in darkest england and the way out-第60节
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1s。 Can this be done？ I think it can； and done to pay the railway companies； otherwise there is no ground to hope for this part of my Scheme ever being realised。 But I think that this great boon can be granted to the poor people without the dividends being sensibly affected。 I am told that the cost of haulage for an ordinary passenger train； carrying from five hundred to a thousand persons； is 2s。 7d。 per mile； a railway company could take six hundred passengers seventy miles there； and bring them seventy miles back； at a cost of #18 1s。 8d。 Six hundred passengers at a shilling is #30； so that there would be a clear profit to the company of nearly #12 on the haulage； towards the payment of interest on the capital； wear and tear of line； &c。 But I reckon； at a very moderate computation； that two hundred thousand persons would travel to and fro every season。 An addition of #10；000 to the exchequer of a railway company is not to be despised and this would be a mere bagatelle to the indirect profits which would follow the establishment of a settlement which must in due course necessarily become very speedily a large and active community。
This it would be necessary to bring home to the railway companies； and for the execution of this part of my Scheme I must wait till I get some manager sufficiently public…spirited to try the experiment。 When such a man is found； I purpose to set at once about my Sea…Side Establishment。 This will present the following special advantages； which I am quite certain will be duly appreciated by the very poorest of the London population：
An estate of some three hundred acres would be purchased on which buildings would be erected； calculated to meet the wants of this class of excursionists。
Refreshments would be provided at rates very similar to those charged at our London Food Depots。 There would； of course； be greater facilities in the way of rooms and accommodation generally。
Lodgings for invalids； children； and those requiring to make a short stay in the place would be supplied at the lowest prices。 Beds for single men and single women could be charged at the low rate of sixpence a night； and children in proportion； while accommodation of a suitable character； on very moderate terms； could be arranged for married people。
No public…houses would be allowed within the precincts of the settlement。
A park； playground； music； boats； covered conveniences for bathing； without the expense of hiring a machine； and other arrangements for the comfort and enjoyment of the people would be provided。
The estate would form one of the Colonies of the general enterprise； and on it would be grown fruit； vegetables； flowers； and other produce for the use of the visitors； and sold at the lowest remunerative rates。 One of the first provisions for the comfort of the excursionists would be the erection of a large hall； affording ample shelter in case of unfavourable weather； and in this and other parts of the place there would be the fullest opportunity for ministers of all denominations to hold religious services in connection with any excursionists they might bring with them。
There would be shops for tradesmen； houses for residets； a museum with a panorama and stuffed whale； boats would be let out at moderate prices； and a steamer to carry people so many miles out to sea； and so many miles back for a penny； with a possible bout of sickness； for which no extra charge would be made。
In fact the railway fares and refreshment arrangements would be on such a scale； that a husband and wife could have a 70…mile ride through the green fields； the new…mown hay； the waving grain or fruit laden orchards； could wander for hours on the seashore； have comforting and nourishing refreshment； and be landed back at home sober； cheered and invigorated for the small sum of 3s。 A couple of children under 12 might be added at 1s。 6d。nay； a whole family； husband； wife and four children； supposing one is in arms； could have a day at the seaside； without obligation or charity； for 5s。
The gaunt； hungry inhabitants of the Slums would save up their halfpence； and come by thousands； clergymen would find it possible to bring half the poor and needy occupants of their parishes； schools； mothers' meetings； and philanthropic societies of all descriptions would come down wholesale； in short； what Brighton is to the West End and middle classes； this place would be to the East End poor； nay； to the poor of the Metropolis generally； a Whitechapel…by…the…Sea。
Now this ought to be done apart from my Scheme altogether。 The rich corporations which have the charge of the affairs of this great City； and the millionaires； who would never have amassed their fortunes but by the assistance of the masses； ought to say it shall be done。 Suppose the Railway Companies refused to lend the great highways of which they have become the monopolists for such an undertaking without a subvention； then the necessary subvention should be forthcoming。 If it could be made possible for the joyless toilers to come out of the sweater's den； or the stifling factory； if the seamstress could leave her needle； and the mother get away from the weary round of babydom and household drudgery for a day now and then； to the cooling； invigorating； heart…stirring influences of the sea； it should be done； even if it did cost a few paltry thousands。 Let the men and women who spend a little fortune every year in Continental tours； Alpine climbings； yacht excursions； and many another form of luxurious wanderings； come forward and say that it shall be possible for these crowds of their less fortunate brethren to have the opportunity of spending one day at least in the year by the sea。
CHAPTER VII。
CAN IT BE DONE； AND HOW？
SECTION 1。THE CREDENTIALS OF THE SALVATION ARMY。
Can this great work be done？ I believe it can。 And I believe that it can be done by the Salvation Army； because it has ready to hand an organisation of men and women； numerous enough and zealous enough to grapple with the enormous undertaking。 The work may prove beyond our powers。 But this is not so manifest as to preclude us from wishing to make the attempt。 That in itself is a qualification which is shared by no other organisationat present。 If we can do it we have the field entirely to ourselves。 The wealthy churches show no inclination to compete for the onerous privilege of making the experiment in this definite and practical form。 Whether we have the power or not； we have； at least； the will； the ambition to do this great thing for the sake of our brethren； and therein lies our first credential for being entrusted with the enterprise。
The second credential is the fact that； while using all material means； our reliance is on the co…working power of God。 We keep our powder dry； but we trust in Jehovah。 We go not forth in our own strength to this battle； our dependence is upon Him who can influence the heart of man。 There is no doubt that the most satisfactory method of raising a man must be to effect such a change in his views and feelings that he shall voluntarily abandon his evil ways； give himself to industry and goodness in the midst of the very temptations and companionships that before led him astray； and live a Christian life； an example in himself of what can be done by the power of God in the very face of the most impossible circumstances。
But herein lies the great difficulty again and again referred to； men have not that force of character which will constrain them to avail themselves of the methods of deliverance。 Now our Scheme is based on the necessity of helping such。
Our third credential is the fact that we have already out of practically nothing achieved so great a measure of success that we think we may reasonably be entrusted with this further duty。 The ordinary operations of the Army have already effected most wonderful changes in the conditions of the poorest and worst。 Multitudes of slaves of vice in every form have been delivered not only from these habits； but from the destitution and misery which they even produce。 Instances have been given。 Any number more can be produced。 Our experience； which has been almost world…wide； has ever shown that not only does the criminal become honest； the drunkard sober； the harlot chaste； but that poverty of the most abject and helpless type vanishes away。 Our fourth credential is that our Organisation alone of England's religious bodies is founded upon the principle of implicit obedience。
For Discipline I can answer。 The Salvation Army； largely recruited from among the poorest of the poor； is often reproached by its enemies on account of the severity of its rule。 It is the only religious body founded in our time that is based upon the principle of voluntary subjection to an absolute authority。 No one is bound to remain in the Army a day longer than he pleases。 While he remains there he is bound by the conditions of the Service。 The first condition of that Service is implicit； unquestioning obedience。 The Salvationist is taught to obey as is the soldier on the field of battle。
From the time when the Salvation Army began to acquire strength and to grow from the grain of mustard seed until now； wh
