“Sept. 24, 1891.
“Are you coming with your choir to the Naval Exhibition? Naval recruiting has gone up twenty per cent. since the opening of this exhibition! I have paid a second visit, and am more than ever proud and thankful to be an Englishwoman. We are, indeed—in spite of our many sins—a great nation, the greatest on earth.”
Whilst firmly centred at home, her sympathies still widened out to all the world. Miss E. A. Manning writes on this point—
“As illustrating the wide sympathies of Miss Buss outside her effective and concentrated work, I am glad to have the opportunity of referring to the friendly interest she showed in regard to the visits to this country of students from India. To such as desired to see the working of the North London Collegiate School she gave warm welcome; and, whenever she was able, she attended the soirées of the National Indian Association, entering with a most kindly spirit into their object, that of promoting intercourse and mutual knowledge between individuals of different races. Naturally the progress of Indian women especially attracted her attention, and she liked to take occasions of bringing it to the notice of her pupils. In 1885 Miss Buss (with the permission of the governors of the school) arranged for a meeting, in the Great Hall, of the National Indian Association, where Mr. M. M. Bhownaggree, C.I.E., read a comprehensive paper on the ‘Conditions and Prospects of the Education of Indian Women,’ and we were afterwards hospitably entertained by her in the gymnasium. At a later date I gave an address at an ‘old pupils’ meeting’ upon ‘Home Life and Customs in India.’
“I may add that when Mr. Soubramanyam, of Madras, now a very successful barrister, came to England, accompanied by his wife (who was almost the first Indian lady to venture on such an undertaking), Miss Buss made their acquaintance, and they have always remembered her friendly attentions during their three years’ stay here. The fact that many of her pupils had taken up medical and educational work in India, and had temporarily settled there, tended to strengthen her interest in the conditions of life in that country; but I was constantly struck by her full, free recognition of all efforts for good, even though she had not time nor opportunity to enter into the practical details of such efforts. Her sympathetic encouragement, as well as her example, inspired many with hopefulness and persistence.”
She was greatly interested in the Peace Society, and did much to promote the formation of a woman’s auxiliary of that society, first suggested at a meeting held on June 2, 1873, at the house of my father, when Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, of Boston, spoke, with Professor J. R. Seeley in the chair. My father had offered a prize of £5 for the best essay written by Miss Buss’ pupils, and won by Miss Edith Kemp.
In the following year, Miss Buss was at home, on June 2, “to the friends of the Woman’s Peace Movement,” and a paper was read by Miss Bennett, “On the Best Way for Women to use their Influence to prevent War.” A resolution was adopted to the effect that “the meeting forms itself into a local committee in connection with (or in support of) the Peace Society.”
In reference to this meeting, Miss Buss has written—
“We certainly should form ourselves into a branch committee, and local, as Mrs. Southey (the honorary secretary) lives on the other side of the water. If many were formed, we might have a grand meeting of all the branches, once a year, at St. James’ Hall.
“I think it better to strengthen existing organizations than to start new ones. I like your leaflet.”