The Washington times., 1906-01-28
WORKHOUSE FINERY
SHOCKED VISITORS
EngliShwOmen Quickly Had
Inmates Adopt Uniform.
HkREM SUcCUMBS TO GAMER
SuItan's Wives Cannot Resist Tempta-
tion to Have Permanent Repro
ductions of Features.
av LADY HENRY SOMERSET

By LADY HEHRH SOmEhSEA-
LONDON. Jan. IA copy of The
moor law commissioner report for lSJ4,
as presented to the houses of Paraia-
snent of the United Kingdom, has tist
been reprinted. 1t contains much in
teresting reading. in view OF the dis
tress of the present winter season. and
among other things there is tribute
10 the efficiency OF the work OF certain
ladies' who formed committee or IN
ouirv into the affairs OF the workhodses
OF the day.
An account of their reforms is not
without amusement:
THE elder paupeTs were taught 10
knit stockings and the younger females
needIework. Before we went 10 the
vVorxhouse they were badly clothed, ana
some Of them were almost IN state
of Gags and nakedness.
ave wished 10 have the whole clothed
IN one way. with gowns OF blue AnseE-
WoOlsey, check aprons oark hanaher-
chiefs. and close white caps After Vlo-
lent opposition from the mistress OF the
house and the females themselves TINS
was acceded TO. Hitherto, they hau
purchased the most gaudy prints TOT
the females and ready-made STOP sAlll
for the men in the house. While the
young women were lying in bed ldle.
.One of the paupers, a girl or elsi'eeh
years of age who refused 10 work, was
dressed in a dashins print-dress oI iSu
ana green. with gigot sleeves. a SILK
,sna a large golden or gilt buckle, long
slt earrings, and a lace cap turned up
IN front with bright ribbons, in the fash
Con of tbe day. and a high comb under
nd a abundance of CUTlS.
"A general order was given that the
nair of the females should be braided
cd oDt under their caps and no curis
or cnrl papers seen. We got the Whole
Of tbe Young females clothed in the
manner we designed i'm two months. dur
ing the first year. This was done oy
,be,r own labor, under the instructions
we gave them
The benefit of this dress was that
whenever they went out of the work
house they were known and liable 70
observation. and could not act as they
had heen accustomed 20 act when they
could not be distinguished"
There is much more of it 70 the same
effect and all of il right and proper. put
somehow one cannot help little feel-
ing of sympathy with the willful daushH
Ter of Eve, aged eighteen, who Wouiu
not work and wore "dashing print
gown" in the DAYS. too, when cufls
were so unseemly.
Embroidery Doesn't Pay.
From the earliest times pious women
have given expression TO their religious
fervor by providing the most exquisite
and costly decoration for church affairs
and banners and all the other ecclesl-
asticaI enbroideries thar they can Worh.
often a lifetime has been spent on
niece of intricate lace work OF the most
delicate fineness. and this beauthuI
Drsctice. whatever the vicissitudes OF
creeds or dogmas. is in no way hkely
10 lapse
In an "art" shop in old Bond street
there is on view a very fine piece OF
modern work for an altar frontal II
Is of creann-white linen. worked with sn
allover applique design of deep red pom
egranates and green leaves. both fruit
and foliage outlined with gold thread
singularIy rich in effect. In the center
the Agnus Del is worked in gold on a
soft blue ground. There are also other
fine pieces of the same class OF work
Somehow. one never feels that work Of
this nature. however high the price may
be. is adequately remunerated. Now and
agaln one hears OF an almost fabulous
price being given for fine piece OF en-
broideTy. and the princesses of the royal
house have done splendid work in rails
ing the market value of needlework-
Very often. however considering the
patient hours Of close work. the inn
paired sight. the avoidance of all do
rnestic work that would coarsen the
hands. and the cost Of the materials
necessary for the work itself. these
anoney payment. A rather pathetic in
stance OF this other side of the picture
came under nv notice recently.
A poor widow. very proud Of her skill
sn Honiton lace. made most delicatelv
beautiful handkerchief. and was buoyed
lIp by the promises of more or less In
fuential friends that she would be sure
20 ind a ready market for her work
She got up at dawn to get the clear
morning light-a rather variable com
modify in London She worked at it
patiently for a summe-. and when f1n-
ished it was really very original and
beautiful piece of work, and spOtless as
TO daintiness.
She then went the weary round Of
the lace shops. 10 be offered a guinea
and even less for it, She tried all the
likely people OF her acquaintance. and
her. but without success. In the end.
on an Easter Sunday. she presented IL
TO the church. preferring 10 make her
sacrifice an act Of worship rather Jhan
10 let her work be undersold.
Camera Invades Harem.
The camera has invaded the sanctity
Of the Turkish harem. and there will
soon be no enemy left to conquer in
the whole scheme of woman's emanci-
patton. A writer in one OF the English
magazines for January tells all that
surely can be told of the modern
women OF Turkey
The article is even accompanied by
pictures of an unveiled Turkish lady,
and such interesting stories are related
OF the indulgences accorded to Turkish
women that the free women of the
West, in the compleXity OF their en-
gsgements of work and play, might al
most be tempted to sigh for the seclu-
sion of the harem and the defense OF
the veil. One story is well worth
quoting.
A certain royal princess. daughter