“works are no more than animate faith and love.”
longfellow.
in spite of the heavy demands of her own special duties, miss buss found time for much public work in which to use her large experience.
she always knew exactly what she was doing and what she intended to do. in the expressive colloquialism, she was “all there,” and she was always there. whatever she knew she knew well, putting it in its own place, ready for use. the half-knowledge, with its consequent mental vagueness, that contents most of us was impossible to a mind so clear and strong.
and she knew her own limitations, never professing to go beyond. when we remember how wonderfully vivid her imagination really was, we are surprised that it could so be held in leash. in art she gave it free play; and also in history—the story of human life which is the subject of art—she could let herself go. we who knew her in rome could never question her power of imagination.
in italy, she not only found but she used her wings. elsewhere, her imagination found fullest scope in glorifying common things; in seeing through the commonplace, thus consecrating common duties, and calling out the best and highest in common persons—possibly 288a form of genius more rare than that which can turn out fine verse or fine pictures.
here is a list of work which it overwhelms the average mortal merely to contemplate. but wherever she found herself she worked, and nothing that she undertook to do was left undone.
miss buss was a governor as well as founder of her own schools.
she was president and one of the founders of the head-mistresses’ association.
she was on the council, and on three committees of the teachers’ guild, of which she was a founder.
she was on the council of—
the cheltenham ladies’ college,
the church schools’ company,
the maria grey training college for teachers,
the cambridge training college for teachers,
the royal drawing college,
the woman’s branch of swanley horticultural college.
she was a governor of—
university college, london,
milton mount college,
aberdare hall,
west ham girls’ school,
grey coat school, westminster,
sarah bonnell school,
london school of medicine, and was also on the
committee of the national health society.
as well as an associate of—
college for working women,
london pupil teachers’ association,
university association for women teachers,
art for schools association, and of the
somerville club.
she was interested in—
the london institution,
governesses’ benevolent institution.
foremost among later works must come the teachers’ guild, of which the first origin is due to miss buss. like 289most things undertaken for or by women, it began on the strictly practical or economic side; though it now embraces the highest ideals of educational possibilities. it is now devoted to securing the best conditions on which the teacher can best grow; but the first start had to deal with the question how the teacher might live at all.
and as we found the germ of all the higher education for girls in the “report of the governesses’ benevolent institution,” we find ourselves going back to that report for the origin of the guild which aims at the highest development of the teacher.
governesses, as a class, come to poverty and dependence not from extravagance or self-indulgence, but from sheer self-sacrifice, in unselfish devotion to the claims of relatives, and to no class is thrift more difficult. the effort to make it possible was from the first one of the leading impulses of miss buss’ work. as early as 1866, a letter from dr. hodgson shows that she had then discussed the subject with him—
... “you may remember the tenor of my remarks in camden street on the ‘reports of the governesses’ benevolent institution.’ when i spoke of saving for one’s self, i wished merely to give, for completeness’ sake, the other side of your phrase ‘saving from our friends.’ the duty and advantage of saving are common to both sexes. individual cases might be dealt with, or judged, according to circumstances; but the general doctrine must be preached without reserve.
“it would be much nearer my notion to say: ‘earn sixpence a day (if you cannot earn more), and save out of it a penny, or, if that be not possible, then a halfpenny, or if that be not possible, then a farthing. in any amount, however small, let the claims of the future be recognized.... let the general duty and wisdom of saving be taught and recognized. then let the needful allowances be made in individual cases. it may be more meritorious, because more difficult, for one person to save ￡5 than for another to save ￡500. let each judge himself as he would another.”
