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"The Marshes called today to learn what to do about that unfortunate soup business that is really taking up all of our time in a most deplorable way..."

In 1839, Emily and Ellen were approached to raise subscriptions for and help run a soup kitchen for the "starving inhabitants of St. Helier".  It all began one evening when they were accosted by a well-meaning friend, William Hill, on an evening stroll.

Emily's Diary, 22nd of January, 1839 (p100)

  “Coming down St.Larwence Hill we met Mr. W.Hill – his head is full at present of a hobby of his own creating: soup boilers for providing the poor people with good soup twice a week – He is very anxious for us to try and raise a few subscriptions – 10s (is) quite sufficient to provide 50 pints of soup twice a week and he wants us to try and manage a boiler or two – I am sure we shall be able to manage it – and I am sure I hope we shall, for it is such an excellent thing…”

However, Emily soon found the demands of the "idle folks" were rather intrusive!

Emily's diary,  28th January,1839 (p133)

  “Just because Louisa and I both wanted to be particularly busy this morning, those idle folks have been keeping up a regular siege the whole day and in consequence we have done next to nothing.”

However, Emily carried out her duties, and embarked on her first day as a "soup dispenser".  She found it had it's own rewards in the flattery and attention that she received for her labour.  Her enthusiasm was still strong enough at the end of the day to go out collecting subscriptions, and her writing appears to imply that she gained a certain sense of self-fulfillment from the whole proceedings - at least at this stage!

Emily's diary, 29th January, 1839 (p138)

  “At an early hour this morning our poor house was besieged by a host of people come for soup tickets and a 12 o’clock according to promise, I walked down to my boiler, and acted for the first time in my novel capacity of soup dispenser to the starving inhabitants of St. Helier and I flatter myself I acquitted myself with maidenly grace and womanly dignity…he (Mr. W. Hill) paid me a very pretty compliment on my success -  which I received with a very pretty grace – as of course I should! After all duties were discharged Ellen and I went into town to try and obtain a few subscriptions, and came home late for dinner with more than a pound in my bag.”

The soup dispensary was undoubtedly a learning experience for Ellen and Emily, not least because they came into close contact with people they considered "different" from themselves - the poor.  Ellen seemed surprised to discover some of them were quite attractive in appearance.

Ellen's Diary, Tuesday 19^th February, 1839 

  “….then at 12 o’clock went to give away the soup.  While I was giving it away I was struck with the beauty of some of the children and one of the women...she was indeed very pretty, rather like Mrs. Mesham."

While Emily found the behavior of some of the "horrid old women" distasteful, she also took the opportunity of her position of authority over them to challenge the boundaries that defined what was acceptable behavior for herself.  It was a situation it which she could "endeavor to appear thoroughly outrageous", in a way she could not get away with in polite society. 

Emily's diary, 8th February, 1839  (p152)

“Louisa being busy , very anxious to finish “The Physical Theory” which she had been diligently studying for the last week, I consented to take her place at the soup boiler and scold some of the horrid old women who have been telling fibs and getting soup from two boilers at the same time and succeeded so well in my endeavor to appear thoroughly outrageous that Rose-Anne who was with some of the others who had come down to see my soup, declared she was afraid to come near me…”

However, Emily did not always find that the rewards of philanthropy outweighed the demands on her time. 

Emily's diary, 2nd February, 1839 (p139) 

“The Marshes called today to learn what to do about that unfortunate soup business that is really taking up all of our time in a most deplorable way – and I am sorry for the fact, but is undoubtedly has proved rather dull…”

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