iv PREFACE. 



inquired of, but all inquiries were directed to board- 

 inghouse keepers and employers, who did not know 

 and could not answer. Had it been the deliberate 

 purpose of the Census Bureau to defeat the objects 

 of the provision, a more certain means could not have 

 been adopted. Failing to obtain this most important 

 information through the census, I have been com- 

 pelled to ascertain the idleness in the country by 

 other methods. 



Much the larger portion of the facts here used is 

 the result of my personal observations and diligent 

 inquiries, in which I have received the sympathy and 

 encouragement of valued friends who saw the import- 

 ance of the facts collected, and the line of the discus- 

 sion, though they might not now altogether accept 

 the conclusions reached. Among others I venture to 

 give the names of the Rev. Dr. Edward Everett Hale 

 and Rev. Minot J. Savage, Boston ; Senator George 

 F. Hoar, Massachusetts ; Senator Henry W. Blair, 

 New Hampshire; Rev. Edward Anderson, Toledo, 

 Ohio ; Hon. George William Curtis, Rev. Dr. R. 

 Ilfber Newton, and Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, New 

 U City. 



To the last named, in particular, am I indebted 



hat substantial aid so necessary, ami yet so hard 



to find, that lias rnablrd me to carry my work to the 



point \\h-iv tin- ivuder takes it. If, as I hope, my 



: ts shall ha\v the effect of opening a discussion, 



pointing out a way by which humanity may be 



1. t<> ili.it uol.lr woman, fully as much as to 



myself, will the debt of gratitude be due. 



W. G. M. 



