按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
f a number of Institutions to act as Harbours of Refuge for all and any who have been shipwrecked in life； character； or circumstances。 These Harbours will gather up the poor destitute creatures； supply their immediate pressing necessities； furnish temporary employment； inspire them with hope for the future； and commence at once a course of regeneration by moral and religious influences。
From these Institutions； which are hereafter described； numbers would； after a short time； be floated off to permanent employment； or sent home to friends happy to receive them on hearing of their reformation。 All who remain on our hands would； by varied means； be tested as to their sincerity； industry； and honesty； and as soon as satisfaction was created； be passed on to the Colony of the second class。
THE FARM COLONY。
This would consist of a settlement of the Colonists on an estate in the provinces； in the culture of which they would find employment and obtain support。 As the race from the Country to the City has been the cause of much of the distress we have to battle with； we propose to find a substantial part of our remedy by transferring these same people back to the country； that is back again to 〃the Garden！〃
Here the process of reformation of character would be carried forward by the same industrial； moral； and religious methods as have already been commenced in the City； especially including those forms of labour and that knowledge of agriculture which； should the Colonist not obtain employment in this country； will qualify him for pursuing his fortunes under more favourable circumstances in some other land。
From the Farm； as from the City； there can be no question that large numbers； resuscitated in health and character； would be restored to friends up and down the country。 Some would find employment in their own callings； others would settle in cottages on a small piece of land that we should provide； or on Co…operative Farms which we intend to promote； while the great bulk； after trial and training； would be passed on to the Foreign Settlement； which would constitute our third class； namely The Over…Sea Colony。
THE OVER…SEA COLONY。
All who have given attention to the subject are agreed that in our Colonies in South Africa； Canada； Western Australia and elsewhere； there are millions of acres of useful land to be obtained almost for the asking； capable of supporting our surplus population in health and comfort； were it a thousand times greater than it is。 We propose to secure a tract of land in one of these countries； prepare it for settlement； establish in it authority； govern it by equitable laws； assist it in times of necessity； settling it gradually with a prepared people； and so create a home for these destitute multitudes。
The Scheme； in its entirety； may aptly be compared to A Great Machine； foundationed in the lowest slums and purlieus of our great towns and cities； drawing up into its embrace the depraved and destitute of all classes； receiving thieves； harlots； paupers； drunkards； prodigals； all alike； on the simple conditions of their being willing to work and to conform to discipline。 Drawing up these poor outcasts； reforming them； and creating in them habits of industry； honesty； and truth； teaching them methods by which alike the bread that perishes and that which endures to Everlasting Life can be won。 Forwarding them from the City to the Country； and there continuing the process of regeneration； and then pouring them forth on to the virgin soils that await their coming in other lands； keeping hold of them with a strong government； and yet making them free men and women； and so laying the foundations； perchance； of another Empire to swell to vast proportions in later times。 Why not？
CHAPTER 2。 TO THE RESCUE！THE CITY COLONY。
The first section of my Scheme is the establishment of a Receiving House for the Destitute in every great centre of population。 We start； let us remember； from the individual； the ragged； hungry； penniless man who confronts us with despairing demands for food； shelter； and work。 Now； I have had some two or three years' experience in dealing with this class。 I believe； at the present moment； the Salvation Army supplies more food and shelter to the destitute than any other organisation in London； and it is the experience and encouragement which I have gained in the working of these Food and Shelter Depots which has largely encouraged me to propound this scheme。
SECTION 1。FOOD AND SHELTER FOR EVERY MAN。
As I rode through Canada and the United States some three years ago； I was greatly impressed with the superabundance of food which I saw at every turn。 Oh； how I longed that the poor starving people； and the hungry children of the East of London and of other centres of our destitute populations； should come into the midst of this abundance； but as it appeared impossible for me to take them to it； I secretly resolved that I would endeavour to bring some of it to them。 I am thankful to say that I have already been able to do so on a small scale； and hope to accomplish it ere long on a much vaster one。
With this view； the first Cheap Food Depot was opened in the East of London two and a half years ago。 This has been followed by others； and we have now three establishments： others are being arranged for。
Since the commencement in 1888； we have supplied over three and a half million meals。 Some idea can be formed of the extent to which these Food and Shelter Depots have already struck their roots into the strata of Society which it is proposed to benefit； by the following figures； which give the quantities of food sold during the year at our Food Depots。
FOOD SOLD IN DEPOTS AND SHELTERS DURING 1889。
Article Weight Measure Remarks Soup 。。。。。。。。。 116；400 gallons Bread 192。5 tons 106；964 4…lb loaves Tea 2。5 tons 46；980 gallons Coffee 15 cwt。 13；949 gallons Cocoa 6 tons 29；229 gallons Sugar 25 tons 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 300 bags Potatoes 140 tons 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 2；800 bags Flour 18 tons 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 180 sacks Peaflour 28。5 tons 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 288 sacks Oatmeal 3。5 tons 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 36 sacks Rice 12 tons 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 120 sacks Beans 12 tons 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 240 sacks Onions and parsnips 12 tons 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 240 sacks Jam 9 tons 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 2；880 jars Marmalade 6 tons 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 1；920 jars Meat 15 tons 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 Milk 。。。。。。。。。。 14；300 quarts
This includes returns from three Food Depots and five Shelters。 I propose to multiply their number； to develop their usefulness； and to make them the threshold of the whole Scheme。 Those who have already visited our Depots will understand exactly what th is means。 The majority； however； of the readers of these pages have not done so； and for them it is necessary to explain what they are。
At each of our Depots； which can be seen by anybody that cares to take the trouble to visit them； there are two departments； one dealing with food； the other with shelter。 Of these both are worked together and minister to the same individuals。 Many come for food who do not come for shelter； although most of those who come for shelter also come for food； which is sold on terms to cover； as nearly as possible； the cost price and working expenses of the establishment。 In this our Food Depots differ from the ordinary soup kitchens。
There is no gratuitous distribution of victuals。 The following is our Price List：
WHAT IS SOLD AT THE FOOD DEPOTS。
For a child
Soup Per Basin 1/4d Soup With Bread 1/2d Coffee or Cocoa per cup 1/4d Coffee or Cocoa With Bread and Jam 1/2d
For adults
Soup 。。 。。 。。 Per Basin 1/2d Soup 。。 。。 。。 With Bread 1d Potatoes 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 1/2d Cabbage 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 1/2d Haricot Beans 。。 。。 。。 。。 1/2d Boiled Jam Pudding 。。 。。 。。 1/2d Boiled Plum Pudding 。。 。。 Each 1d Rice 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 。。 1/2d Baked Plum 。。 。。 。。 。。 1/2d Baked Jam Roll 。。 。。 。。 。。 1/2d Meat Pudding and Potatoes 。。 。。 3d Corned Beef 。。 。。 。。 。。 2d Corned Mutton 。。 。。 。。 。。 2d Coffee per cup 1/2d； per mug 1d Cocoa per cup 1/2d； per mug 1d Tea per cup 1/2d； per mug 1d Bread & Butter； Jam or Marmalade per slice 1/2d
Soup in own Jugs； 1d per Quart。 Ready at 10 a。m。
A certain discretionary power is vested in the Officers in charge of the Depot； and they can in very urgent cases give relief； but the rule is for the food to be paid for； and the financial results show that working expenses are just about covered。
These Cheap Food Depots I have no doubt have been and are or great service to numbers of hungry star