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ed them in the City； or prepared for them on the Farm； they would prefer to rot in their present miseries rather than avail themselves of the benefit provided。
In order to gather the opinions of those most concerned； we consulted one evening； by a Census in our London Shelters； two hundred and fifty men out of work； and all suffering severely in consequence。 We furnished a set of questions； and obtained answers from the whole。 Now； it must be borne in mind that these men were under no obligation whatever to make any reply to our enquiries； much less to answer them favourably to our plan； of which they knew next to nothing。
These two hundred and fifty men were mostly in the prime of life； the greater portion of them being skilled workmen； an examination of the return papers showing that out of the entire number two hundred and seven were able to work at their trades had they the opportunity。
The number of trades naturally varied。 There were some of all kinds： Engineers； Custom House Officers； Schoolmasters； Watch and Clockmakers； Sailors； and men of the different branches of the Building trade； also a number of men who have been in business on their own account。
The average amount of wages earned by the skilled mechanics when regularly employed was 33s。 per week； the money earned by the unskilled averaged 22s。 per week。
They could not be accounted lazy； as most of them； when not employed at their own trade or occupation； had proved their willingness to work by getting jobs at anything that turned up。 On looking over the list we saw that one who had been a Custom House Officer had recently acted as Carpenter's Labourer； a Type…founder had been glad to work at Chimney Sweeping； the Schoolmaster； able to speak five languages； who in his prosperous days had owned a farm； was glad to do odd jobs as a Bricklayer's Labourer； a Gentleman's Valet； who once earned #5 a week； had come so low down in the world that he was glad to act as Sandwich man for the magnificent sum of fourteenpence a day； and that； only as an occasional affair。
In the list was a dyer and cleaner； married； with a wife and nine children； who had been able to earn 40s。 a week； but had done no regular work for three years out of the last ten。
We put the following question to the entire number： 〃If you were put on a farm； and set to work at anything you could do； and supplied with food； lodging； and clothing； with a view to getting you on to your feet； would you be willing to do all you could？〃
In response； the whole 250 replied in the affirmative； with one exception； and on enquiry we elicited that； being a sailor； the man was afraid he would not know how to do the work。
On being interrogated as to their willingness to grapple with the hard labour on the land； they said： 〃Why should we not？ Look at us。 Can any plight be more miserable than ours？〃 Why not； indeed？ A glance at them would certainly make it impossible for any thoughtful person to assign a rational reason for their refusalin rags； swarming with vermin； hungry； many of them living on scraps of food； begged or earned in the most haphazard fashion； without sufficient clothing to cover their poor gaunt limbs； most of them without a shirt。 They had to start out the next morning； uncertain which way to turn to earn a crust for dinner； or the fourpence necessary to supply them again with the humble shelter they had enjoyed that night。 The idea of their refusing employment which would supply abundantly the necessaries of life； and give the prospect of becoming； in process of time； the owner of a home； with its comforts and companionships； is beyond conception。 There is not much question that this class will not only accept the Scheme we want to set before them； but gratefully do all in their power to make it a success。
II。Too many would come。 This would be very probable。 There would certainly be too many apply。 But we should be under no obligation to take more than was convenient。 The larger the number of applications the wider the field for selection； and the greater the necessity for the enlargement of our operations。
III。They would run away。 It is further objected that if they did come； the monotony of the life； the strangeness of the work； together with the absence of the excitements and amusements with which they had been entertained in the cities and towns； would render their existence unbearable。 Even when left to the streets； there is an amount of life and action in the city which is very attractive。 Doubtless some would run away； but I don't think this would be a large proportion。 The change would be so great； and so palpably advantageous； that I think they would find in it ample compensation for the deprivation of any little pleasureable excitement they had left behind them in the city。 For instance； there would be
A Sufficiency of Food。
The friendliness and sympathy of their new associates。 There would be abundance of companions of similar tastes and circumstances not all pious。 It would be quite another matter to going single…handed on to a farm； or into a melancholy family。
Then there would be the prospect of doing well for themselves in the future； together with all the religious life； meetings； music； and freedom of the Salvation Army。
But what says our experience？
If there be one class which is the despair of the social reformer； it is that which is variously described； but which we may term the lost women of our streets。 From the point of view of the industrial organiser； they suffer from almost every fault that human material can possess。 They are； with some exceptions； untrained to labour； demoralised by a life of debauchery； accustomed to the wildest license； emancipated from all discipline but that of starvation； given to drink； and； for the most part； impaired in health。 If； therefore； any considerable number of this class can be shown to be ready to submit themselves voluntarily to discipline； to endure deprivation of drink； and to apply themselves steadily to industry； then example will go a long way towards proving that even the worst description of humanity； when intelligently； thoroughly handled； is amenable to discipline and willing to work。 In our British Rescue Homes we receive considerably over a thousand unfortunates every year； while all over the world； our annual average is two thousand。 The work has been in progress for three yearslong enough to enable us to test very fully the capacity of the class in question to reform。
With us there is no compulsion。 If any girl wishes to remain； she remains。 If she wishes to go； she goes。 No one is detained a day or an hour longer than they choose to stay。 Yet our experience shows that； as a rule； they do not run away。 Much more restless and thoughtless and given to change； as a class； than men； the girls do not； in any considerable numbers； desert。 The average of our London Homes； for the last three years； gives only 14 per cent。 as leaving on their own account； while for the year 1889 only 5 per cent。 And the entire number； who have either left or been dismissed during that year； amounts only to 13 per cent。 on the whole。
IV。They would not work。 Of course； to such as had for years been leading idle lives； anything like work and exhaustive labour would be very trying and wearisome； and a little patience and coaxing might be required to get them into the way of it。 Perhaps some would be hopelessly beyond salvation in this respect； and； until the time comes； if it ever does arrive； when the Government will make it a crime for an abled…bodied man to beg when there is an opportunity for him to engage in remunerative work； this class will wander abroad preying upon a generous public。 It will； however； only need to be known that any man can obtain work if he wants it； for those who have by their liberality maintained men and women in idleness to cease doing so。 And when it comes to this pass； that a man cannot eat without working； of the two evils he will choose the latter； preferring labour； however unpleasant it may be to his tastes； to actual starvation。
It must be borne in mind that the penalty of certain expulsion； which all would be given to understand would be strictly enforced would have a good influence in inducing the idlest to give work a fair trial； and once at it should not despair of conquering the aversion altogether； and eventually being able to transform and pass these once lazy loafers as real industrious members of Society。
Again； any who have fears on this point may be encouraged by contrasting the varied and ever…changing methods of labour we should pursue； with the monotonous and uninteresting grind of many of the ordinary employments of the poor； and the circumstances by which they are surrounded。
Here； again； we fall back upon our actual experience in reclamation work。 In our Homes for Saving the Lost Women we have no difficulty of getting them to work。 The idleness of this section of the social strata has been before referred to； it is not for a moment denied； and there can be no question； as to its being the cause of much of their poverty and distress。 But from early morn until the lights are out at night； all is a