64 Environment and Efficiency 



this beautiful island, with its historic and even sacred associa- 

 tions, a new slum area is being created by the operation of the 

 inherent slum instincts of the putatively rescued denizens of 

 Glasgow's slums. 



"There we see in the making, not slum people by slum 

 environments, but slums fashioned out of the depths of the 

 slum instincts of a congenital race of slum producers." 



In illustration, Mr. Mudge gives instances of " sheep 

 worrying/' of " the breaking up of evening classes," and of 

 " Hooliganism." " The Glasgow rowdies congregate in bands, 

 they link their arms, and, rushing through the village street in 

 a serried rank, shouting, whistling and gesticulating, drive all 

 others before them." 



Dr. John Macpherson (Commissioner in Lunacy), who was 

 requested, on account of Mr. Mudge's assertions, to inquire 

 into the conditions of Glasgow Parish Council children in lona, 

 reports on the above assertions as follows : 



" The island contains 222 inhabitants, and there are between 

 40 and 50 families. If the school children (60 in number), 

 infants, and the older inhabitants and heads of families are 

 deducted, there are left about 60 persons who might possibly 

 behave in this manner. If again we deduct the younger female 

 population, against whom the charge does not appear to be 

 made, the number may be reduced to 30, or less. 



"But the indictment is distinctly made against ' Glasgow 

 rowdies,' presumably males. There are on the island at present 

 the following five Glasgow youths, hired as farm servants by 

 the crofters " (the initials follow). " Last year there was 

 another, who has since left. 



" Of these six youths, three do not go to the village, or, 

 if they do, only on errands. They are exceptionally quiet 

 and well-behaved, and are exonerated by all my informants 

 of any bad tendencies. There remain " (three other initials 

 given). "The two former are more or less weak-minded, the 

 latter has left the island and was not seen." 



