The Argosy — page 211: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

194 Where shall I Spend my Holidays ? the remembrance of it is a perpetual delight, and I often pass a pleasant hour in looking over the photographic views I brought home, and in recalling my visits to each lovely spot. The House of Rest stands at the end of Babbicombe Downs. A long zigzag path, which takes quite a quarter of an hour to descend, leads to Oddicombe Beach, from which, and also from Babbicombe Beach, parties of ‘‘ visitors” embark for rowing. Here also are bathing machines, which, on fine days, are in great request. Another re- creation is found in driving to the neighbouring places of interest, which seem endless, Amongst so many fellow-visitors it could hardly be expected that all would be companionable, but I was agreeably surprised to find that all were friendly : everyone seemed eager to make new-comers happy and at home. The ladies who originated the idea of establishing this home (the Misses Skinner) reside quite near, take great interest in the wel- fare of each inmate, and visit the house daily. Miss Skinner has written a little pamphlet, which gives a far better description than I can attempt, and can be obtained on application to the matron. The House has been open for four or five years only, and twice during that time larger premises have been needed and taken. Even now bed-rooms have to be hired in the village. Twenty-eight in- mates can be accommodated in the House. The work and trouble to these ladies is very great; answering the letters alone must be irksome. ‘They conduct all the correspondence themselves, which not only saves the expense of a secretary, but also makes them feel better acquainted with each visitor by personal correspondence. Visitors are received at 12s. a-week without, or 5s. a-week with, a subscriber’s ticket. Subscribers of “1 yearly are entitled to one ticket to give to any woman who cannot afford to pay the 1r2zs. Any person wishing to subscribe to this excellent work can do so, or can send donations of money, books, furniture, or indeed anything likely to be useful where so much is needed. Every communication should be sent to Miss Skinner, at her private address, Bayfield, Babbicombe, South Devon. The food supplied to visitors is plain, but good in quality and un- limited in quantity ; milk is given with supper, no ale or other alcoholic drinks being permitted. In the evening games of various kinds are in vogue; charades, draughts, proverbs, &c., &c.; thus not one minute in the day is dull; my only complaint was that the days were too short and too few. If only this rambling attempt at description makes known to some of my fellow-women—especially those from the north, where it is not so well-known as in London—this well-named ‘‘ House of Aes,” I shall feel that I have done something to show my appreciation of the pleasure and benefit I derived from my visits, and of the kind- ness of the ladies who labour so devotedly for their poorer sisters. EONMIE OOO KS, (EC) m _ -