women Of England Of the principle
that all avenues for voluntary labor by
women should be expanded rather than
restricted, such noted women as Emily
Faithful. Lady Latham and Lydia Becker,
of woman's rights fame, gave the pit brow
woman's cause their support instead of op-
position. Intelligently presented facts and
clear. cogent logic on the subject were at
once supplied TO Home Secretary Childers
and TO members Of parliament
With the enthusiastic cooperation of
Vicar Mitchell, Of Pemberton, an impor-
tant colliery town near Wigan, where a
large number of women work at the pit
brow, great meetings Of the pit brow
women themselves were held, and these
were followed by like great gatherings in
Yorkshire and Wales. This class Of women
are noted for their integrity and bluntness.
They are iannoek right through" as they
say in Lancashire. They not only have
ready tongues, but there was a. 20 them,
terrible conviction and necessity behind
their rude speech Petition after petition
was dispatched to London These extraor-
dinary gatherings of extraordinary women,
with an extraordinary woman as their
leader, interpreter and deliverer. had an
electrical effect throughout Britain A
complete revulsion Of feeling and convic
tion WAS. the result.
Not c6ntent with this, Mrs. Park insisted
a. -. haA ~.
heard at home they should also be heard
in London. within the awful silence Of the
home secretary's Office. if needs be. But
Mr.. Childers had heard such tales Of the
"Amazons" in the press. read such tragedies
OF them in the shilling shOckers. aud seen
such hideous representations Of them in
the illustrated prints. that this was too
much. No Brobdignagian, sOoty heroines.
armed with shovels, spades, screens, clogs
and perhaps picks. for himi The hint Of
their readiness TO swoop down upon him.
with what had already been done, and the
press of England now being unanimous
against the measure, were seemingly suf-
fcient The prohibitory clause was with
drawn and the pit brow lasses of England
and Wales were destined 10 remain per
manent British institution.
But their first victory was a temporary
one. The trades unions. appearing TO gra-
ciously accept defeat, were only awaiting
better opportunity Just year later.
early in the spring Of 1887. word came %
Mrs. PARK from London that the CLAUSE
against pit brow women's work was again
being pressed. secretly but powerfully, BY
trades unions and other political influence,
and that there was great danger Of the
government recommending the measure
through the then new home secretary. Mr..
Matthews
Mrs. Park at once determined that the
pit brow women should goin person before
parliament and the home secretary. Shs
wrote and telegraphed mine owners en-
ploying women 70 call meetinRs, explain
the threatened danger, and ask the women
at the mines 20 elect by tallot two OF their
number from each mine 20 join the depu,
tafion This was done, the lasses bearing
their own expenses BY subscription, 80 thai
no faint Of mine owner's interest could b
charged. A special train was secured, and
away sped the unique deputation 70 the
great city.
A continuous ovation greeted them all
the way 20 London Mrs. Park had mean
time secured permission from Secretary
Matthews 70 present the deputation. The
women were lodged at the Girls Club and
Home, Soho square. Their arrival created
the greatest interest and excitement. Roy
atty itself never attracted greater crowds.
They were taken to parliament house. and
were also granted a peep at the house Of
Iords The lawmakers Of Great Britain
were won over In a body.
The next morning the entire London
press rang with their praises, pathetically
told the story Of their toll and denounced
those who had threatened the prohibition
OF their ardu0us and honest labor. Then
came the memorable parade or demon.
stration, through Regent street, Oxford
street, along Pall Mall. across ST. James
park and Whitehall and on 60 Westnin.
ster hotei. where four Of the girls were
robed In their odd pit brow costumes
Then the procession moved on the homs
once. a million Englishmen cheering
thsm a. they went Here Mrs. PARK laid
their claims before Mr. Matthews IN q
few ringing senrences. which literar.
critics have asserted comprise the briefesi
yet most splendidly logical aud powerful
address ever pronounced By an EnglIsl
woman ia any canse Nor were the las8e'
themselves slow Of speech. Their igno
rance of the sedate formalities Of The
ulace led 70 innumerable Vociferous and