The Washington herald., 1913-11-29
BEAUTIFUL WORK
OF ELIZABETH FRY
Set Aside Social Alluremens Because
of-Her Humaniy-loving
Heart.
BY FRANCEs sHAFFER.

It was a century ago that four Quak-
ers, on an errand OF mercy to gloomy.
repulsive Newgate prison, In London.
passed within sight of the wonlen's ward.
There they saw 300 women prisoners and
their forty or fifty little children hud-
died together. unkempt. IN squalid attire
and some of them looking more Hike
beasts than women.
A day or so afterward. with the de-
plorable picture fresh in mind, one OF
them described the black prison house,
the women. and all the -evolting condi-
tions, to the grest-hearted Quakeress,
Elizabeth Fry.
Accustomed as she was to scenes OF
wretchedness. she was appalled, by the
stories she heard, and determined to visit
Newgate prison and TO learn for herself
the lot OF the women prisoners.
When she applied for permission to
enter the ward where the women were
kept. the governor OF the prison, remem-
bering that they were recruited from the
scum OF the town and the country. ad-
vised her and the friend who accom-
panied her to leave their watches and
purses outside the doors, for the women
were no respecters of persons and might
easily snatch them away. But the Quak-
eress, q woman OF great wealth herself
the criminal, and she knew no fear.
When they reached the quarters where
the women and children were gathered,
she found the conditions all that had been
described. and worse The best and worst
of them were all mixed together. without
any attempt to separate the most de-
praved from the newest offenders The
boards Of the floor were their only beds.
raised a bit at the head as a makeshift
for pillows, their clothing was a wretch
ed combination of rags and Nth, and
they crowded up to the gratings tu-
multuously begging for money. which
was speedily exchanged for drink, easily
obtained in the prison.
When the placid-faced. soberly garbed
Quakeress looked upon that motley gath
ering Of women, idle all-for the author
tiles made no effort to give them en-
ployment-tempestuous degraded almost
TO the last degree in their habits and
speech, and with just one man and a
boy in charge, she did not know what
could be done to relieve their pitiable
plight, but she knew that something must
be forthcoming, and that right quickly.
When she returned home. all her house
hold who knew how to sew were set at
work making warm wooden garments for
ed around. and she enlisted the help of
other households until the most urgent
needs were supplied.
On her second visit to the prison she
gathered the women about her and talked
with them, and later unfolded to them a
plan she had to help their children Per-
suasively she pointed out to them how the
long hours OF idleness. the horrible lam
guage, and the worse scenes were leaving
81 IL RI he rhfl.
dren, and told them that IL they were
willing and would help just a bit she was
ready to start a school within the walls
Of the prison.
Her silver voice and manifest interest
quite won them over and they promised
to cooperate in the scheme. The authori-
ties. although distrustful of the women
| inmates, and very skeptical OF the plan,
nevertheless yielded to the gentle plead
ings of the Quakeress reformer. and a cell
was set apart for the school Filled tc
! overnowing with little children, girls, and
young women. it was a success from the
start and surprised and delighted all
even the objectors. 1t was not alone thai
| the children were instructed, kept out oi
mischief. and away from the degrading
SURROUNDINGS. but the mothers were
humanized in the process and their slum'
bering ambitions were aroused.
| Mrs. Fry and a few jealous womeT
| who carried on the ministrations amonl
| Newgate's unfortunate prisoners, sooI
| learned that much Of the dissipation ant
viciousness was due to enforced idlcness
And again the Quakeress worker among
, the worst of women determined tha
\ something could and must be done.
Once more there was opposition from
| the prison officials. who laughed at thu
scheme, and counted 1t worse than vi
sionary. Doubling. they still yielded. anc
Mrs. Fry and her committee OF womeI
| went to work, pledged 20 the improve
ment Of the female prisoners In New
gate" and to provide for the clothing
| instruction, and employment Of women
meanwhile hoping and expecting Z
bring about cleaner habits, thoughts, anc
manners OF living.
For a month they carried the schem,
| along, practically unaided, then they laic
| a petition before the city. begging thai
their work be taken under its wings
and the men who were sent to examine
| the results of their labors were so sur
prised at the transformation that they
were ready to grant anything. The civic
purse shared in the salary OF the ma
tron, and gladly co-operated in the work
As time went along Mrs. Fry and hel
helpers brought about wonderful changes
| in the dreary old Newgate prison. and the