370 STUDIES, SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL CHAP. 



week-day guardians of these treasures being taken by 

 volunteers from among the more leisured classes, or from 

 the higher ranks of workmen. Thus would be remedied 

 the great injustice, that these grand institutions, for the 

 support of which all alike pay, are yet closed at the only 

 time when those who contribute most toward them would 

 be able to benefit by them. Of course the police would 

 also be relieved by a body of special constables who would 

 volunteer for the service. This occupation might be re- 

 stricted to the Volunteer force, whose recognisable uniform 

 and military organization would render them admirably 

 fitted for the purpose. Further details on this part of the 

 subject are unnecessary, since it is evident that by an 

 extension of the same principle it would be possible to 

 relieve every one whose week-day labour is now extended 

 over some portion of Sunday also. 



And now, having briefly set forth the arguments and 

 suggestions which seem to me needful for illustrating my 

 views as to the consistent observance of the day of rest 

 by all who look upon it as a divine institution, I will 

 state with equal brevity the good effects which such an 

 observance of it would produce. The substance of the 

 present chapter had been in my mind for twenty years 

 before it was written, and I made it public because many 

 circumstances seemed to render it less likely to give 

 offence and also more likely to do good than at an earlier 

 period, on account of the ever-growing strength of the 

 altruistic movement with the principles of which it 

 so well harmonises. For, the latter part of the nine- 

 teenth century will be characterized in history by the 

 awakening of the cultured classes to the terrible failure of 

 our civilization to provide even the barest necessaries and 

 decencies of life for thousands and tens of thousands of 

 those by means of whose work they live in luxury ; and 

 also by their strenuous effort no longer to rely on mere 

 almsgiving, but to devote themselves to a sympathetic 

 study of the condition and needs of the poorest among the 

 workers, and to helping them with personal advice and 

 assistance. Toynbee Hall and Dr. Barnardo's homes, 



