490 STUDIES, SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL 



had nearly reached the age of retirement from the more 

 laborious work, would be free from petty jealousies of 

 their fellow-workers, and would have no objects to aim at 

 except the continued success of the colony and the happi- 

 ness of all its inmates. On this principle those who had 

 worked in the colony for at least fifteen or twenty years, 

 and who had reached some grade above that of simple 

 workmen, should form the governing body, appointing the 

 superintendents of the various departments, and making 

 such general regulations as were needed to ensure the 

 prosperity of the community and the happiness of all its 

 members. 



Why is not the Experiment Tried ? 



Now, I would ask, what valid reason can be given 

 against trying this great experiment in every county in 

 Great Britain and Ireland, so as at once to absorb the 

 larger part of the unemployed as well as all paupers who 

 are nob past work ? The only real objection, from the 

 capitalist's point of view, that I can imagine, is, that 

 colonies in which the whole of the produce went to the 

 workers themselves, including of course their own sick 

 and aged, Avould be so attractive that they would draw 

 to them large numbers of workers of all kinds, and thus 

 interfere with the capitalists' labour-supply. This, I 

 believe, would, after a few years, inevitably occur ; but, 

 from my point of view, and from that probably of most 

 thinkers and workers, that circumstance would afford the 

 greatest argument in favour of the scheme. For it would 

 show that, with a proper organisation of labour, produc- 

 tion under individual capitalists was unnecessary ; it 

 would afford practical proof that labourers can successfully 

 produce without the intervention of capitalist employers. 



In this connection I will quote a passage from the 

 writings of that remarkable observer and thinker, the late 

 Richard Jeffrey. He says : — 



"I verily believe that the earth in one year can produce enough 

 food to last for thirty. Why then have we not enougli ? Why do 

 people die of starvation, or lead a miserable existence on the verge 

 of it ? Why have millions upon millions to toil from morning till 



