WORK AMONG LONDON'S POOR.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14400, 6 July 1912, Page 6

WORK AMONG LONDON'S POOR.

LIFE IN A FACTORY GIRL'S CLUB

There is staying in Christchurch at present, a lady who has a experience of life' in the poorer quarters of England's great metropolis. Miss Emily Prangnall, who has devoted raany years to her charitable labours, is the founder of a club for factory girls in the South-East of London. -This club is one of a number of similar institutions of which there are altogether about 150 in London and the provinces. Miss Prangnall first commenced her work among factory girls with tho' Congregational Union's institution in Collier's Rents, and then formed a club of her own, with tho aid of a few friends, which sho has carried on for some seven years. The club has ah average attendance of 70 girls of over fifteen years of age, about 100 being on the books, while a junior division for girls under 15 years numbers SO, thus making a total-of nearly 200. Its object is to supply the girls with the refining influences of which they have been deprived by lack of education and absence of any home-life. Thoughundenominational in character, religious instruction forms tho chief feature of the club. The girls are also taught singing in class, drill, and practical needlework, and are initiated into such mysteries of domestic work as layjiigtables, arranging flowers, and similar tasks. Principles 'of thrift are inculcated, and the girls are encouraged to pay something for the benefits they receive, for Miss believes that tho indiscriminate exercise o" -"charity destroys the sense of gratitude. Accordingly,: the girls pay contributions towards thc"r dressmaking expenses, tho club purchases the materials with tho money, and teaches the girls how to make their dresses. , Another point which is found to work very well is •% yearly holiday of a week spent at the seaside. To. ..this object, each, girl contributes ss"a year., Affiliated clubs assemble annually, when competitions and a display of work are held, and prizes are awarded. Altogether, those clubs do excellent work in giving girls a home and teaching them to interest themselves in tho moj-e agreeable side of life.