The Distressed Gentlefolks' Aid Association and the Philanthropic Work of the Countess of Aberdeen - Conditions on Which Grants are Made - Some Pathetic Cases - Officers of the Associa-tion - Some Candidates for Aid - A Democratic Peeress - The Onward and Upward Association - The Campaign Against Consumption - Childhood Reminiscences - The Practical Upbringing of Little Patricians - The Slave-trader and the Earl - Peeresses who are Working for Ireland - "A

Countess with a Conscience" - Her Gospel of Work

Whenever possible, the regular grants are made conditional on friends of the applicant finding an equal amount, and the association has done most useful work in organising charity. To take one of many-cases. A clergyman's daughter was rendered destitute by the office in which her father had insured for a considerable sum failing on the very day of his death. She was beyond the age when there was any chance for her to obtain a situation, neither was she fitted to earn her living.

Miss Finn asked her to give the names of fifteen relatives and connections who might be willing to help her, and letters were sent asking each of the fifteen to promise to give their distressed relative one shilling per week. All agreed to do so, and in this way a pension of fifteen shillings per week was secured for the lady without drawing on the funds of the association, and without really burdening any of her relatives.

The Gentlefolks' Aid Association

The following cases, relieved recently, will give some idea of the good work done.

1. The "Colonel Knollys" military pension of £30 a year (as yet only partially endowed), called after the late chairman, has been awarded to an old officer, aged 72, who served in the Indian Mutiny, and

Crimean War, an efficient and zealous officer, not eligible for any war fund, and quite destitute.

2. The Northland Naval Pension (partly endowed) has been awarded to an admiral's daughter.

3. Grants have been made also to two daughters of rear-admirals.

4. Two sisters, one totally blind, the other afflicted with lupus in her face.

5. Three sisters, one mentally afflicted, the other with a serious complaint, and the third blind.

Royal Sympathy

The association is under the patronage of the King and Queen, Queen Alexandra, the Queen of Norway, Princess Christian, the Duchess of Albany, and Princess Frederica of Hanover, Great Britain and Ireland. The Queen showed great interest in the association when Princess of Wales. And only last Christinas Queen Alexandra sent a donation of fifty pounds.

The first chairman of the executive committee was the late Colonel Knollys, who gave himself unstintingly to the work. He was succeeded by Admiral Fremantle, who, busy man of affairs as he is, makes a point of attending every committee meeting, and, by his wisdom and patient investigation of the

Religion many cases which come up for consideration, is a pillar of strength to the association. Lady Fremantle is a member of the committee. Captain Charles Rolleston is the hon. secretary, and Athelstan E. Price, Esq., the hon. treasurer. The list of the members of council and the executive committee includes some of the best-known names in the religious and philanthropic world.

The association is unendowed, and the general fund barely suffices for the 132 monthly grants, and applications have constantly to be refused for lack of funds. The following cases are typical of many that are dealt with:

1. Ladies whose father left L7,000 a year, which they should have had but for a defaulting trustee, who misappropriated the whole of it. Ten pounds wanted at once to pay rates and taxes of a small boarding house, their sole means of support. A lodger had left owing L10, which they had counted on for paying these taxes.

2. Lady with brokers in the house for an old debt of rent - L3 I2s. - which must be paid at once or her furniture will be seized.

3. Lady and gentleman who, after terrible privations for two years, have secured a post abroad and need the railway fare for one of their children.

4. Food and lodging needed for a gentleman and his wife. He, the son of a clergyman and grandson of an admiral, quite unable to get work. His wife quite deaf and hysterical for want of proper nourishment.

But one need not multiply these distressing examples. Enough has been said to show the excellent work done by the Association and the opportunity which it offers to ladies to help those of their own class who have fallen into sadly reduced circumstances.

The Work Of Lady Aberdeen

These are democratic days and it is easy to catch the popular attention by denunciations of "the idle rich." But a very little reflection will show the other side of the shield - the "rich," who, with thronging social duties, contrive to do far more for others than those who denounce them.

When one considers the onerous duties which the Countess of Aberdeen has been called upon to fulfil in connection with the official appointments of her husband, who, among other posts, has twice filled that of Lord-lieutenant of Ireland (page 216, Vol. 1), and has been Governor-general of Canada, it is impossible not to feel amazed at the number of philanthropic enterprises which her ladyship has either founded or helped to develop.

Her name, indeed, is synonymous with charitable work, and it would be difficult to find another lady, either peeress or commoner, who has been engaged in more movements for the betterment of the community in general, and her less fortunate sisters in particular.

Her record of practical philanthropy covers a period of over thirty years, for it was not long after her marriage, in 1877, that the Countess began her good work by establishing mutual benefit clubs and societies for the servants of her households and for her husband's tenantry. Her first big scheme, however, was the founding of the Haddo House Association for the benefit of working women, farm servants, and domestic servants of all kinds. This association, which enrolled 9,000 members, ultimately became known as the Onward and Upward Association - "Onward and Upward" being the title of the monthly journal which Lady Aberdeen founded and edited in order to make the objects of the association more widely known.