DEPOPULATION OF ENGLISH COUNTRY DISTRICTS. 39 



owners who contribute so largely to the rates ; besides 

 which, it is an undisputed fact that the poorer in- 

 habitants of rural districts are year by year either 

 emigrating to the Colonies or flocking to the great 

 centres of labour and industry in search of work. 

 I believe that not only amongst the poor, but also 

 with the rich, there is a general inclination toward 

 residence in towns. The country is becoming year 

 by year regarded more as a playground or place 

 of relaxation and leisure to the workers in commercial 

 centres, and this is of course owing to the speed 

 and facility of railway travelling. In the old days, 

 before the advent of the locomotive, a residence in 

 the country was a fixed one, there being no possible 

 means of running to and from London as there is 

 at the present time ; consequently those who lived 

 in the country had their interest centred in the country, 

 with little possibility of escaping from it except they 

 undertook a long and tedious journey. I have no 

 doubt that in those days there was more neighbourly 

 feeling existing amongst country communities, and 

 greater efforts were doubtless made to provide amuse- 

 ment and occupation ; besides which, sport must have 

 been far better in those days than now. Country 

 folks are in some measure envied for three months 

 in the year, and pitied for the remaining nine months. 

 In lact, some Londoners seem to regard those who 

 reside in the country with a feeling of positive 

 condolence and sympathy, except it be that they 

 inherit a fine family property, or seek the country 

 for a time only in pursuit of sport ; but a residence, 

 unaccompanied by a predominating and comprehensible 

 attraction, appears to them to be a condition 

 calling for their pity and commiseration ; and it is 



