4th March.
We have received the twenty-seventh annual report of this very valuable and equally unassuming Society, which has been carried on now for so many years entirely by the ladies of Shanghai, the only mere man whose assistance is accepted being the auditor. It may be mentioned that the officials of the Society are Mrs. Hodges, Mrs. Brand, Mrs. P. F. Lavers, and Mrs. J. L. Scott, the two last-named undertaking the onerous and honorary duties of treasurer and secretary, respectively, the other committee-women being Mesdames Boisragon, Bruce Robertson, Dowler, Harding, Kirchner, and Tours. The members, whose names are given in this report, number 150, of all creeds and nationalities. Shanghai is such a large city now that it only requires a little more knowledge of the Society and its work to have this number doubled. The report shows that the sum of $1,968 was expended during the year, while the subscriptions only amounted to$1,432. Nevertheless, the Society at the close of the year had a balance in hand of $630, "owing to an extremely handsome donation of $774.46, part of the proceeds of a Charity performance given at the Country Club, without which our balance would have been a very small one, as there is a falling-off in the number of subscribers this year." Ib is noted that twenty-seven cases, of which fourteen only were new ones, received pecuniary assistance during the year; and thanks are given to Mr. Shaw and Messrs. Mactavish and Lehmaon for supplying the Society with milk and medicine at reduced rates.
The report continues "'Phose of our readers who may refer to last year's report, in which the subject was especially touched upon, will notice that the number of deadbeats and generally undeserving males, principally of the seafaring class, is steadily on the increase. Nob half of those who apply for help receive it, as they are more often than not utterly unworthy, but the constant appeals of such individuals at the doors of private houses is becoming a serious nuisance, and the Committee finds it more and more difficult to cope with them, so it has been decided to give no further assistance to any such applicants unless they bring letters of recommendation from some really reliable source. The casual ward, for which we have pleaded more than once, seems as far off as ever, and the powers that be do not apparently realise that something more than a committee of ladies is needed to deal with this question adequately."
The question of destitute foreign-era in an International Settlement like this is a very troublesome and delicate one. It is understood that any foreigner who is actually without food or shelter can get a meal and a shake-down at one of the police stations; but however distressed one of these deadbeats may represent himself to be, he invariably shies when the police station is suggested to bim; "he has never been in a police station yet, and he does not want to begin now." The establishment of a casual ward, for which the ladies tell us they have pleaded more than once, is a matter that requires a good deal of consideration. A home open to all foreigners without visible means of subsistence would soon be a very considerable drain on municipal finances, and would attract to this port the most undesirable class of immigrants, while it might be difficult for the Council to get authority to impose a labour test.
There is a very graceful notice in the report of Mrs: Hodges, the late President; " she will be much missed, as she has been identified with the L. B.S. since. 1887, having been twice President for a term of years and once Hon. Secretary, She took the deepest interest in the welfare of the Booiety, as did also her husband, the late Chaplain of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.