The independent., 1907-04-18

and take no other klnd 'IWenty-ilVeet- ~ ''ie-
Eyes, he said, "that's one of the
busiest numbers. Sometimes it's be-
ing called dozen times day"
Mrs Holder, the Duchess lieu
tenant, and the woman who originated
the work for prisoners families, came
to me then and told me the details
of the system and of the Duchess
work
Immediate though measured relief is
afforded all applicants. The first re-
quisite is generally paying up the back
rent and the few shillings for the cur
rent rent.
On one occasion when the duchess
herself went to settle the rent she
found the woman and her six little ones
already on the sidewalk among their
few poor sticks of furniture. There
were other piles of household goods
strewn around. for the whole house WAS
being evicted Police had to be called.
because the fathers of two of the fam
lilies were drunk and fighting hard.
These two loafers saw the duchess pay
ing money for her poor lone protege.s
Thev staggered over and demanded
money for themselves. Fortunately the
police saw the situation in time and
rescued the duchess, whom, however,
they did not recognize.
AS soon as the rent is paid and me
little home, however humble, saved to
the mother, she is detailed for work
in Banner street. She sews-plain sew
ing Of rough mattress covers or sheets
or coarse clothing. If she is good
seamstress, or develops into one, finer
sewing is given her. If unable to Use
needle she sorts paper and rags. But
at whatever task she is put She is
given her dinner and tea and full unior
wages Some of the women earn as
much as IS in the week. ' .g
This rag-sorting work promises to de-
velop into a big industry. The duchess
has appealed to all her friends and
through them to practically all the bet
+ class to send waste paper and con-
tents of their rag bags to Banner
street. The paper is sorted into~qual-
tiles for the paper mills and the rags
into cottons woods and silks for sale to
rag merchants.
At the Friday gatherings the children
one by one, pass her chair. Some she
takes on her lap. Others stop in front
of her while she talks to them and ex-
amines them and their condition. She
picks up each foot of each child to see
for herself the condition of the boots
and shoes. If they are in bad condi-
ton an aid takes the child and rum
images in a cupboard filled with old
| footwear and fits the child as best she
| can. Because of the duchess's special
care for the feet of the little ones, Mrs.
| Holder has named the cupboard ."The
Duchess's Cupboard" and it bears this
name in neat white letters.
| 1t was a red-letter day in Banner
street when the duchess two sons
were given back to her. She announced
the eventful news herself Those WHO
/ I. r.l,.
almost a young girl again. She sang
and laughed and romped with her
| juvenile proteges. She was as gay as
previously she had been sad and visit
/ full.
Next day Banner street welcomed the
little Marquis of Blandford and Lord
Ivor Churchill, his younger brother
The duchess brought them in her mo.
tor car The boys at first We're much
bored, but soon got interested and
worked for a good hour shoulder to
shoulder with their mother and en-
joyed acting as her aids and in fitting
shoes and boots to the feet of the poor
/ little children. Before leaving the boys
presented each Of the children with
cake and a bag of candy, and for this
reason, if no other, the visit of these
little Anglo-American aristocrats will
be remembered in dingy ST. Lukc's
| The absence of the duchess in he
Riviera during Lent was greatly felt,
Mrs Holder carried on the work but
there were anxious inquiries daily or
the duchess Reports were sent To ner
to the villa OH the sunny shore Of ths
Mediterranean and Instructions. With
checks inclosed came weekly from her.
She knows the women and children by
name and her letters bore many a per-
sonal message.
In the midst OF her absence there
came suddenly TO Banner street as ner
| friendly representative. no less n per-
sonagc than the Princess OF Wales.
Tier royal hlghneSs was accompanied
by the Countess Of Airic. The princess
came late In the day. however, and in
stead of the duchess hundred or nors
women. found but a dozen. She shook
hands and talked with each of them.
one bright-faced woman. q burglars
wife. WIS asked how many chltrtE -he
had. "ScVcn," was her reply conc
I faaVa thun 80 a4lt fhs prfua4.s Mill. Ia