vi] LONDON WORKERS, SECULARISTS, ETC. 101 



blame. At first," he says, "a large proportion daily were 

 black and blue, few yellow, and scarcely any white. Gradu- 

 ally the blacks were changed for blue, the blues for yellow, 

 and the yellows for white. Soon after the adoption of this 

 telegraph I could at once see by the expression of counte- 

 nance what was the colour which was shown. As there were 

 four colours there were four different expressions of counte- 

 nance, most evident to me as I passed along the rooms. . . . 

 Never perhaps in the history of the human race has so 

 simple a device created in so short a period so much order, 

 virtue, goodness, and happiness, out of so much ignorance, 

 error, and misery. And for many years the permanent 

 daily conduct of a very large majority of those who were 

 employed deserved, and had, No. I placed as their character 

 on the books of the company." 



To show that Owen did not exaggerate the improved 

 condition of New Lanark, it will be well to give the estimates 

 of experienced and independent visitors. In 1819 the town 

 of Leeds sent a deputation, consisting of Mr. Edward Baines, 

 Mr. Robert Oastler, and Mr. John Cawood, to report on the 

 character and condition of the workers at New Lanark. 

 They spent four days in a careful inspection and examination 

 of the whole establishment, and the following are a few 

 extracts from their general report. Speaking first of the 

 children in the schools, from two to ten years of age, they say, 

 ■ They appear like one well-regulated family, united together 

 by the ties of the closest affection. We heard no quarrels 

 from the youngest to the eldest ; and so strongly impressed 

 are they with the conviction that to be happy themselves 

 it is necessary to make those happy by whom they are sur- 

 rounded, that they had no strife but in offices of kindness." 



" The next class of the population in the Lanark estab- 

 lishment consists of boys and girls between ten and seventeen 

 years of age. These are all employed in the mill, and in the 

 evening from seven to half-past eight o'clock they pursue 

 their education. The deportment of these young people is 

 very exemplary. In business they are regular and diligent, 

 and in their manners they are mild and engaging." 