290no subject was more constantly present to miss buss’ mind, but no practical steps were taken till, on december 2, 1881, the women’s education union appointed a special committee to consider the question of establishing a teachers’ provident association, of which miss buss was a member, with mr. g. c. t. bartley, mr. rowland hamilton, and mr. shaen; mrs. burbury acting as honorary secretary.
in 1882, a plan was submitted to the head-mistresses’ association, of which miss buss thus writes to me—
“our provident association is not yet started, but i do not despair. a lady is at work getting up figures, and if all is well in october, we shall go at it again. by ‘we’ i mean the association of head-mistresses. we want a sensational article for our provident movement. will you write it? i mean, we want the fact of death in the workhouse, misery known to the ladies’ guild, etc., brought out.”
as member of one of the relief committees of the working ladies’ guild—a society founded by lady mary feilding for the help of distressed gentlewomen—i had heard much of the sufferings of governesses, and had discussed with miss buss the best ways of giving relief. at her request, i now wrote a paper on “thrift for teachers,” in which i suggested some co-operation between the ladies’ guild and “some possible guild of teachers.” this paper appeared in november, 1882, in miss l. m. hubbard’s work and leisure, a magazine containing the germ of many now important works. in august, 1881, miss hubbard had published a paper on “co-operation among governesses,” which was followed, in december, by a meeting to consider the scheme finally taking form as the “women teachers’ self-help society”; with a provident fund and free registry.
miss hubbard suggested printing off some copies 291of my paper, which miss buss circulated among the school-mistresses’ and head-mistresses’ associations; but no immediate practical results followed, nor did anything come of a consultation with mr. heller to consider amalgamation with his provident association of elementary teachers.
it was not till december 1 that miss buss wrote—
“i think something might come of the notion of the ‘guild.’ the only thing is that it does not seem sufficiently definite and practical.... we have secured the services of a very able woman, miss beth finlay, as lecturer on ‘savings.’ she is ready to take the matter up as soon as we shall have arrived at some conclusion.”
on february 7, 1883, a small preliminary meeting was held in the library of the north london collegiate school, of which miss buss writes on january 26—
“i saw miss ward of the training college on wednesday, and find that she is very anxious about a provident scheme. she also thinks well of the teachers’ guild movement. she suggests that we should hold a very small meeting of a few earnest persons. will you be able to come, and suggest some names of those whom you think we might ask?”
the ladies present at this meeting were miss buss, miss metcalfe, miss agnes j. ward, miss dunlop, miss hodge, miss rouquette, miss townsend, the misses ridley. some others were invited who were unable to be present.
from the minutes taken on this occasion, i find that miss buss read a report which had been presented to the head-mistresses’ association, and discussion followed on each point of this report. it was finally agreed that the provident and the aid societies must be kept apart.
the name was changed to that of “teachers’ provident guild.” a committee was formed of the persons 292then present, and miss jenny rundell was proposed by miss ward as honorary secretary, with the address of the training college, then in skinner street.
on march 12, 1883, miss buss writes—
“at a committee meeting of the head-mistresses’ association held last thursday it was resolved to establish a teachers’ guild, the objects of which were to be—
(1) to provide mutual help and sympathy.
(2) to maintain a high standard of moral and mental education.
(3) to encourage provision for sickness and old age, and to found homes of rest and associated homes.
(4) to assist teachers in obtaining situations.”
this action was confirmed on march 16th, at a meeting of the school-mistresses’ association, when miss agnes j. ward read her paper on the “principles and practice of thrift among teachers.” at this meeting a sub-committee was formed to establish the teachers’ guild.
the guild was definitely organized at the conference of head-mistresses, held in june, 1883, at croydon, when miss hadland, head-mistress of milton mount college, offered her services as honorary secretary, if the purposes of the guild might be widened by the omission of the word “provident.” miss hadland also secured the use of an office in the memorial hall, farringdon street, lent by her friend the rev. r. j. verrall. the clerical work was done at milton mount college, with the assistance of the rev. r. guest.
a provisional committee met fortnightly, working out the constitution of the guild, till, on february 23, 1884, the inaugural meeting was held in the rooms of the society of arts, with the right hon. a. j. mundella in the chair, and with an attendance of the leading educationalists, whose interest had been excited in the new work.
