410 CONCLUSION 



and upwards in wealth, in education, in tastes, in habits, in their 

 standard of living. Except in education, the employed alone have 

 stood comparatively still. The sense of social inferiority which is 

 thus fostered has impressed the labourer with the feeling that he 

 is not regarded as a member of the community, but only as its helot. 

 It is from this point of view that he resents, in a half-humorous, 

 half-sullen fashion, the kindly efforts of well-meaning patrons to 

 do him good, the restrictions imposed on his occupation of his 

 cottage, as well as the paraphernalia of policemen, sanitary and 

 medical inspectors, school-attendance officers, who dragoon and 

 shepherd him into being sober, law-abiding, clean, healthy, and 

 considerate of the future of his children. To his mind, it is all 

 part of the treatment meted out to a being who is regarded as 

 belonging to an inferior race. 



The economic side of the change further accentuates the dis- 

 content and adds a practical to the sentimental grievance. The 

 peasant worked as hard as, or harder than, his descendant. But 

 his industry was more interesting to him, partly because it was more 

 manifold, partly because much of it was for himself. He had less 

 need of money. Living more on his own produce, he could satisfy 

 some of his wants by exchanges in kind. When he had to buy, 

 he obtained money either by sale of his own stuff or by working for 

 an employer. But to earn weekly wages, or to be in regular employ- 

 ment, was not for him an absolute necessity. He was little 

 affected by the laws of demand and supply in relation to labour. 

 The new commercial system, on the other hand, has made the 

 agricultural labourer entirely dependent on employment and 

 money wages. Instead of producing much of his own food, he 

 has to buy it nearly all. In order to live, he must sell his labour 

 for cash, and under the stress of new exigencies which limit his 

 power of bargaining. Now, if the labourer loses employment, 

 or fails to find it, he has no resource on which to fall back. His 

 livelihood, and, in case of tied cottages, his home, depend on a 

 week's notice. A change in the ownership or occupation of the land 

 on which he works may cut him adrift. Against this uncertainty 

 he cannot protect himself. But he may lose his wages in another way, 

 and against this he can be partially secured out of his savings. 

 For this reason, even his thrift is guided into new channels by the 

 commercial spirit which necessarily controls his life. The peasant's 

 savings went into the purchase of a pig or a calf, or into some other 



