Page:The Feminist Movement - Snowden - 1912.djvu/113

 was not provision; in rags and dirt they slept upon the floor. In the same rooms they lived, cooked and washed. With the proceeds of their clamorous begging when any stranger appeared among them they purchased liquor from a tap in the prison. Spirits were openly drunk, and the ear was assailed by the most terrible language. Beyond the necessity for safe custody there was little restraint upon their communication with the world outside. Although military sentinels were posted on the leads of the prison, such was the lawlessness prevailing that the Governor always entered this portion of it with reluctance.'

Mrs Fry was horror-struck with what she saw. A domestic calamity prevented her from taking immediate action, but at a later date she paid a second visit to the prison, and made a suggestion to the women which they received with alacrity. She suggested that they should form a school for the children and select a teacher for them from amongst their number. This they did, appointing a gifted young Irishwoman to this curious post. Such was the success of this scheme that the women themselves clamoured for instruction and sought permission to enter the class with the children. This led to the formation of an Association for the Improvement of the Female Prisoners in Newgate. Rules for the government of this society were drawn up