293at this meeting, mr. storr stated that he—
“thought it only right that the names should be given of the two ladies to whom mainly this movement owes its initiative. one is miss buss—not only the doyenne of head-mistresses, but the mother of us all—i mean of us ‘brethren of the guild.’ to miss buss’ energy all the earlier results are due before the accession of miss hadland as honorary secretary, of whom it may be said that without her unwearied labours during these eight months this meeting could not have been held.”
miss hadland resigned her post as honorary secretary to mr. jocelyn de morgan, who was appointed secretary, in the new rooms taken for the guild at 1, adam street, adelphi. he was followed by mr. garrod, at 19, buckingham street, and in the present office, 74, gower street.
with the appointment of canon percival as president of the guild, miss buss and miss hadland retired from public view, but for some time they continued to exert a very strong influence. miss buss was especially active in the appointment of the secretaries, making full inquiry before proposing the candidate, as she had very high ideas of the qualifications for this office. the value of the guild in raising the professional aspect of teaching soon became evident to her, and she omitted nothing that could work to this end.
the same feeling for struggling teachers that led to the formation of the teachers’ guild moved miss buss in the origination of the “teachers’ loan society.” the idea itself seems to come from miss beale, who thus refers to it in a letter to miss buss, dated november 26, 1882—
“i have not yet had time to give the loan system a fair trial, but i have no doubt of its success.... i think there should be such a society attached to every large school, and a small number—say, a triumvirate—should administer the funds. we have 294assisted five now.... i do hope something will be done to establish some such system. it is so much better morally than gifts and scholarships, as it makes the pupils think of their responsibilities.”
miss buss enlisted miss ewart’s interest in the scheme, and a committee was formed consisting at first of miss buss, miss ewart, mrs. stair-douglas, mrs. hertz, mrs. fitch, mrs. dockar-drysdale, and myself. miss ewart became honorary secretary, mainly supplying the loan-fund, and to the present time has devoted herself to this work, proving effectually that the “amateur” can be thoroughly business-like, and that a very large amount of most useful work can be done in perfect silence, known only to those who have reaped the benefit of it.
every educational work seemed to enlist miss buss’ help, as we find that, from 1865, she was a frequent visitor at the working women’s college, founded by miss martin.
as early as 1869, dr. hodgson gauged miss buss’ powers, and determined to use them in a sphere wider than her own work. he wrote to her as follows—
“my dear miss buss,
“i have a great favour to ask from you, though it affects your own sex more than it does me. i wish your consent to be nominated on the council of preceptors. the meetings, as you will observe from the card enclosed, are only eight in the year, and all these need not be attended. but no lady has ever yet been on the council, and some of us are determined to break through the barrier of custom which obstructs the doorway left open by the constitution of the council. you will have a large and powerful support, and success is almost certain, even at the first attempt.
“this will be a battle worth fighting. i have written to every member of the council whom i have thought at all accessible to reason, and every answer is favourable. now, i confidently reckon on your passive support. you are not required either to labour, or to wait, at least beyond the 11th inst., when the election will 295take place. your consent is all that is needed, and i am sure, for the sake of the principle involved, you will not withhold it.”
“dec. 16, 1869.
“you would see from the papers that you were elected on the council. though you come after the three gentlemen on the list, you came before them in the voting. you had fourteen votes, each of them had only twelve.”
in 1871, apropos to a deputation from the college of preceptors, dr. hodgson again writes—
“my dear miss buss,
“i am very sorry that you are in such a chaos. i think it extremely important that the claims of women to equality of recognition in all education should be kept in view. they are too apt to be forgotten by even those who are in principle favourable, so inveterate is the inequity, i.e. iniquity, of english practice in this respect. your presence on the deputation will be a valuable protest as regards both the existence of the claims themselves and the fact of their being recognized by educational bodies. the nail must be struck on the head again, and again, and again. wonderful has been the advance already made, but the battle is very far from being already won.
“yours ever truly,
“w. b. hodgson.”
in 1873, miss buss sent me a letter from mr. christie, proposing to elect her a life-governor of university college, in which she adds—
“could you write to mr. christie in such a way as to answer his question about my ‘services to education’?
