After the idea dawned upon her, some months elapsed before she felt able to arrange to face the ordeal, but during this time proofs accumulated of the uselessness of any other methods. She reflected that exploration was the method of science, and became herself an explorer of "Darkest England." The results amply justified the experiment. She has now carried through the following explorations, each time with increasing knowledge:—
(a) A tour through West Yorkshire, embracing one municipal, one common lodging-house, two tramp wards, and a women's shelter.
(b) An investigation into a Lancashire tramp ward.
(c) Investigation of a Salvation Army Women's Shelter.
(d) An investigation into the lodging-house conditions in a neighbouring town.
(e) An investigation into conditions in women's lodging-houses in a Lancashire centre.
(f) Investigation into a London casual ward; also enquiry and investigation as to women's lodging-houses in London.
These investigations have placed her in possession of facts which form the basis of the introductory essay.
In addition, however, her possession of experience and knowledge have opened to her many sources of information not available to the general public. She has received much private information embodied in these pages, and has had the privilege of attending and taking part in official discussions. Also by visits to a common lodging-house she obtained much light on the views of the class that occasionally find themselves in the tramp ward. She has also collected information from the Press, and studied the literature obtainable which threw light on vagrancy legislation in other countries.