Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-19
A WOMAN'S ACTIVITIES
Extensive PhiIanthropic Work
of Lady Aberdeen
FOR BETTERING THE IRISH
She Is Practical Philanthropist in
Every Respect.
TUBERCULOSIS EXHIBITION
Held Week by Week in Different
Cities and Towns in
Ireland.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

sistance to encourage and direct various
endeavors and organizations for the i'm
provement of the physical, mental, moral
material and religious condition of the
people over whom her husband has been
called to exercise authority in the name
Of his majesty the king.
Lady Aberdeen is a practical phllan-
throplst She is willing TO aid In eA-
perlmental demonstrations to ascertain
the value and the accuracy of theories,
but prefers to work on business lines and
show tangible results in her undertake
ingS. she is not satisfied to promote the
cause of temperance by making speeches
and passing resolutions. but has been
working for several years to establish at
tractive teahouSeS and places where
workmen and others can rest and gossip
and smoke their pipes over temperance
drinks instead OF loafing around the filthy
public houses and drinking the vile poi
sons that are sold for almost nothing TO
the poor.
Work of a Practical Sort.
Her work in behalf of other reforms and
in every branch of philanthropy has been
of that practical sort. and she has in
spired others with her own sensible ideas.
She has been active in sending nurses
into the mountains and to the moors
where the cottagers are entirely without
medical attendance and could not pay
doctor If they could get one. She has as
sisted to establish free diSpensarieS where
people could come to be treated and OBJ
tain medicines TO take home with them;
she has been organizing societies to send
instructors in housekeeping throughout
the kingdom and to aid the department of
agriculture in securing competent teach
ers to go among the peasants cabins and
instruct the women and young girls how
to practice household economy, to teach
them to sew, to cook, to mend and other
household arts. She has been deeply in
tereSted in the schools for lace-making
that are now established everywhere
throughout Ireland to educate the young
women TO support themselves. Her prac-
tical mind has organized agencies for the
sale of the handiwork of the young wom-
en- who are thus educated so that they
now receive prompt returns for their la
Dor.
Lady Aberdeen has done a great deal to
create a market for Irish lace. by per-
suading the dressmakers of London and
even some of those of Paris to use it as
much as possible and to make it fashion
able. The best dressed women in the
kingdom now wear ii In almost every
form. so that there is a constant and In
creasing demand for coats. dresses, waists,
Scarfs, collars and trimmings.
And she has not limited her exertions to
the benefit of her own sex. You will
remember the Irish village at the Chicago
exposition. That was her idea and it did
homespuns, tweeds and other fabrics that
it has since been necessary to maintain
permanent agencies in all of the large
cities of the United States, Canada and
other countries for the sale of those
goods.
Conducted by Royal Irish Industries
Association
This enterprise was conducted by the
Royal Irish Industries Association an or
ganization which has commended itself to
all Irishmen without regard to creed
politics. rank or station. and it has had
remarkable success in extending the sales
of Irish products of all sorts and stimuli
lating native arts and crafts. The move
ment has been financial success also
and although it has had its fat years and
Its lean years, the annual reports Indicate
that 1t is not only. permanent institution
but a profitable one. 1t has not only
been self-supporting, but has a surplus
in its treasury which has been used judi
ciously to aid in the establishment of
small industries throughout Ireland. At
the annual meeting held a few days ago
it was shown that during it's lifetime of
twenty years the association had sold
directly in England alone more than $3.50
600 worth of Irish home products with
out including the sales of other agencies
Last year from its surplus profits more
than $4,000 was used to aid Irish work
men TO start in various industries.
The association does not handle or find
market for goods of ordinary descrip-
ton. but is intended solely to benefit in.
dustries that are carried on in the house,
hold and in the home.
Irish Women's Health Association.
Perhaps the most important movement
that the Countess of Aberdeen has UNI
dertaken is the organization known as the
Irish Women's Health Association AS
its name implies. it is intended to i'm
prove the physical conditions of the peo-
pie by local organizations, which she is
founding in every town and village in
Ireland. These organizations are COM
posed Of public-spirited women of all
classes. who are willing to devote some
OF their time 10 practical work that will
improve the physical sanitary conditions
of the poor homes of Ireland provide
nourishing food for the children teach
habits of cleanliness of person. clothing
and habitations: teach the necessity of
proper ventilation and the advantages of
fresh air and frequent bathing: to in
struct housewives and young women how
TO prepare food so as to secure the great
est degree of nourishment: to provide for
medical inspection of schools and school
children and require daily physical exer-
else; 10 secure inspection of food in the
markets. to prevent and punish the sale
of impure or tainted fish, meat, milk and
other supplies. to have all milk inspected:
10 have all bakeries inspected: to secure
the enforcement of the sanitary laws: to
establish dispensaries. hospitals. sani-
tariums and free medical attendance
where 1t is needed. and to do various
other things for the physical welfare of
the community.
What Lady Aberdeen Says.
In explaining the movement itself
Lady Aberdeen says: The Women's Ma
tional Health Association is intended to
do from the inside of the country what
the officials are unable to do from the
outside, and TO so cooperate with them
in protecting and improving the health
Of the community and in building up
generation of men and women in Ireland
who will be physically stronger than
their parents. There ID no doubt that the
race has been deteriorating by reason of
intemperance and other vices, by neglect
of hygienic and sanitary laws. by insuffi-
cient nourishment by poor cooking and
by the excessive use OF stimulants. We
want TO correct all this as far as we can.
beginning with the infants. by teaching
m, tne-s how to care for them properly
and give them proper food. This can be
done only by household work and by
woman who can so into the homes and