The suburban citizen., 1902-10-18

Burdett-COutts, the greatest woman
phlanthropist in English history, II
not in the history of the world.
The Baroness, who was born April
25. 1914, is thus in her eighty ninth
year She commenced her active phil
anthrOpic work when she was but
twenty-three years old.
She was daughter OF Sir Francis
Burdett, one of the chief Liberal poll
ticians of century ago. Her inherit
ance Of nearly $10,000.000 was be-
queathed to her by her step-grand-
mother, the wife cf 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
England she took the name OF COutts.
Queen Victoria conferred a peerage on
her in 1871.
Including rs 1t does many of the
most crucial periods in English history
the long life Of the Baroness affords a
remarkable review Of events and
changing conditions. Her munihcent
benevolence set the pace for the rich
OF all England, and the results have
been Unreasonable.
One of this remarkable woman's
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 squalld
East End, and together the two visited
the wretched dens and planned loving
ly 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 blocks of model dwell
ings-the Baroness was really the pio-
neer OF model dwellings IN London
with every accommodation in the
shape of laundry, baths, etc, and
good library and reading room.
All this was for people who had been
surrounded by abominations of every
sort; whose every breath had sucked
in foul stencil, and whose every foot
step had been in slimy pools and de-
caying refuse shot from dust carts
truly a trap for fevers and loathesome
diseases. These buildings were erected
some half a century ago, and they still
hold their own and are indeed in ad-
vance of some of later date for drain
age, ventilation and light.
Forty odd years since a treaty was
made with France on the basis of reci-
procity, under which large quantities
of French silks were imported to the
practical abolition of the East End
hand loom industry. The weavers
We're 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 were received, the workers being
provided with a good meal at the out
set of each days work.
Here large number of persons were
employed at plain needlework, their
earnings ranging from eight shillings
to fifteen shlllngs per week-a very
substantial addition to the scanty in
come of these families for many Of the
men had only the casual work which
this bounty provided for them.
The lads were specially looked after.
many Of them going to sea. and there
was, in fact, complete system of
carefully devised help for young and
old, even to the engagement of profes-
sional nurses for the sick, and substan-
tial money aid that the homes Of the
people might be kept intact. Also
considerable number were sent out to
Australia as emigrants, the Baroness
not only defraying the cost 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
subsequently repaid by instalments.
When the bitter winter of 1861 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 police
courts of the neighborhood were inun-
dated 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 epl-
dcmlc which ragged among the poor
OF the East End Of London between
thirty and forty years ago. The part
the Baroness played in relieving the
sutferings of the victims is beyond all
compute. In addition to paying the
salaries Of qualified medical man,
eight trained nurses, two sanitary in
spectors and four men to distribute
disinfectants, her gifts of food and
clothing were on a most lavish scale.
rake one weeks gifts at random, and
this is the wonderful total: One thou
sand eight hundred and fiftY shilling