Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-10-02
A WOMAN PHlLANTHRoPIST.
Remarkable Benefactions OF Baroness
Burdett-Cout

to the distribution of vast fortune
for the benefit of the poor-that is the
remarkable record of Angela Georgi-
ma, Baroness Burdett-C outts, the great
est woman philanthropist in English
history, if not in the history OF the
world.
The baroness, who was born April
rs, 1914, is thus in her eighty-ninth
year. She commenced her active phil
anthropic work when she was but %
years old.
She was a daughter of Sir Francis
Burdett, one of the chief liberal poll
ticians of century ago. Her inheri-
lance of nearly $10,00O,000 was be-
queathed to her by her stepgrand-
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 a re-
markable review of events and chang.
ing conditions. Her munificent 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 parsonage than Charles Dickens.
The great novelist was familiar
with every phase of life in London s
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 low den for thieves
and murderers in Bethnal Green and
erect in it's 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 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
carts-truly a trap for fevers and
loathsome diseases. These buildings
were 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 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 sewing school
was also opened at which women OF
all ages were received, the workers
being provided with good meal at the
outset of each days work
Here a large number of persons
were employed at plain needlework
their earnings ranging from shillings
TO Is shillings 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
and old, even to the engagement OF
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 installments.
When the bitter winter of 1916 over.
took the tanners of Perrnondra,- a,,5
they could not follow their occupation
they were also helped in a substantial
manner. The magistrates of the no
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 viii remember the cholera
epidemic which ragged among the moor
of the east end of London between "a