The independent., 1907-04-18
...- ....- Queen Saves Duchess :

at the time, and together they went to
the church army and had talk with
it's leader the Rev. Wilson Carlile. The
duchess wanted occupation which would
not bring her before the public. Mr.
Carlile took her to No. Banner street
ST. Lukes, where, in the midst of the
city slums, the army has it's little
branch devoted to the aid of prisoners
wives and families. The work Is car
ried on in modest way without pub
licity, by Mrs. Holder, wife of Captain
Holder, the man in charge of the fire
wood department of the church army.
The duchess was asked to help, and
help she did. She went feverishly into
the work. She bought 200 blankets,
1000 yards of cotton to be made into
sheets and underclothing boots and
shoes-everything, in fact, that Mrs
Holder said was needed And she be-
gan visiting the wives of the jailbirds.
Rickety stairs in noisome slums she
climbed by the score. Dark, evil
smelling and eviI-Iooking alleys and
tumbledown rookeries knew her.
Then Mrs. Belmont stepped in and
stopped her. 1T was dangerous work.
There was not only fear of infection,
but fear that she would give way
physically under the heavy self-im-
pOoSu telfoho. iCIC was HO t1OuSHL OH
the courageous little woman's part of
attack, perhaps murder, by some
drunken ruffian in that crime infested
district.
1t was Christmas time, and though
her strenuous work was stopped the
Duchess continued being the Good
Angel. She ordered a basket of pro-
visions real Christmas fare - to be
sent to every family on the army's roll
whose father was in prison.
1t will be remembered that the duch-
ess' children, the Marquis of Bland
ford and Lord Ivor Churchill. were
taken away from her by the Duke
After Christmas this blow completely
overwhelmed her. Occupation for he1
| mind had been taken from her by
Mrs. Belmonts insistence for her wei.
| fare.
Her relatives and her friends were ir
despair Again QueenAlexandra came
to aid the stricken young American
Her Majesty sent for Mr.. Carlile "The
Duchess is interested in your work
among the prisoners families" sh.
said, $50 why not turn 1t over to he1
entirely? She is not strong enough II
aid as helper or visitor But give
her this little charity of yours as
| hucituS W greater tnlngS and Sne VIII
be too busy directing the affairs ant
managing them to think of her trou.
bles."
| Mr. Carlile Immediately followed Hel
Majesty's suggestion In his fran.
ticaly energetic way he rushed t.
Sunderland House. The Duchess was
at luncheon with Mr.. and Mrs Bel
mont Mr.. Carlile joined them TT,
impaired some of his enthusiasm ever
to Mr.. Belmont
| The Duchess doubted If she alon,
could successfully manage such a char.
| ity.
MT Cariile was impctHcus, brusuv c
IT cannot help that" he said "Tt 4.
turned over absolutely 10 you DO witt
II what you win have nothing NOR,
TO 90 with H. viii help YOU. a
course, II you want advice. But II Il
yours from now on 10 do with n nj
you like"
The Queen sent privately for TN
Duchess. The two talked for an houl
or more in buckingham paiace-not nj
highly placed ladies~-but aa women.
Next day the Duchess az MARI
borough mosorrd with her mother dowl
90 No. Banner street and took owe
the Church Army's little nucleus a
her own. her very own charity Their
followed many days of hard nFiic
work, And u Was on one Of these day
that the new project Of the Duchess