CHAPTER XXXVII. 

 POVERTY. 



THE condition of life which is tersely but pitifully 

 summed up in the word " poverty " is one that may 

 accurately be said to apply to any class of labourers 

 unable by the utmost toil to provide more than enough 

 to keep them from absolute starvation. When the 

 meanest shelter from the weather, a sufficiency of 

 clothing to keep the body moderately warm, and just 

 food enough to keep body and soul together are alone 

 obtainable, the condition described is " Poverty/' It 

 applies equally, of course, to those who unable to 

 obtain employment or afflicted in such a way as to 

 prevent engaging in any employment that may be 

 offered are absolutely destitute and compelled to 

 resort to the workhouse or obtain such outside help 

 as the Poor Law provides through the instrumentality 

 of the poor rates. The man or woman who is able 

 after providing for necessaries to put a little money by 

 in a savings bank, however small the amount may be 

 is just lifted out of the condition of poverty. It is 

 probable that a not inappreciable number of what are 

 called the working classes are able to make some 

 provision if only a slight provision for old age or 

 sickness during active occupation. 



The condition of English farm labourers, however, 



has, with very few exceptions, been such as to prevent 



them from ever putting anything aside for what is 



called a " rainy day " ; and such a condition is sad 



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