70 AWAKENING OF ENGLAND. 



young (they were only about four or five 

 years old), told me he made a livmg from the 

 vegetables cultivated between the trees. He 

 did not say that it was a good living ; and 

 probably it was not. 



These holdings were, I think, the only ones 

 around Evesham where the County Council 

 have sold land to the small holders ; and on the 

 occasion of my visit only one house had been 

 built, though the land was bought some years 

 before. 



The impression that Evesham must be some 

 small continental town, in spite of it being in 

 English Worcestershire, is enhanced at eventide 

 when the riverside Public Gardens are lighted, 

 and golden arrows strike across the water, 

 while from the shadows may be heard ripples 

 of subdued laughter from idly drifting boats. 

 From the Public Gardens float the strains of 

 music and flash the vision of white skirts as 

 young couples waltz the whole evening long. 

 There is an absence of the dude, the demi-mon- 

 daine, and the glitter of wealth. These people 

 are just young gardeners and their sweet- 

 hearts dancing — spare, sinewy figures dancing 

 in everyday dress. The only appearance of 

 great wealth, of idleness cushioned in luxury, 



