16 Address. 





with a population of over a million, scarce twenty thousand live in houses 

 by themselves. At least, one-half of the whole population live in tenement 

 houses and cellars. There were at the last census, sixteen thousand 

 tenant houses, containing each an average of over seven families ; in 

 many cases an entire family occupying but a single room, and there is a 

 story of an inspector who found four living in one room, chalk lines being 

 drawn across in such a manner as to mark out a quarter of the floor for 

 each family. " Hotf r do you get along here ? " inquired the inspector. 

 " Very well, sir," was the reply. " only the man in the farther corner keeps 

 boarders! " and I regret to say that I have found many of the occupants 

 of single rooms in tenement houses in that city, farmers by profession, who, 

 in the hope of making money faster, have sold their farms, deprived them- 

 selves and family of a home for their old age, and so far from bettering 

 their condition, have dropped from bad to worse, until death has released 

 them; and relatives, or the public, have removed their families back to the 

 country, or to the poor house. Do yon find the condition of the laboring 

 classes in the smaller cities and towns advanced in comfort beyond yours ? 

 Do they work any less ? Do they have any better houses — or any at all ? 

 Do they have more or better to eat or drink ? As much leisure to ride 

 about for social converse, for self-improvement, for education of children ? 

 And have they the same certainty that farmers have of a final provision 

 for them left behind, when the portals of the grave open to receive the 

 head of the household ? As, according to the ancient philosopher, no man 

 can be justly called happy whilst living, so no man's happiness can be 

 measured by temporary wealth. Experience shows that those who have a 

 regular business, and moderate competency, are the most fortunate, and if 

 in addition they enjoy the full use of their limbs, are free from disease and 

 misfortune, arc blessed with wife and children, and shall end their life well, 

 they may be pronounced happy. 



This, then, is our position to-day. We are as comfortably situated as 

 the more favored of the majority of mankind. We have an occupation 

 rendered less toilsome every year by the introduction of machine in lieu of 

 human labor — more profitable by the constantly increasing avenues of con- 

 sumption — healthful from its very nature — keeping us amid heaven's breezes 

 and pure air, instead of confining us in the fetid atmosphere of towns or 

 cities; an occupation so scientific that its capabilities are boundless and only 

 need the attention and intelligent conductors, to extend its benefits far 

 beyond its present limits, and not only conduce to our own personal welfare, 



