306 LAND AND LABOR. 



for rest, social intercourse, home employments and 

 pleasures, with mental and physical development. 

 Under these influences every interest in society which 

 tended to improve its condition, would be developed 

 and prosper. Schools, churches, libraries, lectures, 

 and all healthy amusements, social recreations, pick- 

 nics, excursions, and out of doors family enjoyments, 

 conducive to health and strength, would be developed, 

 for the simple reason that society would every day 

 have the time that could be so employed. Whilst 

 the nightly revels in dens of debauchery and drunk- 

 enness, and the neglect of all the ties of family and 

 home, would be continually lessened and gradually 

 broken up, because there would be time for some- 

 thing better ; and the tone of that society which 

 reaches down into the slums would be touched and 

 beneficially acted upon by the improvement in that 

 which lies above. 



But to tell the workless that they must find some- 

 thing else to do that new industries must be cre- 

 ated that men must abandon old and seek new 

 occupations is to repeat the words of the Egyptian 

 taskmasters to the children of Israel, "Go ye, get you 

 straw where ye can find it," when they knew that no 

 straw was to be had no, not even stubble. If we 

 in the end escape the retribution that fell upon the 

 people of Egypt, it will not be because of the wisdom 

 of such counselors. 



