TOWN DRUDGERY. 



niture as his father did in the same time. 

 When we come to books and newspapers the 

 contrast is more astonishing. The average me- 

 chanic can now buy for one day's work more 

 books than a month's work would have brought 

 him a century ago, or a year's work would have 

 brought him in the Middle Ages. More than 

 that, thanks to cheap postage and circulating 

 libraries, books are to be had almost for the 

 asking. One of the things that the Govern- 

 ment could do for the intellectual growth of 

 the country would be to make the postage upon 

 books almost nominal. This is done in the 

 case of newspapers, which are sent through the 

 mails to subscribers for one cent a pound ; but 

 in the case of books, postage is still exorbitant. 

 That there are certain deprivations in living 

 in the country, especially in isolation, goes 

 without saying. First and chief my critics are 

 pretty certain to note the absence of all society, 

 certainly a loss if one's position in city life 

 is such as to give him the society of cultured 

 people and the time to enjoy such society. 

 Nor is the raising of cabbages or strawberries 

 for market by any means a life of luxurious 

 idleness. Even where, as in my case, the 



