Page:Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham.djvu/349

  Ladies' Card Club, like that of their Edgbaston predecessors of a century back.

Women Guardians.—The introduction of the female element in the choice of Guardians of the Poor has long been thought desirable, and an Association for promoting the election of ladies was formed in 1882. There are now two women Guardians on the Birmingham Board, and one on the King's Norton Board. Taking lesson of their political brothers, the members of the Association, experiencing some difficulty in finding ladies with proper legal qualification to serve on the Board, "purchased a qualification," and then run their candidate in. The next step will doubtless be to pay their members, and, as the last year's income of the Association amounted to £12 4s. 11d., there can be no difficulty there. 

 Yeomanry Cavalry.—The last official report showed the Warwickshire regiment could muster 213 on parade; while the Staffordshire had 422.

Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A.-See "Philanthropic Institutions." 

 Zoological Association.—Early in 1873 a provisional committee of gentlemen undertook the formation of a local society similar to that of the Regent's Park, of London, proposing to raise a fund of £7,000 towards such an establishment, partly by donations and partly in shape of entrance fees to Fellowship (fixed at £5). It was believed that with a fair number of annual 40s. subscriptions and gate money from the public that such a society might be made successful; several handsome donations were promised, and a lot of "fellows" put their names down as good for the rivers, but when, a little time after, Edmunds' (alias Wombwell's) agents were trying to find here a purchaser for their well-known travelling collections, the piecrust proverb was again proved to be correct.

Zoological Gardens.—Morris Roberts, the ex-prizefighter, opened a menagerie in the grounds of the Sherbourne Hotel, and called it The Zoological Gardens, May 4, 1873. The animals were sold in April, 1876, the place not being sufficiently attractive.