“i cannot well see my way to a fair estimate of my own work. at all events, it is easier for some one else to estimate it for me.”
her own letter to mr. christie may be given—
“202, camden road, dec. 5, 1873.
“dear mr. christie,
“i fully see the principle you desire to assert by proposing me as a life-governor of university college, and i shall 296be very grateful, not only for the honour conferred on me, if i am elected, but also for the great impetus which would be given to women’s education, by such a recognition. university college has been, of late years, so liberal to women that i trust the opposition to such a course as you propose would be less than formerly.
“i send you a pamphlet containing a sketch of the origin of our two schools, but as we have made much progress since it was written, and it is difficult for me to put a fair estimate on my own share of the success, i have asked one of our lady trustees to give you an estimate. i am sure you will shortly hear from her.
“with many thanks,
“believe me,
“frances m. buss.”
at the end of 1894, when lord reay “deplored the loss of many distinguished members of the college,” miss buss’ name appears in a very notable list, including lord bowen, lord hannen, sir henry layard, professor henry morley, sir j. r. seeley, and professor romanes.
in early days, the pressure of her own work, and in later days, the state of her health, often prevented miss buss from appearing in public. here are two out of many invitations declined with regret on this account—
“faversham, sept. 24, 1871.
“dear miss buss,
“i begged miss ridley to tell you that i had not ventured to express our very great wish that you might be present at the education conference at norwich, but i take courage now to ask, if it is impossible for you to go, whether you would send any written message or statement referring to any point you most wish to draw attention to yourself. miss beale has sent us a most excellent paper, giving her views on school organization in the form of an account of her college and its work. we hope there will be an earnest discussion of educational topics, and if you would take part in it by writing, if not in person, you would greatly enhance the value of the conference. i do not know if miss ridley or miss 297gurney is going, but, faute de mieux, i need not say how glad i should be to read any communication of yours.
“i do not yet know on what day our conference is to be. it will form part of the work of the education section of the congress.
“ever truly yours,
“emily a. shirreff.”
“queen’s college, oxford,
“july 7, 1893.
“my dear miss buss,
“i am desired by the committee appointed to carry out the arrangements for the conference on secondary education to request you to be so kind as to prepare and read, or cause to be read, the paper on schools for girls (higher and second grade) at the first session....
“my wife and i will be very much pleased if you will give us the pleasure of entertaining you during such time as you may be in oxford during the conference.
“i am,
“yours very truly,
“j. r. magrath.”
mrs. bryant, who represented her on this occasion, speaks of the great regret felt by miss buss in declining what would have been a crowning pleasure in her life. she could, however, take a very real satisfaction in the enjoyment of her substitute. still more to be regretted was her inability to take her place on the second royal commission of inquiry into secondary education, a place filled, in consequence, by mrs. bryant.
the last invitation for public work that she was able to accept was from mrs. fawcett—
“royal commission on women’s work.
“education sub-committee, 2, gower street,
“july 18, 1892.
“dear miss buss,
“the education sub-committee met here on thursday last, and it was unanimously resolved to beg you to become a 298member of it. we do not meet very often, and do not propose to meet now till after the holidays. we would endeavour to suit the day and time to your convenience, if you are good enough to consent to join us.
“the present members of the committee are myself, miss m. gurney, miss kingsley, miss louisa stevenson, miss flora stevenson, miss r. davenport-hill, and miss tod.
“up to the present we have had only two meetings, and if you are good enough to join us, i would send you up our minutes, that you may see what our short history has been. we should all greatly value your counsel and co-operation. if there are any questions you would like to ask as to the work of the sub-committee i shall be very pleased to come and see you at any time convenient to yourself next saturday.
