BY K. M. JOHNSTON, F.L.S. 185 



records witli statistics of ci'ime and pauperism. Paradoxical 

 as it may appear, it is in itself a grand index of moral 

 improvement inour modern civilisation that we are able to refer 

 to State-supported paupers, even although this benevolence 

 may itself be the fruitful cause in time of adding to our social 

 difficulties. 



To state, however, or to imply that pauperism is propor- 

 tionately greater now than when productive power was much 

 less, is contrary to reason and fact. 



The chief advantages of the present century in Europe and 

 in English colonies are, that owing to the wonderful progress 

 made in means of communication, in knowledge, and in labour- 

 saving machinery, the masses of men 



(1.) Are better fed, clothed, and housed than formerly* 

 and are almost free from the terrible periodic 

 famines which were so common in the four 

 preceding centuries, and which still afflict the 

 masses in India nearly every third year. 



(2.) Are able to obtain primary wants, and even luxuries, 

 with less hours toil. 



(3.) Education and luxuries are now more diffused 

 among the wage-earning classes than among the 

 ruling classes two centuries ago. 



(4.) Freedom and piivileges, social and political, are 

 immeasurably greater than in former times. 



(5.) Notwithstanding that within the same area (United 

 Kingdom) the wants of 37 millions have to be 

 supplied, instead cf 2,300,000, as at the close of 

 the fourteenth century, and about 7| millions at 

 the beginnin'g of the eighteenth century, these 

 wants are now supplied much more certainly and 

 in much superior quantities per head. 



(6.) Life of each individual on the average is greatly 

 prolonged, owing to improvement in hygiene, social 

 habits, and in the improvement in material con- 

 dition. 



(7.) There is a much smaller mortality per 1,000; 

 pauperism and crime is greatly reduced propor- 

 tionally, and the effective power of labour is 

 immeasurably superior. 



Past and Present Contrasted. 

 Therefore, whatever evils remain they may still be con- 

 sistently admitted without denying the great comparative 

 progress made generally in the age in which it is our good 

 fortune to live. If we could really picture to ourselves the 

 actual condition of society in former times, all doubts regarding 

 progress made in recent times would be speedily set aside. 



