ship or management is concerned, it seems probable that many would gain as many have gained-by finding their level amongst strangers of their own sex, class, and age. It is certain that brains and brightness, attractiveness and ability, generally are likely to be chosen whenever they are candidates for office. Moreover, a woman's Committee never has much mercy on what it knows to be sham sentiment, controllable manifestation of temper, or any other strategies for obtaining disproportionate attention. It may, therefore, be presumed that the effect of such semi-public discipline is not wholly deleterious.

All know that every Committee, every Club, have difficulties, nor do the Ladies' Club Committees escape household, financial, and social troubles. But we are told that these are not in excess of what common-sense might expect.

There are various kinds of Ladies' Clubs, exclusive of those to which ladies are admitted as guests, or those which are available alike for men and for women. There are several provincial Ladies' Clubs, and in all centres for 'shopping' their inauguration is only a matter of time, and their success an affair of personnel. These Clubs generally would be places in which to eat, to rest, and to see papers and magazines, and to which to send the children with the governess, after the dentist,' or some such lively family entertainment. Children are probably only admitted to the waiting-room; but, as a rule, the domestic considerations of housekeeping and shopping are the basis and end of such membership. The arrangements of the Club are made with economy but with neatness; the Treasurer is often a little anxious as to the balance-sheet; 'wild women' would never go near it, one is pretty sure, but most unexceptional ladies have formed it and drawn up precise rules. It is a house, or two or three rooms, supported by subscription for a special purpose-let it pass for a Club. It includes and excludes at its own will.

In London there are many organisations which hire rooms for social evenings and the like, Clubs for those belonging to the wage-earning classes (though they speak of their salaries, of course), in which more or less aid is given by others of recognised social position, not as charity towards, but in sympathy with, those who otherwise would have little chance of comforts which they keenly appreciate. Under whatever name promoted, both Clubs for Working Girls and Clubs for Business Women (the names must be carfully chosen to avoid giving offence to the innumer

able classes of society below the salt), all Clubs deserve support which give women who work a place in which to rest, to enjoy reading, to write in silence, to eat cheaply in cleanliness and comfort. The difficulties of such Clubs are-firstly, social, owing to the susceptible natures of those whose position is ill-defined, and whose nerves are a little overstrained; and, secondly, financial. The subscription must be low or members cannot pay it, and low subscriptions and inexpensive food, with temperance drinks, have to meet high rents and the many outlays necessary to keep a Club clean, cheerful, and central.

There are various grades of such Clubs, but only those with some social standing fall within our limits. Because it started life within the borders of what we chiefly mean by Clubs, we name first The New Somerville, 231, Oxford Street, founded in 1888, inaugurated by Mrs. Fawcett. It originally stood on a somewhat different basis, but it is now used as a 'social' rendezvous by women of professions and of opinions. The Committee are anxious that it should be considered as open to all women of all parties; its special features are its monthly gathering, its weekly debate, and its library. Its rooms are bright and cheerful. It has 700 members, at IOS. subscription and 10s. entrance fee. Membership is obtained by sending references to the Committee. It seems to be acceptable to those women-workers who might otherwise lead solitary lives.

The Ladies' Club (16 & 17, Holles Street, Cavendish Square, S.W.), under another name, had a somewhat unfortunate career. It is in 1892 newly reorganised as a proprietary and residential Club, entrance fee £3 35.; annual subscription £2 2s.; family subscription £5 5s. ; proprietor, Miss Harrison, of whom membership, by three reliable references, or member's and two other references, may be obtained: this 'Club' purports to be for 'ladies who come to town for shopping, engaging servants, etc.' Its situation is good.

The Writers' Club (a sort of offshoot of the idea of the Authors' Club), at present is very young indeed; but, if it is properly managed, there is no reason why it should not succeed. It has about 150 members; entrance fees, one guinea, town ; half-guinea for country members; subscriptions, the same; only women engaged in literary and journalistic work are eligible. They must be proposed and seconded by members, the names placed on the notice-board, balloted for, and one black ball in ten excludes. Its President is Mrs. Stannard (' J. S. Winter'),

and its domicile is 190, Fleet Street. It might be made the proper complement to the Authors' Club, but it is too soon to say whether it will sink or swim in this respect. It has a very strong raison d'être in the need felt by many for such a place in the neighbourhood of the Strand, where women engaged in journalistic work can write in silence, dine, see the newspapers, and meet their friends. Its two difficulties (beyond those of other Clubs) will be the tendency of the literary women of position to think it second-rate, and the unreasonable expectations and assertions of its influence by those barely qualified for membership. An MS. sent from the Writers' Club will be an MS. still, though, in coming years, the Club may be the Whiteley of editors lacking means of provisioning themselves!