“yours very truly,
“m. g. fawcett.”
this sub-committee received from the royal commission ￡100 to send a representative to report on american education, as shown at chicago and elsewhere, and appointed miss hughes of the cambridge training college for teachers. five other ladies went with gilchrist scholarships for the same sum, and eight with scholarships from the city companies of fifty guineas each. among the latter was miss sara a. burstall, an old pupil and present member of the staff of the north london collegiate school for girls.
the work connected with this committee was very pleasant to miss buss, and she was able to attend many of the meetings. she was also able to be at the concluding reception, when mrs. fawcett and miss gurney entertained those who had taken part in it. this was the last public occasion on which miss buss was present, but miss gurney was struck with her enjoyment and energy, in spite of her too-evident failure in health.
in medical education for women she was from the first full of interest, as well as in the allied branch of 299trained nursing. there is some animated correspondence with mrs. grey, in which the question of women medical inspectors of the girls’ gymnasiums is discussed, mrs. grey not seeing her way to it in the company’s schools. but, as soon as it was possible, miss buss had secured this supervision, of so much value in the case of delicate girls. miss julia cock, m.d., now holds the post at first occupied by mrs. hoggan, m.d.
mrs. garrett-anderson, m.d., was for several years a member of the governing body of the north london collegiate schools for girls, elected as one of the representatives of the brewers’ company. she pays affectionate tribute to the memory of a friend of many years, as she says—
“there are very few people whose memory i would wish so much to honour as i do miss buss’, and it is a real distress to me not to be free to be present on monday.
“it is difficult to say how much all who care for the uplifting of women owe to her, both as a pioneer and in her splendid work as a school-mistress. i hope and believe that her name will long be cherished and honoured.”
mrs. thorne, also among medical pioneers, speaks strongly too—
“she has been such a good friend to women that all will feel her loss, more particularly those who had the privilege of her personal friendship. from time to time, in the course of the past fifty years, i have been in occasional contact with her, and, though so many had far greater claims upon her interest than i, i always knew that i could turn to her as a good friend if necessary. she was one of the earliest supporters of the medical education of women, and was one of the governors of the london school of medicine for women.”
the question of the employment of women was one that touched miss buss more closely than any other, since the needs of women was the very mainspring of 300her efforts in education. any opening that would attract the girls not fitted for teaching was sure of her support. here is a note, dated march 11, 1875, of interest at the present date—
“a new department is about to be created in the post-office. it is to consist entirely of ladies by birth and education, who will have to pass an examination in (1) handwriting and orthography, (2) english, (3) arithmetic, and (4) geography. thirty ladies are to be nominated as quickly as possible, out of whom ten will be selected as first-class clerks, with a beginning salary of ￡80 per annum.
“would this be of the least use to your friend? if so, there is no time to be lost.”
the placing of women on the school board and on boards of guardians enlisted most active co-operation from miss buss from the earliest days of such movements. in her busiest times she could always arrange for a drawing-room meeting, and much canvassing work was arranged at myra lodge, on the occasion of the first school board elections. every one who can remember those days will recall the excitement and enthusiasm with which she greeted the arrival of the post-card with the announcement—
garrett 47,558
huxley 13,494
the elections of miss davies, miss chessar, miss garrett, and mrs. maitland on the school board, and of lady lothian, miss andrews, and miss lidgett on the st. pancras board of guardians, were events that made the “seventies” stirring times for women. and in this stir miss buss came very much to the front. she never could make a speech in public herself, but she was the cause of many speeches that were made then and since then.
301like so many of the most thoughtful women-leaders, miss buss placed the suffrage question in the forefront of things likely to help the position and moral power of women. she saw no discrepancy between the possession of a vote and the development of the domestic virtues; and she believed that the possession of power would tend to make women worthy to use it, in opposition to the other view that it may be well to educate them for this use before giving it. we used often to argue this matter, as i inclined to the latter view, though i could not be blind to the utter absurdity of refusing to such women as frances mary buss the power given to the most illiterate or debased peasant.
in politics, miss buss was led by her heart, as most women will be to the end of time, being the missing factor that will, in the good days coming, redeem and raise political life from its present depths. this woman was inevitably on the side of progress and reform, and being herself too wise to even imagine unwisdom, might easily have been led too far where her sympathies were touched; as, for example, on the home rule question, into which she threw herself with all the ardour with which in her youth she had followed the anti-slavery movement in america, and, later in life, the war of italian unity.
