"Onward and Upward"

The first volume of this journal lies before the writer as this article is being penned, and the Countess's editorial notes and articles reveal in a striking manner the true womanliness of her character and her heartfelt sympathy for those in want and trouble.

In the first number of "Onward and Upward" the Countess tells the story of the Haddo House Association; how a number of ladies, in December, 1881, met together at Haddo House to discuss what could be done to raise the standard of living among young women, especially farm servant girls in that part of the country, and how ultimately it was decided to form an association, admitting girls of all creeds, and to work for the elevation of women, "materially, mentally, morally, and spiritually - to help all who joined us 'onward and Upward.'

"We desire to encourage and help those," continued the Countess," who are battling on nobly with daily life, monotony, and temptations while they strive to live in the pure, bright presence of their Master. But at the same time we do not want to shut out the fallen sisters, but rather to pass on to them the Saviour's word of forgiveness and restoration, to show to them His power yet to purify life; and those who are still farther away, who seem to know that they have sinned, and yet who know well that they do not find life a very joyful thing in spite of all their seeming mirth."

The Mother Touch

And there is a delightful touch of mother-liness in the Countess's message to the children in this number. "My dear chicks," she writes, "it would never do for the magazine of the Haddo House Association not to have a special corner for you. And so we shall reserve a snug place for you. Please look out for it, and remember that we shall be very pleased to receive letters from you at any time. My little daughter Marjorie is going to take charge of the 'children's Corner' for me, so you must address your letters like this: 'lady Marjorie Gordon, Haddo House, Aberdeen.'

Now be quick and write. We want you very much to join the army who have put on their standard 'onward and Upward,' and have determined to march bravely after it."

Nor is "Onward and Upward" the only paper which the Countess of Aberdeen, with that energy and business acumen which is so characteristic of her, has founded.

A short time ago in Dublin she produced another monthly journal, entitled "Slainte" - a title which is Gaelic for "Good Health" - the purpose of the journal being to help Lady Aberdeen in her campaign against consumption in Ireland.

In her introductory note she wrote: "Why has so much in-terest been evoked in this national health movement? We can only find a reason in the fact that the people of Ireland, of all classes and creeds, led by the doctors and the clergy of all de-nominations, have awakened to the fact that a race of vigorous, healthy, temperate citizens is the greatest wealth that any country can possess, and that as there have been many sad causes at work undermining the health of the people of Ireland, a great and sus-tained effort must be made to eradicate these sources of trouble and to give to Ireland her natural right of being one of the healthiest countries in the world."

Of late years the Countess has devoted much of her time to the campaign against consumption, and in August, 1911, occupied the presidential chair at the annual congress of the Royal Institute of Public Health in Dublin. On this occasion the Countess made some interesting observations on the value of women's work and women's opinion in regard to maintaining the health of the masses. In her opinion, if they desired to have any great movement popularised and made to enter into the habits and homes of the people, they must have the women with them, or they would fail. According to her view, every mother in the land of necessity must mould the ideas and the conversation prevalent in the home, and when it came to matters of health there, indeed, they came against a stone wall if they wished to introduce reforms regarding food and dress, fresh air and children's training, without taking the mistress of the home with them. What mother was there who did not treasure sayings and recipes and customs handed down to her by her mother and grandmother? And then the Countess related some interesting reminiscences of her childhood. "I speak feel-ingly in this matter," she said, "from personal experience. I was brought up in a remote Highland glen in In-verness-shire, twenty - three miles from doc-t o r, parish minister, railway or telegraph station. Nothing but the most serious of accidents or illnesses would bring a doctor up to our end of the strath, and my introduction to health work was carrying about the remedies prescribed by my mother, who had to do the best she could for the people, acting under the advice of doctors by correspondence."

Soon after the Earl of Aberdeen became Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, in 1905, the Countess founded the Women's National Health Association, and all the work carried on by it is organised by her. Caravans are fitted out and sent round the country with competent men and women, who give addresses and distribute literature on the prevention of consumption in the towns and villages they pass through. The Countess also installed and superintends the running of a depot in Dublin for the supply of pure milk for poor babies. And the villages beg for the presence of the van which brings the milk.

Her Excellency, the Countess of Aberdeen, who has been a devoted worker in the cause of philanthropy and social service ever since her marriage in 1877

Her Excellency, the Countess of Aberdeen, who has been a devoted worker in the cause of philanthropy and social service ever since her marriage in 1877

Photo, Elliott & Fry