The record-union., 1891-08-08

is q Lancashire lady by birth, and had all
her life striven for the betterment of the
lowly. She is q shining example OF a
thoroughly cultured woman of wealth,
own neighborhood, without requiring q
mission" or the recognition of the Sun
day papers in order to reach the highest
fruition of her genius for good. She con-
sequently knew these Lancashire folk in
their everyday toll and in their homes.
Naturally she was beloved and almost
idoliZed. And she knew, too, possibly
because woman, and because of intelh-
gent studies and practical ministrations,
the merits of the pit-brow woman ques-
ton perhaps better than any other liv-
ing man or woman.
These 5000 helpless women had no de-
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 depri-
yation Of their only means of subsiSt-
ence, with her ringing urgency upon the
influential 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 opposition. Inteli
gently presented facts, and clear, cogent
logic on the subject, were at once sup
piled to Home Secretary Childers and to
members Of Parliament. With the en-
thusiastic cooperation of Vicar Mitchell
of Pemberton, an important colliery
town near Wigan, where large number
of women work at the pit-broW, great
meetings Of the pit-brow women them
selves were held, and these were fol-
lowed by like great gatherings in York
shire and Wales. This class Of women
are noted for their integrity and blunt
ness. ''They are jdn31Ock right through"
as they say in Lancashire. They not
only have ready tongues, but there was
a, to them, terrible conviction and neces-
sity behind their rude speech. Petition
after petition was dispatched to London
These extraordinary gatherings of extra
ordinary women, with an extraordinary
woman as their leader, interpreter and
deliverer, had an electrical effect through
out Britain. A complete revulsion of feel
ing and conviction was the result.
Not content with this, Mrs. Park insist
ed that now as the pit-broW lasSeS had
been heard at home they should also be
heard in London-Within the awful 81
lences 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 shill-
ing shockers, and seen such hideous rep
reSentauOnS Of them in the illustrated
prints, that this was too much. No Brob-
dignagian, sooty heroines, armed with
shovels, spades, screens, clogs and, per-
hapS, picks. for him! 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-
ticient. The prohibitory clause was with
drawn, and the pit-brow lasses of Eng
land and Wales were destined to remain
a permanent British institution.
But their first victory was temporary
one. The trades unions, appearing TO
graciously accept defeat, were only await
ing better opportunity. Just year la
ter, early in the spring Of 1887, word
came to 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 recon-
mending the measure, through the then
new Home Secretary, Mr.. Matthews.
Mrs. Park at once determined that the
pit-broW women should go in person be-
fore Parliament and the Home Secretary.
She wrote and telegraphed mine owners,
employing women, to call meetings, ex-
PLAIN the threatened danger, and ask the
women at the mines to elect by ballot
two of their number from each mine to
join the deputation. This was done, the
laSseS bearing their own expenses by
subscription, SO that no taint of mine
owners interest could be charged. A
special train was secured, and away sped
the unique deputation TO the great city.
a continuous ovation greeted them
all the way to London. Mrs. Park had
meantime secured permission from Sec
retary Matthews to present the deputa-
ton. The women were lodged at the
Girls Club and Home, Soho Square.
Their arrival created the greatest interest
and excitement. Royalty itself never at
tracted greater crowds. They We're taken
to Parliament House, and We're also
granted a peep at the House of Lords
The lawmakers of Great Britain were
won over III a body.
The next morning the entire London
press rang with their praises. patheti-
caliy told the story of their toll, and de-
nounced those who had threatened the
prohibition of their arduouS and honest
labor. Then came the memorable pa-
rade, or demonstration, through Regent
street, Oxford street, along Pail Mall,
and on to Westminster Hotel, where four
of the girls were robed in their odd pit
brow costumes. Then the procession
moved on the Home office, a million
Engllshmen cheering them as they went.
Here Mrs. Park laid their claims before
Mr.. Matthews in few ringing sentences,
which literary critics have asserted COM
prlSed the briefest yet most SplendidIy
logical and powerful address ever pro-
nounccd by Englishwoman in any cause.
Nor were the lasses themselves slow of
speech. Their ignorance of the Sedate
formalities of the place led to innumera-
bic Voclterous and pointed Interruptions.
They Cam oop to Lunnun to speak oot,
IN speak oot, tha wud!"
The Home Secretary listened and cues
toned, finally diSmissing the uniouo
deputation after assurance that they
should not be interfered with, and the
hope that their representations would
so influence public opinion that they
would hear no more in many years of an
attempt to interfere with an honest and
praiseworthy Industry." And so the pit
brow lasses won. But | have often
thought it a pity that some great painter
could not have caught this splendid scene.
where the hopes of the 5000 women
whose work and home life shall describe
in a succeeding article-were entered.
| The Home Secretary of a mighty Govern
ment, with all the austerity and insignia
of State surrounding him. reserved puZ-
zled, yet thoroughly kindly: one woman.
accompanied by famous women lords
and commonerS, standing before him as
petitioner, her face-tho prototype of that
noble one the artist has given us in ISa-
bella before whom Columbus is urging
his cause-beaming with infinite kind
ness and subduing glances upon her ire
preSSlbIe charges, yet half turned in
grave respect and apprehension to the
one who could grant or defeat their aims.
/ and, to complete the picture, crowd of
rosy checked, buxom pit-brow lasses,
with heads craned eagerly forward, their
sparkling eyes wide with wonder and
alert attention, lips half parted as if to
speak oot' on the slightest pretext, and
every one of the sturdy wenches with