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set of sensations in accordance with its ‘‘ dominant idea,’ thus 
often forming an illusory cognition. Many illustrations of the 
transforming and creating power of a ‘dominant idea”’ were 
given, and the principle was applied to elucidate the narrative of 
the ‘ Witch of Endor,” many spiritualistic phenomena, and the 
phenomena of witchcraft. 
SOME SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND ATTEMPTS 
TO SOLVE THEM. 
By JAMES LANCASTER. November 3rd, 1891. 
The writer of the paper referred to the intense interest 
manifested in the every-day life and well being of the masses of 
our population, as one of the most hopeful signs of the times, 
and in strong contrast to the indifference manifested during the 
first half of this century. It was also satisfactory to know that 
sanitary laws were now based on the findings of accurate 
scientific enquiry, with the result that much progress is being 
made, as evidenced by the decreasing death rate throughout the 
whole of the country. While much has been done in various 
directions to improve the condition of the working classes, when 
we have such a large and increasing amount of lunacy, and 
drunkenness and crime prevail to an alarming extent, much still 
remains to be done. 
The paper did not propose to refer to what ‘ General Booth ”’ 
calls the ‘‘ Submerged Tenth,” (those who, having no capital or 
income of their own, would in a month be dead from sheer 
starvation were they exclusively dependent upon the money 
earned by their own work), but to the condition of the large 
number who have sufficient income, or who, if industrious and 
provident, would have sufficient income to house, feed, and 
clothe themselves and their families and live in the greatest 
comfort, but who at present have nothing saved, in many cases 
in debt, with miserable homes and surroundings. 
The Socialist would object to the old fashioned means of 
improvement by thrift and industry, and would blame a cruel 
fate and starvation wages for the unsatisfactory state of things. 
It was easy to prove how much better the average working 
man stands now than he did say forty years ago, not only in 
higher wages but shortened hours, and in the largely increased 
purchasing power he possesses owing to the cheapening of almost 
all of the necessaries and comforts of life. 
