FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



additional support ; in f ac*b, we had hardly a 

 refusal. 



The Society had no funds worth mentioning, 

 nothing material to fall back upon if our new 

 schemes led to financial disaster, so we had, 

 amid many misgivings, to live mainly upon faith 

 with an intermingling of hope by way of sus- 

 tenance. This being so, the utmost economy in 

 administration had to be practised. The Society's 

 resources were not equal to the provision of an 

 office-staff, any more than was the secretary's 

 honorarium. But, though lacking worldly means, 

 I had not long previously being in sore need of 

 companionship taken unto myself, among other 

 serious responsibilities, what turned out to be 

 quite a valuable acquisition in the shape of a 

 better-half. This went far to solve the staff diffi- 

 culty, inasmuch as I graciously conferred upon 

 her the rank and title of " assistant secretary," 

 with all the emoluments, perquisites, etc., per- 

 taining thereto. These were limited mainly to 

 such honour and glory as the status of the position 

 represented. 



The appointment entirely justified itself, being 

 quite a success in many ways, the new official 

 rising to the occasion, and taking her duties in a 

 thoroughly serious spirit. With feminine re- 

 sourcefulness, she organized working-parties of 

 lady friends, who foregathered for tea and the 

 addressing of envelopes, and for the doing of 

 other clerical work suited to their capacity. As 

 her activities developed, her hand in affairs became 

 more manifest, and correspondents became curious 

 to know how it was that office-communications 



38 



