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lusion from a world in which he is not fit to be at large。 The ultimate destiny of these poor wretches should be a penal settlement where they could be confined during Her Majesty's pleasure as are the criminal lunatics at Broadmoor。 It is a crime against the race to allow those who are so inveterately depraved the freedom to wander abroad； infect their fellows； prey upon Society； and to multiply their kind。 Whatever else Society may do； and suffer to be done； this thing it ought not to allow； any more than it should allow the free perambulation of a mad dog。 But before we come to this I would have every possible means tried to effect their reclamation。 Let Justice punish them； and Mercy put her arms around them； let them be appealed to by penalty and by reason； and by every influence； human and Divine； that can possibly be brought to bear upon them。 Then； if all alike failed； their ability to further curse their fellows and themselves should be stayed。
They will still remain objects worthy of infinite compassion。 They should lead as human a life as is possible to those who have fallen under so terrible a judgment。 They should have their own little cottages in their own little gardens； under the blue sky； and； if possible； amid the green fields。 I would deny them none of the advantages； moral； mental； and religious which might minister to their diseased minds； and tend to restore them to a better state。 Not until the breath leaves their bodies should we cease to labour and wrestle for their salvation。 But when they have reached a certain point access to their fellow men should be forbidden。 Between them and the wide world there should be reared an impassable barrier； which once passed should be recrossed no more for ever。 Such a course must be wiser than allowing them to go in and out among their fellows； carrying with them the contagion of moral leprosy； and multiplying a progeny doomed before its birth to inherit the vices and diseased cravings of their unhappy parents。 To these proposals three leading objections will probably be raised
1。 It may be said that to shut out men and women from that liberty which is their universal birthright would be cruel。
To this it might be sufficient to reply that this is already done； twenty years' immurement is a very common sentence passed upon wrong…doers； and in some cases the law goes as far as to inflict penal servitude for life。 But we say further that it would be far more merciful treatment than that which is dealt out to them at present； and it would be far more likely to secure a pleasant existence。 Knowing their fate they would soon become resigned to it。 Habits of industry； sobriety； and kindness with them would create a restfulness of spirit which goes far on in the direction of happiness； and if religion were added it would make that happiness complete。 There might be set continually before them a large measure of freedom and more frequent intercourse with the world in the shape of correspondence； newspapers； and even occasional interviews with relatives； as rewards for well…doing。 And in sickness and old age their latter days might be closed in comfort。 In fact； so far as this class of people were concerned； we can see that they would be far better circumstanced for happiness in this life and in the life to come than in their present libertyif a life spent alternatively in drunkenness； debauchery； and crime； on the one hand； or the prison on the other； can be called liberty。
2。 It may be said that the carrying out of such a suggestion would be too expensive。
To this we reply that it would have to be very costly to exceed the expense in which all such characters involve the nation under the present regulations of vice and crime。 But there is no need for any great expense； seeing that after the first outlay the inmates of such an institution； if it were fixed upon the land； would readily earn all that would be required for their support。
3。 But it may be said that this is impossible。
It would certainly be impossible other than as a State regulation。 But it would surely be a very simple matter to enact a law which should decree that after an individual had suffered a certain number of convictions for crime； drunkenness； or vagrancy； he should forfeit his freedom to roam abroad and curse his fellows。 When I include vagrancy in this list； I do it on the supposition that the opportunity and ability for work are present。 Otherwise it seems to me most heartless to punish a hungry man who begs for food because he can in no other way obtain it。 But with the opportunity and ability for work I would count the solicitation of charity a crime； and punish it as such。 Anyway； if a man would not work of his own free will I would compel him。
CHAPTER 6。 ASSISTANCE IN GENERAL。
There are many who are not lost； who need help。 A little assistance given to…day will perhaps prevent the need of having to save them to…morrow。 There are some； who； after they have been rescued； will still need a friendly hand。 The very service which we have rendered them at starting makes it obligatory upon us to finish the good work。 Hitherto it may be objected that the Scheme has dealt almost exclusively with those who are more or less disreputable and desperate。 This was inevitable。 We obey our Divine Master and seek to save those who are lost。 But because； as I said at the beginning； urgency is claimed rightly for those who have no helper； we do not； therefore； forget the needs and the aspirations of the decent working people who are poor indeed； but who keep their feet； who have not fallen； and who help themselves and help each other。 They constitute the bulk of the nation。 There is an uppercrust and a submerged tenth。 But the hardworking poor people； who earn a pound a week or less； constitute in every land the majority of the population。 We cannot forget them； for we are at home with them。 We belong to them and many thousands of them belong to us。 We are always studying how to help them； and we think this can be done in many ways； some of which I proceed to describe。
SECTION 1。IMPROVED LODGINGS。
The necessity for a superior class of lodgings for the poor men rescued at our Shelters has been forcing itself already upon our notice； and demanding attention。 One of the first things that happens when a man； lifted out of the gutter； has obtained a situation； and is earning a decent livelihood； is for him to want some better accommodation than that afforded at the Shelters。 We have some hundreds on our hands now who can afford to pay for greater comfort and seclusion。 These are continually saying to us something like the following：
The Shelters are all very well when a man is down in his luck。 They have been a good thing for us； in fact； had it not been for them； we would still have been without a friend； sleeping on the Embankment； getting our living dishonestly； or not getting a living at all。 We have now got work； and want a bed to sleep on； and a room to ourselves； and a box； or something where we can stow away our bits of things。 Cannot you do something for us？〃 We have replied that there were Lodging…houses elsewhere； which； now that they were in work； they could afford to pay for； where they would obtain the comfort they desired。 To this they answer； 〃That is all very well。 We know there are these places； and that we could go to them。 But then；〃 they said； 〃you see； here in the Shelters are our mates； who think as we do。 And there is the prayer； and the meeting； and kind influence every night； that helps to keep us straight。 We would like a better place； but if you cannot find us one we would rather stop in the Shelter and sleep on the floor； as we have been doing； than go to something more complete； get into bad company； and so fall back again to where we were before。〃
But this； although natural； is not desirable； for； if the process went on； in course of time the whole of the Shelter Depots would be taken up by persons who had risen above the class for whom they were originally destined。 I propose； therefore； to draft those who get on； but wish to continue in connection with the Army； into a superior lodging…house； a sort of POOR MAN'S METROPOLE； managed on the same principles； but with better accommodation in every way； which； I anticipate； would be self…supporting from the first。 In these homes there would be separate dormitories； good sitting…rooms； cooking conveniences； baths； a hall for meetings； and many other comforts； of which all would have the benefit at as low a figure above cost price as will not only pay interest on the original outlay； but secure us against any shrinkage of capital。
Something superior in this direction will also be required for the women。 Having begun； we must go on。 Hitherto I have proposed to deal only with single men and single women； but one of the consequences of getting hold of these men very soon makes itself felt。 Your ragged； hungry； destitute Out…of…Work in almost every case is married。 When he comes to us he comes as single and is dealt with as such； but after you rouse in him aspirations for better things he remembers the wife whom he has probably enough deserted； or left from shee