in darkest england and the way out-第23节
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！
s the Tay if the wind did not blow； or that we could build a railway across a bog if the quagmire would afford us a solid foundation。 The engineer has to take into account the difficulties； and make them his starting point。 The wind will blow； therefore the bridge must be made strong enough to resist it。 Chat Moss will shake； therefore we must construct a foundation in the very bowels of the bog on which to build our railway。 So it is with the social difficulties which confront us。 If we act in harmony with these laws we shall triumph； but if we ignore them they will overwhelm us with destruction and cover us with disgrace。
But； difficult as the task may be； it is not one which we can neglect。 When Napoleon was compelled to retreat under circumstances which rendered it impossible for him to carry off his sick and wounded； he ordered his doctors to poison every man in the hospital。 A general has before now massacred his prisoners rather than allow them to escape。 These Lost ones are the Prisoners of Society； they are the Sick and Wounded in our Hospitals。 What a shriek would arise from the civilised world if it were proposed to administer to…night to every one of these millions such a dose of morphine that they would sleep to wake no more。 But so far as they are concerned； would it not be much less cruel thus to end their life than to allow them to drag on day after day； year after year； in misery； anguish； and despair； driven into vice and hunted into crime； until at last disease harries them into the grave？
I am under no delusion as to the possibility of inaugurating a millennium by my Scheme； but the triumphs of science deal so much with the utilisation of waste material； that I do not despair of something effectual being accomplished in the utilisation of this waste human product。 The refuse which was a drug and a curse to our manufacturers； when treated under the hands of the chemist； has been the means of supplying us with dyes rivalling in loveliness and variety the hues of the rainbow。 If the alchemy of science can extract beautiful colours from coal tar； cannot Divine alchemy enable us to evolve gladness and brightness out of the agonised hearts and dark； dreary； loveless lives of these doomed myriads？ Is it too much to hope that in God's world God's children may be able to do something； if they set to work with a will； to carry out a plan of campaign against these great evils which are the nightmare of our existence？
The remedy； it may be； is simpler than some imagine。 The key to the enigma may lie closer to our hands than we have any idea of。 Many devices have been tried； and many have failed； no doubt； it is only stubborn； reckless perseverance that can hope to succeed； it is well that we recognise this。 How many ages did men try to make gunpowder and never succeeded？ They would put saltpetre to charcoal； or charcoal to sulphur； or saltpetre to sulphur； and so were ever unable to make the compound explode。 But it has only been discovered within the last few hundred years that all three were needed。 Before that gunpowder was a mere imagination； a phantasy of the alchemists。 How easy it is to make gunpowder； now the secret of its manufacture is known！
But take a simpler illustration； one which lies even within the memory of some that read these pages。 From the beginning of the world down to the beginning of this century； mankind had not found out； with all its striving after cheap and easy transport； the miraculous difference that would be brought about by laying down two parallel lines of metal。 All the great men and the wise men of the past lived and died oblivious of that fact。 The greatest mechanicians and engineers of antiquity； the men who bridged all the rivers of Europe； the architects who built the cathedrals which are still the wonder of the world； failed to discern what seems to us so obviously simple a proposition； that two parallel lines of rail would diminish the cost and difficulty of transport to a minimum。 Without that discovery the steam engine； which has itself been an invention of quite recent years； would have failed to transform civilisation。
What we have to do in the philanthropic sphere is to find something analogous to the engineers' parallel bars。 This discovery think I have made； and hence have I written this book。
SECTION 2MY SCHEME
What； then； is my Scheme？ It is a very simple one； although in its ramifications and extensions it embraces the whole world。 In this book I profess to do no more than to merely outline； as plainly and as simply as I can； the fundamental features of my proposals。 I propose to devote the bulk of this volume to setting forth what can practically be done with one of the most pressing parts of the problem； namely； that relating to those who are out of work； and who； as the result； are more or less destitute。 I have many ideas of what might be done with those who are at present cared for in some measure by the State； but I will leave these ideas for the present。
It is not urgent that I should explain how our Poor Law system could be reformed； or what I should like to see done for the Lunatics in Asylums； or the Criminals in Gaols。 The persons who are provided for by the State we will； therefore； for the moment； leave out of count。 The indoor paupers； the convicts； the inmates of the lunatic asylums are cared for； in a fashion； already。 But； over and above all these； there exists some hundreds of thousands who are not quartered on the State； but who are living on the verge of despair； and who at any moment； under circumstances of misfortune； might be compelled to demand relief or support in one shape or another。 I will confine myself； therefore； for the present to those who have no helper。
It is possible； I think probable； if the proposals which I am now putting forward are carried out successfully in relation to the lost； homeless； and helpless of the population； that many of those who are at the present moment in somewhat better circumstances will demand that they also shall be allowed to partake in the benefits of the Scheme。 But upon this； also； I remain silent。 I merely remark that we have； in the recognition of the importance of discipline and organisation； what may be called regimented co…operation； a principle that will be found valuable for solving many social problems other than that of destitution。 Of these plans； which are at present being brooded over with a view to their realisation when the time is propitious and the opportunity occurs； I shall have something to say。
What is the outward and visible form of the Problem of the Unemployed？ Alas！ we are all too familiar with it for any lengthy description to be necessary。 The social problem presents itself before us whenever a hungry； dirty and ragged man stands at our door asking if we can give him a crust or a job。 That is the social question。 What are you to do with that man？ He has no money in his pocket； all that he can pawn he has pawned long ago； his stomach is as empty as his purse； and the whole of the clothes upon his back； even if sold on the best terms； would not fetch a shilling。 There he stands； your brother； with sixpennyworth of rags to cover his nakedness from his fellow men and not sixpennyworth of victuals within his reach。 He asks for work； which he will set to even on his empty stomach and in his ragged uniform； if so be that you will give him something for it； but his hands are idle； for no one employs him。 What are you to do with that man？ That is the great note of interrogation that confronts Society to…day。 Not only in overcrowded England； but in newer countries beyond the sea； where Society has not yet provided a means by which the men can be put upon the land and the land be made to feed the men。 To deal with this man is the Problem of the Unemployed。 To deal with him effectively you must deal with him immediately； you must provide him in some way or other at once with food； and shelter； and warmth。 Next you must find him something to do； something that will test the reality of his desire to work。 This test must be more or less temporary； and should be of such a nature as to prepare him for making a permanent livelihood。 Then； having trained him； you must provide him wherewithal to start life afresh。 All these things I propose to do。 My Scheme divides itself into three sections； each of which is indispensable for the success of the whole。 In this three…fold organisation lies the open secret of the solution of the Social Problem。
The Scheme I have to offer consists in the formation of these people into self…helping and self…sustaining communities； each being a kind of co…operative society； or patriarchal family； governed and disciplined on the principles which have already proved so effective in the Salvation Army。
These communities we will call； for want of a better term； Colonies。 There will be：
（1） The City Colony。 （2） The Farm Colony。 （3） The Over…Sea Colony。
THE CITY COLONY。
By the City Colony is meant the establishment； in the very centre of the ocean of misery of which we have been speaking； of a number of Institutions to act as Harbours of Refuge for all and any who have been shipwrecked in
