A LAST ALTERNATIVE 59 



last they will refuse ; and the mosquitos will surely 

 return. But it is most disappointing and may be 

 heartbreaking, for all the trouble and energy expended 

 will be for nothing ; but not quite, for something will 

 be learnt from the lesson. Perseverance and again 

 perseverance this must be the motto always. Begin 

 again, and try the State once more. 



If subscription is the only course that can be 

 adopted, it can best be carried out in the following 

 way. Advertise in every direction the nature of the 

 work to be started. Institute public lectures, dis- 

 tribute fly-leaves describing what is going to be done, 

 the reason for it, the estimated cost, and the probable 

 results. Talk about it to influential persons, and 

 prove the sincerity of the purpose. Then open a sub- 

 scription list at the banks and post offices. Get up 

 a fete or a ball or a theatrical performance on its 

 behalf. Write to the local papers. Interest the 

 large trading-houses, the doctors, the local exploiting 

 companies, the schoolmasters, the clergy. Keep 

 open the subscription, and canvass. It is worth it. 

 There can be no better charity than this. But let 

 very careful accounts of money received and ex- 

 pended be kept. Balance sheets must be published 

 regularly, and the names of the subscribers and 

 their subscriptions registered, so that the same may 

 be applied to again and the results reported to them. 



Public subscription is a course that is not advised 

 unless it is found impossible to raise the necessary 

 means in any other way. Therefore it should only 

 be regarded as a final resort. Mosquito reduction is 



