The Comic Almanack, Volume 1: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and OdditiesThackeray, William Makepeace
Philosophy
The Comic Almanack, Volume 1: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities
Thackeray, William Makepeace
Almanacs, English -- England -- London; English wit and humor
About this time my Jemmy became one of the Ladies-Patronesses of that
admirable Institution, "The Washerwoman's Orphans' Home;" Lady de Sudley
was the great projector of it; and the manager and chaplain, the
excellent and Reverend Sidney Slopper. His salary, as chaplain, and that
of Doctor Leitch, the physician (both cousins of her Ladyship's), drew
away five hundred pounds from the six subscribed to the Charity: and
Lady de Sudley thought a fête at Beulah Spa, with the aid of some of the
foreign Princes who were in town last year, might bring a little more
money into its treasury. A tender appeal was accordingly drawn up, and
published in all the papers:
"APPEAL.
"BRITISH WASHERWOMAN'S ORPHANS' HOME.
"The 'Washerwoman's Orphans' Home' has now been established seven
years; and the good which it has effected is, it may be confidently
stated, _incalculable_. Ninety-eight orphan children of washerwomen
have been lodged within its walls. One hundred and two British
washerwomen have been relieved when in the last state of decay. ONE
HUNDRED AND NINETY-EIGHT THOUSAND articles of male and female dress
have been washed, mended, buttoned, ironed, and mangled, in the
Establishment. And, by an arrangement with the governors of the
Foundling, it is hoped that THE BABY-LINEN OF THAT HOSPITAL will be
confided to the British Washerwoman's Home!
"With such prospects before it, is it not sad, is it not lamentable
to think, that the Patronesses of the Society have been compelled to
reject the applications of no less than THREE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED
AND ONE BRITISH WASHERWOMEN, from lack of means for their support?
Ladies of England! Mothers of England! to you we appeal. Is there
one of you that will not respond to the cry in behalf of these
deserving members of our sex?
"It has been determined by the Ladies-Patronesses to give a fête at
Beulah Spa, on Thursday, July 25; which will be graced with the
first foreign and native TALENT, by the first foreign and native
RANK; and where they beg for the attendance of every WASHERWOMAN'S
FRIEND."
Her Highness the Princess of Schloppenzollernschwigmaringen, the Duke of
Sacks Tubbingen, His Excellency Baron Strumpff, His Excellency
Lootf-Allee-Koolee-Bismillah-Mohamed-Rusheed-Allah, the Persian
Ambassador, Prince Futtee-Jaw, Envoy from the King of Oude, His
Excellency Don Alonzo Di Cachachero-y-Fandango-y-Castañete, the Spanish
Ambassador, Count Ravioli, from Milan, the Envoy of the Republic of
Topinambo, and a host of other fashionables, promised to honour the
festival: and their names made a famous show in the bills.
I leave you to fancy what a splendid triumph for the British
Washerwoman's Home was to come off on that day. A beautiful tent was
erected, in which the Ladies-Patronesses were to meet; it was hung round
with specimens of the skill of the washerwomen's orphans, ninety-six of
whom were to be feasted in the gardens, and waited on by the
Ladies-Patronesses.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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