here is a little story told by one of her friends, which is very characteristic—
“she liked us for being in favour of home rule for ireland. one night, at myra lodge, she sounded me on my political views. i tried to evade her questions, and said i feared my views would be unpalatable to her (she looked, to my thinking, like a tory). when, after much pressure, i said, to show how bad i was, ‘well, miss buss, if you must know, then i approve of home rule!’ she skipped over the room like a girl of seventeen, to mrs. bryant, and said, in delighted tones, ‘mrs. bryant, mr. —— is a home ruler!’ and brought her over to me. it was delightful to see her pleasure!”
302it was not delightful to refuse her that pleasure by not responding sufficiently to her enthusiasm, much as i, for one, would have liked to do so. but it made no difference whether one quite said as she did, or not; for she might have suggested those words of george eliot’s: “that seems to me very great and noble—the power of respecting a feeling one does not share or understand.” in all discussions it was hers “gently to hear, kindly to judge.” for real tolerance it would have been as difficult to match her as in the strength and vigour with which she maintained her own ground. that she was loyal to england if tender to ireland her words to her nephew show, when she says—
“sept. 24, 1891.
“are you coming with your choir to the naval exhibition? naval recruiting has gone up twenty per cent. since the opening of this exhibition! i have paid a second visit, and am more than ever proud and thankful to be an englishwoman. we are, indeed—in spite of our many sins—a great nation, the greatest on earth.”
whilst firmly centred at home, her sympathies still widened out to all the world. miss e. a. manning writes on this point—
“as illustrating the wide sympathies of miss buss outside her effective and concentrated work, i am glad to have the opportunity of referring to the friendly interest she showed in regard to the visits to this country of students from india. to such as desired to see the working of the north london collegiate school she gave warm welcome; and, whenever she was able, she attended the soirées of the national indian association, entering with a most kindly spirit into their object, that of promoting intercourse and mutual knowledge between individuals of different races. naturally the progress of indian women especially attracted her attention, and she liked to take occasions of bringing it to the notice of her pupils. in 1885 miss buss (with the permission of the governors of the school) arranged for a meeting, in the great hall, of the 303national indian association, where mr. m. m. bhownaggree, c.i.e., read a comprehensive paper on the ‘conditions and prospects of the education of indian women,’ and we were afterwards hospitably entertained by her in the gymnasium. at a later date i gave an address at an ‘old pupils’ meeting’ upon ‘home life and customs in india.’
“i may add that when mr. soubramanyam, of madras, now a very successful barrister, came to england, accompanied by his wife (who was almost the first indian lady to venture on such an undertaking), miss buss made their acquaintance, and they have always remembered her friendly attentions during their three years’ stay here. the fact that many of her pupils had taken up medical and educational work in india, and had temporarily settled there, tended to strengthen her interest in the conditions of life in that country; but i was constantly struck by her full, free recognition of all efforts for good, even though she had not time nor opportunity to enter into the practical details of such efforts. her sympathetic encouragement, as well as her example, inspired many with hopefulness and persistence.”
she was greatly interested in the peace society, and did much to promote the formation of a woman’s auxiliary of that society, first suggested at a meeting held on june 2, 1873, at the house of my father, when mrs. julia ward howe, of boston, spoke, with professor j. r. seeley in the chair. my father had offered a prize of ￡5 for the best essay written by miss buss’ pupils, and won by miss edith kemp.
in the following year, miss buss was at home, on june 2, “to the friends of the woman’s peace movement,” and a paper was read by miss bennett, “on the best way for women to use their influence to prevent war.” a resolution was adopted to the effect that “the meeting forms itself into a local committee in connection with (or in support of) the peace society.”
in reference to this meeting, miss buss has written—
“we certainly should form ourselves into a branch committee, and local, as mrs. southey (the honorary secretary) lives on the 304other side of the water. if many were formed, we might have a grand meeting of all the branches, once a year, at st. james’ hall.
