Ragged homes and how to mend themBayly, Mrs. (Mary)
History
Ragged homes and how to mend them
Bayly, Mrs. (Mary)
Charities -- Great Britain; Poor -- England -- London
“NOW, all this kindness, sympathy, and so forth, that you talk about, are
very well in their way; but you surely find you cannot do everything you
wish amongst the poor by these means? What do you say to them about
their dirty ways, their bad management, neglect of their children, and
all that sort of thing?” The answer to this question, put to me a short
time ago, would occupy more space than could be spared in the limits of a
small book. I will not, therefore, attempt more than a single
illustration in reply.
One subject that comes under my notice, very frequently, is the inquiry
for places of service for the daughters, sisters, and friends of the
higher class of women in our society. Many secrets of service have been
confided to me; and I ought, therefore, to be wise; but the subject is
difficult. It is painful to be constantly hearing from mistresses that
there are scarcely any good servants to be met with; and from servants,
“there is no good places going, scarce.” Something must be wrong. That
two classes so necessary to each other, and intended by the wise Disposer
of all events to bless and benefit each other, should entertain such
feelings of animosity and ill-will, is deeply to be deplored. If there
is any remedy for so great an evil, if any solution of so difficult a
problem is possible—here, almost more than on any other subject, is there
room for the whole energy of the philanthropist—here is one of the most
direct roads that can offer, to the elevation of those who greatly need
raising, and to the amelioration of our whole social system.
I think it must now be three or four years since several circumstances
brought this matter more prominently before us. I said that we would
give up one evening to the special discussion of it. I appointed the
next week, and invited the mothers to bring with them their own
daughters, and any young people they liked. The number that came, shewed
that the subject was popular with them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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