She said, however, that as a class they have many virtues.  For instance, they are very kind-hearted, and will always help each other in trouble.  Also, most of them have affection for their children, being careful to keep them, if possible, from any knowledge of their mode of life.  Further, they are charitable to the poor, and, in a way, religious; or, perhaps, superstitious would be a better term.  Thus, they often go to church on Sundays, and do not follow their avocation on Sunday nights.  On New Year’s Eve, their practice is to attend the Watch Night services, where, doubtless, poor people, they make those good resolutions that form the proverbial pavement of the road to Hell.  Nearly all of them drink more or less, as they say that they could not live their life without stimulant.  Moreover, their profession necessitates their walking some miles every night.

For the most part these women lodge in pairs in their own flats, where they pay about 35_s_. a week for three unfurnished rooms.  The Officer told me that often some despicable man, who is called a ‘bully,’ lives on them, following them round the streets, and watching them.  Even the smartest girls are not infrequently the victims of such a man, who knocks them about and takes money from them.  Occasionally he may be a husband or a relative.  She added that as a class they are much better behaved and less noisy than they used to be.  This improvement, however, is largely due to the increased strictness of the police.  These women do not decrease in number.  In the Major’s opinion, there are as many or more of them on the streets as there were fourteen years ago, although the brothels and the procuresses are less numerous, and their quarters have shifted from Piccadilly to other neighbourhoods.

The Army methods of dealing, or rather of attempting to deal with this utterly insoluble problem are simple enough.  The Officers walk the streets every night from about twelve to two and distribute cards in three languages according to the nationality of the girl to whom these are offered.  Here they are in English, French, and German:—­

Mrs. Booth will gladly help any Girl or Woman in need of a friend. APPLY AT 79 Great Titchfield Street, or 259 Mare Street, Hackney, N.E.

[Illustration:  BONNES NOUVELLS.]

     Vous avez une amie
     qui est disposee a
     vous aider.

(S addresser) Madame Booth 79 Great Titchfield Street, Oxford Street, Londres, W.

     MADAM BOOTH will herzlich gerne Jedem
     Maedchen oder Jeder Frau helfen, die sich
     in Noth auf eine Freundin befinden.

     259 Mare Street, Hackney,
     70 Great Titchfield Street, W.