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    340 INTEBFEBENCE.

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  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

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    B W11 Two .A.T \H Or Interference Throe ...

    pation throughout workhouses ) is tlie main cause of all tlie miserable ling and quarrelling that goes on in our wardswhere those are

    wrang laced to rule who have no claim or riht to rule , and where there is p in fact perfect equality of positionand g perhaps , only still greater

    , defects in character in those who govern . We may indeed well mourn and lament over such a picture of old age and infirmity as is

    presented to us in these its asylums in England ! In every instance where objections have been raised against lady

    visitors , they have been ascertained to proceed from the master and matronignorant and prejudiced personswhowere predetermined

    not to oppose an , insult the _" to innovation lace ladies . " of I ask education if it , is even fair , , or of hi rather h birth if it in is , p , g ,

    such , a position ? If guardians and others in authority would but see the matter in

    its true light , they would find that their best safeguard would be to define and authorise the work of the visitorswho would then be

    , under control , and would have the sense of working- under authority ; whereas at present all is vague and desultory , and in many

    cases each one goes her own way , without even any co-operation with , her fellow-workers .

    It is , therefore , no matter of surprise that in the present state of things a few instances such as we began by noticing , should

    have occurred ; but far from discouraging us in the work , it should rather lead us to search closely into the causes of difficulty , and to

    apply a remedy , not to abandon or resign it in despair . The loss we have sustained in Mrs . Jameson has never been so

    forcibly brought to my mind as in writing these remarks . The battle we are fighting * was one she bravely fought at its very

    commencement ; and to her influence it is greatly owing that we have been able to do anything in this cause ; but there is still much to

    be done , and every help is needed to insure success . The conviction may have already penetrated the minds of the upper classes ,

    ( chiefly , we believe , owing to Mrs . Jameson ' s lectures , ) but far more time is needed for it to reach those of the middle and lower

    ranks of men , with whom the power rests ; for in them is vested nearly all the management of our public charitable institutions .

    In conclusion , I would say a word to those women who are anxious to take their share of workand willing to offer their

    assist-, ance in the " communion of labor . " I would earnestly remind them how much in the future depends upon their own conduct in the

    present state of things , and how great is the need of caution , discretion , and judgment in all our proceedings . In many instances the

    balance may be said to be even now turning either in our favor or against us : women excluded from co-operation after a trial

    of the plan , are probably excluded for years to come ; for the decision once made we can hardly expect it to be revokedat least

    whilst the same parties are in office ; so strong an admission , is

    _scarpely to be looked for in the present state of feeling regarding

    340 Intebfebence.

    340 _INTEBFEBENCE .

• Citation
  • English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), July 1, 1860, page 340, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01071860/page/52/