A store in Hunslet had an ingenious manager who knew how to compose a label and how to write it neatly. A card on beef, or butter, or bacon, said "Really fine,"" Very choice," "Delicious," "Take the piece," "Pick of the market," "Fit for a Queen." Anyone looking in the window felt he could not do very wrong in buying something. Every label kept clear of the egotism of the shopkeeper-" Buy our pickles,' "Our speciality is buttermilk."

The Holbeck Works were a good day's work to go over. I should not have objected to a week's engagement for inspection, as I found they paid trade union wages and work only the recognised number of hours per week. The Society's wholesale storerooms-the Feeding ground of the branches

were a

sight to see; a succession of food chambers about 70 yards in length. The countless rows of hams daintily suspended in compartments of white wood, might tempt a vegetarian to falter in his wholesome faith. Though I saw but half there was to see, I was hungry for a week after. But if I told everything of every branch, the reader might not live to the end and would not forgive me if he did. As the reader has seen the first flour shop he ought to see the last branchthe new stores in Burley Road, not quite completed-comprising drapery, meat, and boot departments. It is a bright, obvious business structure such as purchasers love to see.

The Secretaries.

A

CHAPTER X.

GOOD secretary is as the keeper of the Queen's conscience, since he keeps the conscience of the Society. He generally knows what it ought to do, and always knows financially what it can do. Following is a list of the secretaries of the Society so far as they are known :

1847. Mr. Emmerson.

July, 1849.-G. R. Thomas.

June, 1850.-Edwin Gaunt, to 1853.*

June, 1856.-William Emmerson.

January, 1858.—W. Bower—James Prentis, clerk.
June, 1858.-James Prentis, to 1874.

1874.-W. Benson.

1874.-S. Slater.

May, 1874.-William Swallow, to about May, 1880; and then Mr. J. W. Fawcett, the present secretary.

EMMERSON. Mr. Emmerson, who has elsewhere been described, had been a schoolmaster, and with many excellent qualities he retained his pedagogic habit, and sometimes treated the members with the peremptoriness then thought becoming in a schoolmaster, which the members-not being childrenresented, and so trouble came. This was the only ground of

* Mr. Gaunt cannot be traced beyond 1853, neither can it be said who was secretary from that time to 1856.

the strong difference of opinion regarding him, to whose intelligence, fidelity, and great service, the prosperity of the

Society in his day (1847-1856) was a good deal owing. This came to be discerned, and he received the respect due to many merits.

He

FAWCETT.-Mr. John W. Fawcett, who has exceeded all secretaries in the length of time he has held the office, was of Leeds birth, and inherits the energy and capacity for work characteristic of Leeds men. He was born on August 30th, 1844. Being one of a family of eleven children, of limited income, early activity befel him. Taking interest in the affairs of the Society, he was elected on the local committee of the Bank Store about the year 1870. Mr. Hunn, who afterwards became manager of the coal department, was then storekeeper of the Bank Store. It may truly be said that Mr. Fawcett never sought office, but on each occasion was pressed into service. He appears to have had a passion for work, and was content with that pleasure where he was. was pressed to join the Board, and his name appears among the directors in 1872. Afterwards he was invited to fill the place of auditor, which he held for a short period. At that time a rearrangement of the office staff took place, and the directors advertised for a cashier. There were seventy-five applicants, but Mr. Fawcett was not one; but when the Board had to make a choice, they had difficulty in selecting a suitable person. Some appeared to think that Mr. Fawcett was the kind of person they wanted. During their deliberations Mr. Fawcett was auditing in the office below the Boardroom. One of the directors came to him and asked him to allow his name to be placed on the list of applicants. At first he refused, believing that if his name was added to the list it might impair the chances of one applicant personally known to him a very generous reason for declining. Learning afterwards that his acquaintance had withdrawn his name, Mr. Fawcett gave his consent, and within the hour he was informed he had been elected for the post. This was how Mr. Fawcett became cashier in May, 1874. In 1880 he was appointed secretary on the retirement of Mr. William Swallow. Mr. Fawcett's integrity and devotion have commanded the highest estimation of the Society. In addition to editing the monthly Record he has served on the committee of the Newspaper Society, at present represents the North-Western Section on the Central Board of the Co-operative Union, and has been ceaseless as an advocate far and near. The stranger finds in him accessibility-the charm in an officer where it exists. His energy is an unusual quality, for energy