“i think it better to strengthen existing organizations than to start new ones. i like your leaflet.”
the meetings of the branch went on for several years, and then, for want of support, it came to an end.
temperance was another subject in which she took increasing interest, as it came more directly before her in the work of the rev. septimus buss and his energetic wife, so well known in shoreditch. miss buss became practically an abstainer, and the subject was brought before the old pupils on more than one occasion. miss frances willard received an enthusiastic welcome at one of these meetings, and a note to her shows the feeling of the head-mistress—
“myra lodge, jan., 1893.
“dear miss willard,
“as one of the many englishwomen who have long known and admired your great work in the united states, i send you a hearty greeting.
“i felt it a great privilege to be personally introduced to you, and only regret that the necessity of rest during the holidays has prevented me from attending some of the large meetings called to do honour to you as a teacher and a leader in the great cause of temperance.
“believe me,
“very faithfully yours,
“frances m. buss.”
from the nature of her own work, miss buss was unable to take any active part in the work of mrs. josephine butler, miss ellice hopkins and others, for the promotion of a higher standard of morals; but her sympathy was with every wise effort in this direction, and, in several instances, when her head disapproved the means used, her heart went out to the sufferer from 305rash but well-meant endeavours. i can recall the intense feeling with which she told me of the direct action of the queen in relation to a well-known case of this kind. of such sympathy mrs. percy bunting speaks warmly—
“how much she has done in her life, and with how true and loyal a spirit! she has always been so high in tone, and courageous, and generous-hearted, and warm in friendship. she has always lived a noble life, and we women owe her in particular a debt of gratitude. she has taken a broad view of what was needed, and has used her influence all along the line, as it were, for the welfare of women.
“and now she rests in god. renewed and enlarged, she will in some way realize what she hoped and prayed for here. i think her example and influence have left a good harvest, as it is. as women look back, they will always feel that she was one who helped their cause in the days of its unpopularity. and she has her reward.”
all workers among the poor know her helpfulness, and strong testimony comes especially from the clergy of holy trinity. but the best must always remain untold, as being associated with the deepest life of those helped. in london, in the midst of her busy life, she could not give much of personal effort or time to the very poor, though she could and did give sympathy, as well as substantial help, without stint. but at boscombe she could use her leisure as she pleased, and miss edwards, who during her long residence with her knew her life intimately, gives us a little glimpse of her there—
“it is largely owing to the fact that miss buss lived up to what she taught, morally and spiritually, that she has been such a power in so many hundreds of lives. she was so generous and kind-hearted, always ready to help others to help themselves. at her country cottage she would regularly send, and occasionally take with her own hands, relief in various forms to those who needed it.”
306a story of her consideration for her old cabman has already been given, but a very recent sequel may be added, as showing how downes’ own feeling went on after his death to his successor, who recently took the opportunity, in recognizing an old “myra girl,” to lead up to a talk about miss buss, ending by his saying, “they do say there’s as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it, but we shall wait long enough for another like that!”
also, at the funeral, an old pupil, who could not get into the church for the press, heard one of the crowd remark, “if all funerals were like this, every one could not be buried!” to which a poor woman responded, “if everybody was as good as that good woman, earth would be heaven, and no one would need to be buried!”
in addition to all that she did accomplish miss buss had dreams that failed of realization for want of time and strength. here is one, of which we often talked, though circumstances were too strong against our action in the matter—
“when you and i can have a talk, i want to suggest to you the beginning, on a small scale, of an orphanage, like miss haddon’s. you and j. might adopt it? i should want you to let me throw the force of our school into it, making clothes, helping the outfits, finding places, etc. surely, too, we could find some volunteer teachers among the old pupils? we might always notice it in our magazine, too, and so make friends for it. i feel honestly that, at present, i could not undertake the responsibility, though i would help as much as i could.
“what say you? do not set it aside without thought. you and your parents do so much already that it would only be concentrating your efforts. a little house and a good matron are wanted. i think my dear cousin would take an interest in it, and let the girls have some training, as servants, in my house.”
