THE PROBLEM OF PAUPERISM igg 



and friendless are brought near to pure and noble 

 spirits, who show them that none have any greater 

 privilege than being permitted to uplift those who 

 suffer and those who sin. 



But perhaps the most helpful of all agencies 

 started by individuals in this crusade against 

 pauperism was the experiment of Octavia Hill. 

 It is no longer an experiment, but an assured and 

 magnificent success. It occurred to her to go into 

 the heart of London's poorest districts, take old 

 buildings and make them clean and well-equipped 

 dwellings, and as soon as possible replace them 

 with new ones. She laid her plan before John 

 Ruskin, and he furnished most, if not all, of the 

 money for the venture. Miss Hill carried her 

 scheme into effect in person. She not only trans- 

 formed old rookeries, making them comfortable 

 and healthful, but took up her residence in one of 

 them, kept the stairs and halls as clean as her own 

 rooms, filled the vacant places with flowers, be- 

 came the friend and helper of the women and 

 children, set an example of careful housekeeping 

 which was a constant inspiration, and then in- 

 sisted that her rents should be paid. She demon- 

 strated that, however it may be among animals, 

 among human beings the "sty" has much to do 

 with making the pig. In other words, she proved 



