178 WOMEN IN CANADA 



many of us have forgotten the weakened condition 

 of English country life. It is essential that rural 

 industry and rural interests should be all-powerful, 

 that urban industry should learn to appreciate 

 and always keep in mind the overwhelming import- 

 ance of the cultivation of land, and do sufficient 

 honour to it in assisting its increase, in raising the 

 position of its workers. 



This we know can only be accomplished by 

 means of improvements briefly reviewed in the 

 previous chapter, such as good housing, nourishing 

 food, and an existence divided more evenly into 

 three parts, whereby sleep, work, and play become 

 so well balanced that they allow the production of 

 the very best work. By these things alone can 

 well-adjusted power and energy be set in motion. 



A writer who has considered this subject at 

 great length, in deploring the deserted appearance 

 of one of our southern counties, says, " We await 

 some bold constructive policy of colonisation such 

 as a modern Agricola might have projected," and 

 he goes on to ask if a proper organisation and 

 building up of the country population in England 

 will only come about when " some intellectual 

 shepherd of the Downs " rises with undimmed 

 perceptions to revive the foundation of this great 

 work which was laid so many hundred years ago, 

 when Roman legions watched over England and 

 brought her fresh, inspiring ideas. We have seen 

 how lack of movement and means of advancement 

 have resulted in the departure of expert rural 

 workers to the towns, and, unless it is possible 

 speedily to revive the " Rural Community " in a 



