PERILS. — SOCIALTSM. 153 



plying what seem to him reasonable wants. The hori- 

 zon of the working man, during this century, has been 

 marvelously expanded; there has been a prodigious 

 multiplication of his w^ants. The peasant of a few gen- 

 erations ago knew little of any lot save his own. He 

 saw an aristocracy above him, which enjoyetl peculiar 

 privileges ; but these were often justified in his eyes by 

 superior intelligence and manners. The life of the rich 

 and great was far removed from him and vague. He 

 was not discontented for lack of luxuries of which he 

 knew nothing. But modern manufactures and com- 

 merce and shop windows have made all luxuries famil- 

 iar to all eyes. The working man of to-day in the 

 United States has probably had a common school educa- 

 tion, has traveled somewhat, attended expositions, vis- 

 ited libraries, art galleries and museums ; through books 

 he has become more or less acquainted W' itli all countries 

 and all classes of society; he reads the papers, he is 

 vastly more intelligent than his grandfather was, he 

 lives in a larger world and has many more wants. 

 Indeed, his wants are as boundless as his means are lim- 

 ited. Education increases the capability of enjoyment ; 

 and this capability is increasing among the many more 

 rapidly than the means of gratification ; hence a grow- 

 ing popular discontent. 



There is much dissatisfaction among the masses of 

 Europe. There would be more if there were greater 

 popular intelligence. Place Americans in the circum- 

 stances under which the peasant of Continental Europe 

 lives, and there would be a revolution in twenty-four 

 hours. Hopeless poverty, therefore, in the United States, 

 where there is greater intelligence, will be more rest- 

 less, and more easily become desperate than in Europe. 

 Many of our v/orking men are beginning to feel that, 

 under the existing industrial system, they are con- 

 demned to hopeless poverty. We have already seen 

 that the average working man in Massachusetts and 

 Illinois is unable to support his family. At that rate, 

 how long will it take him to l^ecome tlie owner of a 



