ociety
when I was young, but oh, what hard work it was to go to it after nine
in the evening and try to work, and it's hard work now, though people
think you can be as brisk and wide awake after sewing twelve hours as if
you'd been enjoying yourself."

In 1875 a few dressmakers, who had observed intelligently various
organizations among men-tailors, boot-makers, etc., started an
association of the "dressmakers, milliners, and mantua makers," designed
for mutual benefit, a subscription of twopence per week being added to a
small entrance fee. Rules were drawn up, one or two of which are given
illustratively.

"Each person on joining is required to pay _one penny_ for a copy
of the rules, _one penny_ for a card on which her payments will be
entered, and _one shilling_ entrance fee--but the last may be paid
by instalments of fourpence each. After thirty years of age the
entrance fee shall be 6_d._ extra for every additional ten years.

"Members not working in a business house, or not working in the
above trades, can only claim sick benefits, but the usual death
levy shall also be made for them.

"In case of death each member will be called upon to contribute
_sixpence_ to be expended as the deceased member may have directed.

"When a member is disabled by sickness (excepting in
confinements), a notice must be signed by two members as vouchers
to the secretary, who shall appoint the member living nearest to
the sick member, with one member of the committee, to visit her
weekly, and report to the committee before the allowance is paid,
unless special circumstances require a relaxation of this rule. The
committee may require a medical certificate."

Excellent as every provision was, and admirable work as was
accomplished, the women, as is too often the case with women, lost
mutual confidence, or could not be made to see the advantage of paying
punctually, and the association dwindled down to a mere handful. In 1878
it reorganized, and its secretary, a working dressmaker, who learned her
trade in a West End house, has labored in unwearied fashion to bring
about some _esprit du corps_ and though often baffled, speaks
courageously still of the better time coming when women will have some
sense of the value of organization. Her word confirms the facts gathered
at many points in both East and West End. The East has reduced wages to
star