g news. He writes at this time with
respect to the brushmakers:

During the last six months orders have poured in from all quarters,
and I can say that all the years I have been connected with the
Institution we have not done so much before in the same time.
Brushes manufactured indoors in 1882 amounted to L3200. The present
year, from the 1st January to the 1st of June, amounted to L1471:
6: 4 in twenty-two weeks.

There was an Industrial Exhibition in the Agricultural Hall, Islington,
in 1883, and the blind stall from Berners Street was always crowded.
Farrow writes:

If the manager of the Agricultural Hall had given us a better
position in the body of the hall no doubt we should have done more
than we did. The sales amounted to about L110. The donation boxes
yielded L15. The cost of the undertaking about L29. The profits of
the sale and [contents of] boxes included came to L50, leaving a
balance of L21. I superintended the arrangements of the benches as
two years ago. The workpeople who represented the different
branches are as follows.... I visited the hall several times for
the purpose of examining the machinery, to see if there was
anything to be learnt for the benefit of the Association.... This
year we have the whole of the work of the L. S. W. Railway, and we
have also obtained that of St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington. For the
future I will not send in any tender unless I see the samples
first, as it was often done before without my seeing them.

This blind man who "examined the machinery" and must "see the samples"
is one after Bessie's own heart, and there was always a merry laugh of
approval when she spoke of his letters.

A conference was held at York in 1883 on the condition of the blind. It
was followed in 1884 by a meeting at Sheffield on the same subject, and
presided over by Lord Wharncliffe.

Bessie had, at Lord Wharncliffe's request, furnished suggestions and
information. He writes as follows:

WORTLEY HALL, SHEFFIELD, _12th January 1884_.

MADAM--I have taken the liberty of sending to you a copy of the
_Sheffield Daily Telegraph_ containing the report of our meeting on
Thursday last, and have to express to you my warm thanks for the
kindness with which you answered my letter, and for the valuable
suggestions contained in your reply.