am_.] The Convention at Roche6ter. 395

ART. I1I.-AMONG FRENCH PROTESTANTS. IN the little town of Montbeliard, Doubs, the most Protestant department of France, noble work is being done on behalf of her own sex, especially of the poorer classes, by a Frenchwoman, Mdlle. Rosalie Morel. This lady has consecrated her entire existence to the cause of education and the advancement of women in her native town, and has also been unremitting in her labOUr! in the cause of the poor. MOlltbeliard is a manufacturing town, pur et 8imple, and Mdlle. Rosalie courageously set to work to battle with the ignorance, improvidence and general helplessness of the female part of the population. She set up a free night school for reading and writing, which was attended, on an average, by sixty young women who, at the end afthe term-the classes were only held in winter-underwent examinations and received prizes. In order to awaken sympathy between rich and poor, the same contrast of extreme wealth and poverty being found here as in England, in contradistinction to what is seen in lUral France, Mdlle. Morel secured the assistance of voluntary helpers, these being young ladies recruited from the wealth1. ranks. In many respects the scheme answered, but It was found that the young ladies, though well intentioned, were not to be relied upon, being uncertain and unpunctual. It is now proposed, therefore, to establish a new and smaller evening school, under the management of a selected staff, composed only of ladies who would undertake to work as regularly as if they were paid teachers. Instruction in reading and writing, however, was found not to be

ZncUalt.woman·a ft." ..... 1 September J4tb, 117L Madame Pape-Carpentier. 397

enough, utter incapacity in domestic affairs being the rule, and thrift and handiness the exception amongst these [oung women. Accordingly, Mdlle. Morel organise Sunday afternoon classes for women of all ages, who are taught ordinary needlework, cutting out, &c., some interesting and instructive book being read while the work goes on. This answers admirably, and has proved extremely popular. But perhaps the most popular of Mdlle. Morel's philanthropic works is her free library for both sexes, which is especially patronised by the young. The books are of course allowed to be car-. ried away, and among them are many amusing series popular among English boys and girls, such as the works of Mayne Reed and Jules Verne. Many are of an instructive nature, and theology is entirely excluded. Protestants and Catholics equally avail themselves of the night school, sewing classes and library. But Mdlle. Morel's endeavours did not end here. Finding a deal'th of 'good books suitable for young girls of the wor1.ingclasses, she set to work to write something that they should be able to understand, and that should be in harmony with their thoughts. Her true stories, " La piece de vingt Francs," and" Un million comptant," are admirably adapted for the young, the former being written for the humble, the latter for the better ranks.