Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-10-02

mother, the wife of Mr.. Coutts the
banker
When the young woman by this be-
quest became the head of a banking
house second only to the bank of Eng
land she took the name OF Coutts.
Queen Victoria conferred peerage on
her in 1871.
Including as it does many of the
crucial periods in English history, the
long life of the baroness affords re
markable review of events and chang
ing conditions. Her munifcent be
nevolence set the pace for the rich OF
all England and the results have been
unreasonable.
One of this most remarkable WON
ans most active lieutenants and quite
her most important adviser was no
less a parsonage than Charles Dickens
The great novelist was familiar
with every phase of life in Londons
squalid East End, and together the
two visited the wretched dens and
planned lovingly wholesale reforms
One OF the first things ACCOMPLISHED
was to demolish a low den for thieves
and murderers in Bethnal Green and
erect in its stead several blocks of
model dwellings-the baroness was
really the pioneer of the model dwell
ings in London-with every accommo-
dation in the shape Of laundry, baths.
etc, and a good library and reading
room.
All this was for people who had
been surrounded by denominations OF
every sort; whose very breath had
sucked in foul stencil, and whose
every footstep had been in Shiny pools
and decaying refuse shot from dust
carts-truly a trap for fevers and
Ioathsome diseases. These buildings
We're erected some half a century ago
and they still hold their own and are
indeed in advance of some later date
for drainage, ventilation and light.
Forty odd years since a treaty was
made with France on the basis Of reel
procity under which large quantities
Of French silks were imported. to the
practical abolition of the East End
hand-loom industry. The weavers
were absolutely starving for want OF
work when Lady Burdett- Coutts came
forward as the principal supporter of
an association which had been formed
for the relief of the sufferers. Some
OF them were started in small business.
younger ones were trained for useful
employments, and a sewing school
was also opened at which women of
all ages We're received, the workers
being provided with a good meal at the
outset of each days work
Here a large number of persons
were employed at plain needleWork
their earnings ranging from 8 shiflings
to 10 shtllings per week-a very sub
stantial addition to the scanty income
of these families, for many OF the men
had only the casual work which this
bounty provided for them.
The lads were especially looked
after, many of them going to sea, and
there was, in fact, a complete system
of carefully devised help for young
hilN Olus even W INC tuSdSC lutIl vi
professional nurses for the sick and
substantial money aid that the homes
of the people might be better kept in
tact. Also a considerable number
were sent out to Australia as EN-
igrants, the baroness not only defray-
ing the costs of their passage but
also advancing sufficient money to
keep them in comfort until they had
made a good start in the new world
1t is good to record that this trust in
the people was not abused the whole
of the money advanced being subse-
quently paid by installmeuts.
When the bitter winter of 1916 over
took the tanners of Bermondsey and
they could not follow their occupation
they were also helped in a substantial
manner. The magistrates of the POI
lice courts of the neighborhood were
inundated with applications for relief
and the baroness had her own agents
at these courts. who inquired into the
cases and promptly relieved them,
Many will remember the cholera
NblN'lllA' " ny IA ihEtAl iliioHE lut1 IbNJl
Of the east end of London between 80
and 40 years ago. The part that the
baroness played in relieving the suffer
ings of the victims is beyond all com
pute. Ia addition to paying the sal
aries OF q qualified medical man
eight trained nurses, two sanitary in
spectors and four men 10 distribute
disinfectants, her gifts OF food ana
clothing were on a most lavish scale
Take one weeks gifts at random and
this is the wonderful total: 1850 shil-
ling tickets for meat, $50 pounds Of
arrowroot, 500 pounds of sage and
tapioCa. 80 pounds of black currant
jelly, so gallons of port wine, % gal
Ions Of brandy, 20 gallons II beef tea.
SEQ quarts of milk, 100 blankets, 400
yards of flannel and 400 assorted gar
ments At the same time vast quaint
ties of bedding were sold at coat price
and many new appliances and rene
dies we're tested in a practical man
ner.
Tbarg 40 , hyiFu