WORLD OF WOMEN 4I4 that the complaint was prompted by malice. Remarkable though it may appear to those unaware of the society's methods, the cases it deals with are not discovered by its inspectors ; the great majority of the com- plaints are directly due to the distribution of these leaflets. Someone knows of a child's sufferings, of a parent's carelessness; the paper explains what can and should be done. How the Society Works During the year 1909-10, the society undertook an mquiry into 52,670 cases. Of this number, 30,273 were reported by the general public, 6,596 by the police, and 11,126 by other officials. This left 4,675 only as cases discovered by 250 inspectors. Thus, women who work for the society form a huge inteUigence department through which knowledge passes, and from which beneficent action follows. Quite naturally, the public could not be expected to report cases if there were any reason to fear that persons offending would be harshly dealt with. Public confidence in the society has grown steadily. This is due also to the voluntary workers, who have caused it to be known that the policy of the society is what its name implies — prevention, that its methods of inquiry are fair, and its treatment of cases humane. Explanatory leaflets are also given showing that it is by warn- ing rather than by prosecution parents are induced to perform their duty towards their children. Emphasis is laid on the fact that the proportion of warnings is high, that of prosecutions low. Of the 52,670 cases referred to as being reported in 1909-10, only 2,466 came into courts of law. As a great educational force, tlu society's women workers have been carrying on a great effort against ignorance in their attempt to show that where the parents of children are concerned " Ignorance is not innocence, but sin." These workers are constantly circulating a httle paper entitled, " How to Bring up a Baby." Knowledge has thus been given to a vast number of mothers which will enable them to bear healthy children. Other leaflets give instructions how to act in " Cleansing Heads," how to avoid " Risks of Burning," and deprecating the use of " comforters," or dry teats. Pubhc attention is being called to the large number of deaths amongst children due to burning accidents, and to an equally large number due to overlying whilst the child is in bed With an adult. Women workers are constantly engaged in recommending mothers to avoid clothing One of the inspectors, children's man their children in garments made of cheap flannelette. In the year 1908 there were 1,423 children under five years of age who suffered the terribly painful fate of death from burns or scalds. How to Help the Society In all these things, discovering cases of cruelty, helping to reduce the rate of infant mortality, giving information as to health and the proper treatment of children, these workers are engaged in a practical and patriotic attempt to improve the condition of the country, and to remove the national disgrace inseparable from the existence 0/ the present state of things. Great as are the accomplishments of the society's helpers in the direction already^ indicated, there are other realms in whicn their efforts are equally successful. The society has no endowment. Though carrying on a vast national work, it has no grant from the State. It is entirely dependent on voluntary contributions. To carry on the work of its 250 inspectors, who may be described as the specialists called in to deal with the cases reported, and to maintain the whole organisation, a sum of ;^7o,ooo to ;^8o,ooo is required every year. Women who distribute literature also collect subscriptions. The country is divided into what are called branches, and. within the area of these branches there are numerous smaller districts, in which house-to-house collections are made by the society's helpers. A large proportion of the sub- scriptions, which totalled £41,000 in the year 1909-10, were secured in this way. Then donations, col- lecting-boxes, and cards produced
- ^5,ooo. Entertainments and sales
of work accounted for nearly ;^6,ooo. The Children's League of Pity raised £8,500, so that in all some £58,500 came to the society's treasury through this channel. Thousands of the subscriptions w'ere given in sums under five shillings, and many were made in even smaller amounts. The whole society is a triumphant exposi- tion of the glory and beauty of woman's work. No restrictions surround its workers ; they are found in all classes, they excel in noble deeds. The government of the societ)/ is shared by women ; on local committees, on the central executive, on the general administrative council — a democratic body, consisting of two representatives from each branch — ^they have rights of speech and of voting. This is as it should be in an organisa- tion that seeks to improve home hfe, to establish the right of the child to proper treatment at the hands of its parents. Women of Great Britain who. wish to help should write to the Director, N.S.P.C.C., Leicester Square, London, W.C
