SPENCER'S INDIVIDUALISM 151 



inspection of white lead works to compel the 

 owners to provide overalls, respirators, baths, 

 acidulated drinks, etc., for the workmen: Pro- 

 viding for the inspection of gas works : Making 

 compulsory regulations for extinguishing fires 

 in London ; Taxing the locality for local drain- 

 age ; That bake-houses should have a periodical 

 lime washing, and a cleaning with soap and 

 hot water at least once in six months; To se- 

 cure decent lodgings for persons picking fruit 

 and vegetables for public consumption; To 

 provide free compulsory education and public 

 schools; The Public Libraries Act; All the 

 Factory Acts limiting child labor or enforcing 

 the protection of dangerous machinery; The 

 Preservation of Seabirds Act; The establish- 

 ment of state telegraphy; Proposals to feed 

 children; Government endowment of scienti- 

 fic research; etc. 



All these measures, and many others of 

 similar nature, excited the indignation of the 

 greatest prophet of Individualism because, 

 forsooth, they modified somebody's right to 

 do as he pleased about something. Luckily 

 for England, Mr. Spencer and a handful of 

 his individualist disciples stood alone, while 

 the electorate carried these laws through their 

 highest tribunals. 



One can imagine the *'joy of living" in an 



