298 AWAKENING OF ENGLAND. 



keeper is dependent on the tips of the guns 

 at the autumnal carnage. He cries for peace, 

 but unfortunately often mistakes spiritual 

 stagnation for the peace that passeth all 

 understanding. 



Here, then, is the opportunity for members 

 of the educated classes. Let them take up 

 their residence in the heart of the country and 

 help to revive rural life in the same way in 

 which young men have joined University 

 Settlements in slum areas. The artist, and 

 the man of letters, who can pursue his avoca- 

 tion as well, if not better, in the country than 

 in town, might very well become a pioneer 

 in stimulating a revival of country life. 

 There are the men, and the women too, who 

 have small independent means — the smaller 

 the better, for then there will be less fear of 

 them being identified so intimately with the 

 possessing class. There is plenty of work at 

 hand for them to do. 



When I write of the possessing classes I 

 do not refer only to the landowning class. It 

 is the large farmer who really possesses the 

 executive power in the country. The land- 

 owner might be spending most of the year in 

 town, or even abroad, or he might be merely a 



