288 AWAKENING OF ENGLAND. 



depopulation with a bold heart. It is clear 

 that as a nation we cannot afford to let 

 cottages in our villages tumble down with 

 none others to take their place. If necessary, 

 England must imitate Ireland in the rejuvena- 

 tion of her deserted villages and labour-starved 

 acres. We should be prepared to spend money 

 on recolonisation with as much patriotic fervour 

 as in spending money on Dreadnoughts. 

 County cottages are surely as much needed 

 as ironclads, for in our cottage homes are 

 born our heroes of the sea. We should regard 

 it as a national business undertaken for the 

 sake of the England that is To Be. 



Rural problems have been given the cold 

 shoulder by most politicians, presumably be- 

 cause there are not many votes to be picked 

 up along the highways and hedges. There 

 has been a new note though proclaimed by 

 those who tramp the crowded streets of our 

 cities with nothing but a bag of tools over 

 their shoulders for their worldly wealth, that 

 the problem of the countryside shall be their 

 problem too — the national problem — and those 

 who wish to solicit their votes will have in 

 future to reckon with the birth of a new spirit 

 in a triumphing democracy. 



