654 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



man for man, on the average there is an enormous gain. Illusion 

 is produced because the proper terms of the comparison are lost 

 sight of. The point is especially important as regards what is 

 known as the residuum. Nothing can appear so deplorable or so 

 hopeless as the conditions of the floating mass of rude labor in 

 large cities. Monopoly rents in this case appear to sweep away 

 all possible advantage which may result from higher money 

 wage, comparing the laborer of the town with the laborer of the 

 country. In many cases, even, it must be admitted, the " residu- 

 ary " of the city is on a lower level than the " residuary " of the 

 country. His " net " earnings are less. But the question, after 

 all, is one of proportion. The absolute magnitude of the city 

 residuum must not blind us to the fact that it may be, not an 

 increasing but a diminishing element with reference to the pop- 

 ulation generally. I believe it is a diminishing element, but this 

 would hardly be the place to discuss the point, and I am content 

 for the present to call attention to its importance in the discus- 

 sion. The assumption, so often made, that the residuum is in- 

 creasing relatively, is one which requires proof, and I have never 

 seen any attempt at proof, while there are some broad facts, such 

 as the diminution of serious crime and of pauperism, against it. 



The question of the way in which the net value of an increase 

 of money wages may be affected by the necessity of living in a 

 more exhausting, or in some way more expensive, climate, or by 

 the specially exhausting character of a highly paid occupation, 

 such as puddling, is one of the same kind. There is clearly a 

 point in the matter for consideration and discussion. I am dis- 

 posed to believe, for instance, that the exhausting climate of the 

 United States, compelling the consumption of more food to enable 

 the same work to be done, is a distinct drawback to the Ameri- 

 can workingman as compared with his competitor in western 

 Europe, and especially in Great Britain. I am not sure but that 

 living in the south of England, owing to climate, is more expen- 

 sive than in the north and in Scotland. The point has hardly 

 been expressly considered, the workingman practically having 

 been right to go where he gets the highest money wage, but it is 

 one that may become of increasing practical interest now that 

 charges for conveyance are so low throughout the world as to 

 make it quite unnecessary for men to live near the places where 

 their food and raw materials are produced. I shall be well con- 

 tent for the present if the remarks here made induce some work- 

 ingmen to elaborate it from their practical experiences. Of 

 course, in any discussion it would also have to be considered that 

 the greater expense of living may not be a pure drawback. The 

 ability to consume and produce more, to bear exhausting climate 

 or occupation, in fact, may be a good thing, and bring its own 