Next on the list comes a really striking Club, also limited in numbers by the qualification required. Twenty-five honorary members may be elected, who are not otherwise eligible for membership of the University Club for Ladies, if they have taken a prominent part in education; but, with the exception of these distinguished women, only the 'girl graduate' and her guest can enter the Club, or rather, the rooms, at 31, New Bond Street. Membership is confined to graduates, medical practitioners, and students or lecturers, who have been three terms at the Ladies' Colleges, undergraduates who have passed the examination next after matriculation, or students who have passed the first professional examination of any Medical Corporation. Needless to say, the rules are extremely business-like, and the whole tone of the Club appears to be healthy and cheerful. It numbers about three hundred members; the subscription is a guinea, entrance fee the same; it fulfils excellently its purpose of promoting and continuing a mutual fellowship between women educated at an University,' and its rules as to honorary members enable it to pay tribute to distinguished women, who in latter days have so greatly increased the helpfulness and happiness of their kind.

In the last, but as yet in the chief place, is The Alexandra Club, 12, Grosvenor Street, W., an unqualified example of success and of good management. Its members are proposed, seconded, and supported by its own members; they and all guests introduced must be eligible for presentation.' Men are under no circumstances admitted to it. It has eight hundred and fifty members; the entrance fee now stands at five guineas, and the subscription is five guineas for both town and country

members, though such ladies as have lately joined under these terms may be later elected in rotation to fill gaps in the list of original members. At present the list of members is quite full, and names must be put down in advance. The balance-sheet published by the Finance Committee is thoroughly satisfactory. As will be seen, the Alexandra Club and the University Club are the two which best compare with Men's Clubs of good standing ; the Alexandra is the only one based on a 'social qualification.' It is very well furnished, and the management and appearance of the dining-rooms are all that could be desired. In fact, it is a large and flourishing Club, and can challenge the closest scrutiny as to its ways and means.

This result has not been attained without the exercise of much discretion on the parts of the Finance and General Committees, and many have been the amusing and troublesome incidents of their management. It is needless to say that anything more respectable and decorous-even to dulness perhaps—was never seen than the rooms of the Club. It is very much used for luncheon and tea, as might be expected, and the Library, with its rule of silence, is a delightful refuge for the busy woman.

To sum up what has been sketched as to the Club-life of Women in England. Experiments point to success in its promotion. Women are fit for it, enjoy it in its proportionate place, and, as a matter of fact-given certain very common conditions of social power and knowledge-they are quite Club-able. It is no use saying they cannot manage Clubs, for they are doing so. It is of no use to say it will hurt them to belong to a Club, for it seems to have very little effect on their characters, though it suits their convenience, to have all Club advantages. Mixed Clubs may be formed for other purposes, and must have greater advantages for some, but it will probably be found that Men's Clubs for men and Women's Clubs for women are the latest work of civilisation. What was impossible is now accepted as natural. There are those who lament over the epoch of solitary cross-stitch and beadwork. But we prefer our days of innumerable opportunities of co-operation, usefulness, and happiness, and, as we have to live in them, possibly this contentment with our century may not be altogether deserving of stricture.

CAMEOS FROM ENGLISH HISTORY.

САМЕО СССІІІ.

1746-1748.

THE BITTER END.

THE wanderings of Charles Edward were far from the saddest part of the close of the rising of 1745. Who gave rise to the idea is not known, but the English soldiers certainly imagined that there were orders in the Stewart army that no quarter should be given; and it seems as if ferocity had been actually sanctioned by the Duke of Cumberland and General Hawley, who regarded the opposite troops as rebels, not coming under the ordinary rules of honourable warfare, whereas the insurgents had always treated their prisoners with generous kindness.

The Duke had been no barbarous enemy in the German wars, but he seems to have made up his mind to stamp out Jacobitism. He ordered his cavalry to pursue the enemy, and give no quarter. The little town of Culloden was not to be encumbered with prisoners, and the dragoons of Colt Brigg and Falkirk were brave enough to kill those who could no longer fight.

A whole party of officers, eighteen in number, all wounded, who had been carried to the office house at Culloden, were brought out, drawn up in line, and shot down by the soldiers, who afterwards, to make sure of them, beat them on the head with musquets. One of these unhappy men, John Fraser, belonging to the Master of Lovat's regiment, survived this usage, and seeing a Scottish officer, who proved to be Lord Boyd, entreated to be put out of his misery or carried to a cot-house at a little distance. The latter was done, and by the aid of the owner, Fraser continued in safety there for three months, before walking on crutches, and having lost the use of an eye and a hand, he reached his home, to find it burnt and ruined. However, his wife was living, and happily succeeded to a fortune left her by her brother. Fraser was far more fortunate than many of his